The company has reported results from the OPTIMIZE-1 Phase 2 study of its lead asset mitazalimab in 1st line metastatic pancreatic cancer.
The open-label, multi-center study assessed the safety and efficacy of mitazalimab (CD40 mAb agonist) in combination with standard of care chemotherapy mFOLFIRINOX, in previously untreated, chemotherapy naive patients. The study achieved its primary endpoint with the top-line results demonstrating a confirmed Objective Response Rate (ORR) of 40.4%, an unconfirmed ORR of 50.9% and a disease control rate (DCR) of 79% in 57 evaluable patients, as per the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST 1.1), the c. This compares favorably to the ORR of 31.6% reported in a similar patient population treated with FOLFIRINOX alone, it states further.
The cut-off time for analysis was November 14, 2023 with a median follow-up duration of 12.7 months. At the time of the analysis, a total of 29 (51%) patients were still alive, of these 18 (32%) were still on treatment. The longest ongoing treatment duration was 23 months. Three patients demonstrated complete remission of their target lesions.
“We are very pleased to announce that the OPTIMIZE-1 study has successfully met its primary endpoint, with the data demonstrating that when combined with mFOLFIRINOX, mitazalimab provides significant survival benefit to pancreatic cancer patients compared to the standard of care,” says Søren Bregenholt, CEO of Alligator Bioscience. “The unprecedented duration of response is to us a clear confirmation of the strong immune activation that mitazalimab triggers, which translates into a much improved overall survival. As of today, more than half of the patients are still in the study and we expect these promising data to improve even further.”
Phase 3 expected to start in early 2025
Alligator Bioscience has undertaken discussions with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has been able to establish a clear development and approval pathway for mitazalimab in pancreatic cancer, it states. Based on the emerging data from the OPTIMIZE-1 study, FDA has provided additional guidance and has endorsed OPTIMIZE-1 as a Phase 3 enabling study. Consequently, mitazalimab can proceed directly to a global Phase 3 registration study, which Alligator is preparing to initiate in early 2025.
Mitazalimab has been granted orphan drug designation in pancreatic cancer by both FDA and the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Photo of Søren Bregenholt: Alligator Bioscience
