--Data strongly support expanding development into mast cell driven diseases--
--Data presented in a late-breaking session at EAACI Annual Congress 2020--
CDX-0159 demonstrated a favorable safety profile as well as profound and durable reductions of plasma tryptase, consistent with systemic mast cell suppression. A single dose of CDX-0159 induced dose-dependent tryptase reduction below the level of assay detection within days at doses as low as 1.0 mg/kg and maintained suppression for over two months at 3.0 mg/kg and above. Tryptase is an enzyme synthesized and secreted almost exclusively by mast cells and decreases in plasma tryptase levels are believed to reflect a systemic reduction in mast cell burden in both healthy volunteers and in disease, providing important proof of concept for the program. The data also support expansion of the program into mast cell driven diseases, including initially studies in forms of chronic urticaria (CU) given the central role mast cells are known to play in the etiology of CU.
The data were presented by Dr.
“The profound decreases in plasma tryptase coupled with the favorable safety profile observed in this study suggest that CDX-0159 has significant potential as a disease-modifying therapeutic for mast cell disorders driven by wild-type KIT,” said
“These results support the rapid advancement of CDX-0159 into clinical studies in our target patient populations,” said
Presentation Summary
The Phase 1 study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single ascending dose escalation study of CDX-0159 in healthy subjects (n=32; 8 subjects per cohort, 6 CDX-0159; 2 placebo). Subjects received a single intravenous infusion of CDX-0159 at 0.3, 1.0, 3.0, or 9.0 mg/kg or placebo. The objectives of the study included safety and tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (tryptase and stem cell factor) and immunogenicity. CDX-0159 demonstrated a favorable safety profile and profound tryptase suppression, indicative of systemic mast cell ablation.
- Most common adverse events were mild infusion-related reactions, all of which spontaneously resolved without intervention. Mild and asymptomatic decreases in neutrophil and white blood cell count were observed in laboratory testing.
- A single dose of CDX-0159 suppressed plasma tryptase levels in a dose-dependent manner, indicative of systemic mast cell suppression. Tryptase suppression below the level of detection was observed after a single 1.0 mg/kg dose and was maintained for more than 2 months at single doses of both 3.0 and 9.0 mg/kg of CDX-0159.
- Dose dependent increases in plasma stem cell factor mirror decreases in tryptase, consistent with allosteric blockade of stem cell factor to KIT and demonstrate complete target engagement in vivo.
- Long serum half-life and non-immunogenic profile support a convenient dosing schedule.
- Enhanced PK profile and durable tryptase suppression at low doses support re-formulation for sub-cutaneous administration.
- Data support clinical studies with repeat dosing in patients with mast cell driven disorders.
Next Steps
Celldex plans to initiate Phase 1b studies of CDX-0159 in patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) and chronic inducible urticaria (CINDU), diseases where mast cell degranulation plays a central role in the onset and progression of the disease, by year end. The prevalence of CSU and CINDU is approximately 0.5-1% of the total population or up to 1 to 3 million patients in
About CDX-0159
CDX-0159 is a monoclonal antibody that binds the KIT receptor with high specificity and potently inhibits its activity. The KIT receptor tyrosine kinase is expressed in a variety of cells, including mast cells, which mediate inflammatory responses such as hypersensitivity and allergic reactions. KIT signaling controls the differentiation, tissue recruitment, survival and activity of mast cells. Currently approved therapies for chronic urticarias do not inhibit mast cells and provide symptomatic relief only. Celldex believes that CDX-0159 has significant potential to interfere with mast cells at multiple steps upstream of current treatments, which, in turn, could be disease modifying for patients. In addition, Celldex is also evaluating additional opportunities in other mast cell driven diseases where CDX-0159’s potency and high specificity for KIT could be important.
About
Celldex is developing targeted therapeutics to address devastating diseases for which available treatments are inadequate. Our pipeline includes immunotherapies and other targeted biologics derived from a broad set of complementary technologies which have the ability to engage the human immune system and/or directly inhibit tumors to treat specific types of cancer or other diseases. Visit www.celldex.com.
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Company Contact
Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs & Administration
(508) 864-8337
scavanaugh@celldex.com
Source: Celldex Therapeutics, Inc.