Safety, tolerability, and preliminary activity of IMGN529, a CD37-targeted antibody-drug conjugate, in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a dose-escalation, phase I study

Anastasios Stathis, Ian W. Flinn, Sumit Madan, Kami Maddocks, Arnold Freedman, Steven Weitman, Emanuele Zucca, Mihaela C. Munteanu, M. Lia Palomba

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background CD37 is expressed on B-cell lymphoid malignancies, thus making it an attractive candidate for targeted therapy in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). IMGN529 is an antibody-drug conjugate comprising a CD37-binding antibody linked to the maytansinoid DM1, a potent anti-mitotic agent. Methods This first-in-human, phase 1 trial recruited adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell NHL. The primary objective was to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended phase 2 dose. Secondary objectives were to evaluate safety, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary clinical activity. IMGN529 was administered intravenously once every 3 weeks, and dosed using a conventional 3 + 3 dose-escalation design. Results Forty-nine patients were treated at doses escalating from 0.1 to 1.8 mg/kg. Dose limiting toxicities occurred in eight patients and included peripheral neuropathy, febrile neutropenia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia. The most frequent treatment-emergent adverse events were fatigue (39%), neutropenia, pyrexia, and thrombocytopenia (each 37%). Adverse events led to treatment discontinuation in 10 patients (20%). Eight patients (16%) had treatment-related serious adverse events, the most common being grade 3 febrile neutropenia. The MTD (with growth factor support) was 1.4 mg/kg every 3 weeks. IMGN529 plasma exposure increased monotonically with dose and was consistent with target-mediated drug disposition. Five (13%) of 39 response-evaluable patients achieved an objective response (one complete response and four partial responses), four of which occurred in the subgroup of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Conclusions The manageable safety profile of IMGN529 and preliminary evidence of activity, particularly in DLBCL patients, support the continued development of this novel CD37-targeting agent.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)869-876
Number of pages8
JournalInvestigational New Drugs
Volume36
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 1 2018

Keywords

  • Antibody-drug conjugate
  • CD37
  • IMGN529
  • Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
  • Phase I

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmacology (medical)

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