Combining two immunotherapy agents for treating advanced lung cancer

Assessment of the Safety and Efficacy of Balstilimab in Combination With Botensilimab for the Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (IMMONC0008)

This study is testing a new combination of two immunotherapy drugs to see if they can help people with advanced lung cancer who haven't had treatment before.

Quick facts

• Phase: PHASE2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 45 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Immune Oncology Research Institute (other)
• Drugs / interventions: balstilimab, botensilimab, chemotherapy, radiation, prednisone, immunotherapy
• Locations: 1 site (Yerevan)
• Trial ID: NCT06322108 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This phase II clinical trial aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the combination of botensilimab and balstilimab in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have not received prior treatment for their metastatic disease. The study will enroll participants with confirmed metastatic NSCLC, specifically those negative for actionable EGFR mutations and ALK rearrangements. Participants will undergo a screening period followed by a treatment phase lasting up to 24 months, with additional follow-up for up to 24 months post-treatment. The trial is designed to assess the potential benefits of this combination therapy as a first-line treatment option.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with histologically confirmed metastatic NSCLC who have not received prior treatment for their metastatic disease.

Not a fit: Patients with actionable EGFR mutations or ALK rearrangements, or those with untreated brain metastases, may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a new effective option for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results with similar immunotherapy combinations, indicating potential for success in this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Histologically and IHC confirmed diagnosis of metastatic NSCLC which has not received any prior anticancer medicinal therapy for metastatic disease.
2. Negative for actionable EGFR mutations and ALK rearrangements.
3. Patients with recurrence after prior neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy or immune checkpoint inhibitors for non-metastatic disease are eligible if recurrence occurred \>6 months after the end of neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment.
4. Documented informed consent of the participant and/or legally authorized representative
5. ≥ 18 years of age.
6. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1.
7. Life expectancy ≥ 3 months.
8. Patients should have measurable metastatic disease as per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 and iRECIST guidelines.
9. Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) (within 7 days prior to day 1 of protocol therapy) (except subjects with Gilbert syndrome who must have a total bilirubin level of ≤3.0 × ULN).
10. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 2.5 x ULN, unless presence of liver metastases for which ≤ 5 x ULN is allowed (within 7 days prior to day 1 of protocol therapy).
11. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 x ULN, unless presence of liver metastases for which ≤ 5 x ULN is allowed (within 7 days prior to day 1 of protocol therapy).
12. Creatinine clearance ≥ 45 ml/min (within 7 days prior to day 1 of protocol therapy).
13. Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 3 x ULN (within 7 days prior to day 1 of protocol therapy).
14. Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dl (within 7 days prior to day 1 of protocol therapy).
15. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1500/ul (within 7 days prior to day 1 of protocol therapy).
16. Platelets ≥ 100,000/mm\^3 (within 7 days prior to day 1 of protocol therapy).
17. Albumin ≥ 3.0 g/dl (within 7 days prior to day 1 of protocol therapy).
18. Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP): negative serum pregnancy test (within 7 days prior to day 1 of protocol therapy)

    a) Females of non-childbearing potential are defined as: i. ≥ 50 years of age and has not had menses for greater than 1 year ii. Amenorrheic for ≥ 2 years without a hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy and a follicle-stimulating hormone value in the postmenopausal range upon pre-study (screening) evaluation iii. Status is post-hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, or tubal ligation.
19. Male and female patients of reproductive potential must use effective methods of contraception (defined in Appendix A) or abstain from sexual activity for the course of the study through at least 90 days after the last dose of balstilimab and/or botensilimab
20. Is willing and able to comply with the requirements of the protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Prior treatment with anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-(L)1 therapy. Note: Prior treatment with anti-PD-(L)1 therapy in the adjuvant setting is permitted if recurrence occurred \>6 months after the end of adjuvant treatment.
2. Patients with a condition requiring systemic treatment with either corticosteroids (\>10 mg daily prednisone equivalent) within 14 days or another immunosuppressive medication within 30 days of the first dose of study treatment. Inhaled or topical steroids, and adrenal replacement steroid dose ≤ 10 mg daily prednisone equivalent, are permitted in the absence of active autoimmune disease.
3. Prior allogeneic organ transplantation.
4. Surgical intervention within 4 weeks prior to study treatment, except for minor procedures such as port placement.
5. Prior allergic reaction or hypersensitivity to any of the study drug components.
6. Active autoimmune disease or history of autoimmune disease that required systemic treatment within 2 years before starting treatment, i.e., with use of disease-modifying agents or immunosuppressive drugs.
7. Clinically significant (i.e., active) cardiovascular disease: cerebral vascular accident/stroke or myocardial infarction within 6 months of enrollment, unstable angina, congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association class ≥ III), serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia requiring medication.

   a. QTcF (QTc interval corrected using Fridericia's formula) of \> 480 ms.
8. Any persistent toxicities (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events \[CTCAE\] grade ≥ 2) from prior cancer therapy, excluding endocrinopathies stable on medication, stable neuropathy that is grade 2 or less, and alopecia.
9. Active brain metastases or leptomeningeal metastases with the following exceptions:

   a. Treated brain metastases require a) surgical resection, or b) stereotactic radiosurgery. Whole-brain radiation is not allowed. Subjects must have also discontinued steroid treatment 28 days prior to enrollment for the purpose of managing their brain metastases and they must be asymptomatic and radiologically stable ≥28 days before enrollment.
10. Concurrent malignancy (present during screening) requiring treatment or history of prior malignancy active within 730 days (or 2 years) prior to enrollment, i.e., subjects with a history of prior malignancy are eligible if treatment was completed at least 730 days (or 2 years) before enrollment and the subject has no evidence of disease. Subjects with history of prior early-stage basal/squamous cell skin cancer, low-risk prostate cancer eligible for active surveillance or noninvasive or in situ cancers who have undergone definitive treatment at any time are also eligible.
11. Any evidence of current interstitial lung disease (ILD) or pneumonitis, or prior history of ILD or non-infectious pneumonitis requiring glucocorticoids.
12. Psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the study.
13. History or current evidence of any condition, co-morbidity, therapy, any active infections, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the study, interfere with the patient's participation for the full duration of the study, or is not in the best interest of the patient to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator.
14. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccine or booster \< 7 days before C1D1. For vaccines requiring more than 1 dose, the full series should be completed prior to C1D1, when feasible. Booster shot not required but also must be administered \> 7 days from C1D1 or \> 7 days from future cycle on study.
15. Uncontrolled infection with human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Patients on stable highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) with undetectable viral load and normal CD4 counts for at least 6 months prior to study entry are eligible. Serological testing for HIV at screening is not required.
16. Known to be positive for hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface antigen, or any other positive test for HBV indicating acute or chronic infection. Subjects who are receiving or who have received anti-HBV therapy and have undetectable HBV DNA for at least 180 days prior to enrollment are eligible. Serological testing for HBV at screening is not required.
17. Known active hepatitis C virus (HCV) as determined by positive serology and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Subjects on or who have received antiretroviral therapy are eligible provided they are virus-free by PCR for at least 180 days prior to enrollment. Serological testing for HCV at screening is not required.
18. Known active tuberculosis. Tuberculosis testing at screening is required.
19. Grade 3 or above neuropathy at the time of enrollment.
20. Dependence on total parenteral nutrition or intravenous hydration.
21. Any other condition that would, in the Investigator's judgment, contraindicate the patient's participation in the clinical study due to safety concerns with clinical study procedures.
22. Prospective participants who, in the opinion of the investigator, may not be able to comply with all study procedures (including compliance issues related to feasibility/logistics).

Where this trial is running

Yerevan

• Hematology Center named after prof. R. Yeolyan — Yerevan, Armenia (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Samvel Bardakhchyan, MD, PhD — Immune Oncology Research Institute
• Study coordinator: Samvel Bardakhchyan, MD, PhD

Conditions: Non-small Cell Lung Cancer, Immunotherapy, Cancer, NSCLC