Clinical trial Recruiting at 5 sites Phase 1 Interventional Ages 18 and up

Testing PEP07 for advanced cancer treatment

Official title: A Phase 1b Study of PEP07 (Checkpoint Kinase 1 Inhibitor) in Patients With Advanced Cancer

Run by PharmaEngine · NCT05659732 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing a new oral treatment called PEP07 to see if it is safe and tolerable for people with advanced blood cancers like Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Mantle Cell Lymphoma.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 1
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment32 (estimated)
SponsorPharmaEngine
Industry-sponsored
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy, immunotherapy
Locations5 sites (Clayton, Victoria and 4 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedJuly 17, 2023
Main results expectedDecember 31, 2026
Study endsDecember 31, 2026
Registry record updatedJuly 31, 2025
Trial IDNCT05659732 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates include adults aged 18 and older with relapsed or refractory AML or MCL who have received prior treatments.

Probably not a fit

Patients with other types of cancer or those who have not received prior treatments for their hematologic malignancies may not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This clinical trial aims to evaluate the safety and tolerability of PEP07, a checkpoint kinase 1 inhibitor, in patients with advanced hematologic malignancies such as Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL). Participants will receive PEP07 orally at escalating doses to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D). The study employs an Accelerated Titration Design followed by a traditional dose escalation design, allowing for careful monitoring of dose-limiting toxicities. Patients will be treated for four weeks, with assessments made for disease progression and tolerability.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a new therapeutic option for patients with advanced AML and MCL.

How similar studies have gone: Other studies involving checkpoint kinase inhibitors have shown promise, suggesting potential for success in this approach.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Must be ≥ 18 years of age.
2. Must have histological or cytological confirmation advanced hematologic malignancy including:

   * Relapsed or refractory AML (by the 5th edition of World Health Organization \[WHO\] classification of Hematolymphoid tumors)
   * OR Relapsed or refractory MCL and have received at least two prior lines of treatment, including chemoimmunotherapy and BTKi and at least 1 measurable site of disease according to Revised Response Criteria for Malignant Lymphoma.
3. Must have Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance score of 0 to 2.
4. Must have adequate renal function as demonstrated by a calculated creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min; determined via urine collection for 24-hour creatinine clearance or by the Cockcroft Gault formula.
5. Must have adequate liver function as demonstrated by:

   * aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 2.5 × ULN
   * alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 × ULN
   * bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × ULN (unless considered due to leukemic organ involvement. Patients with Gilbert's Syndrome may have had a bilirubin \> 1.5 × ULN per discussion between the PI or designee and sponsor)
6. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50% measured by multiple-gated acquisition (MUGA) or echocardiogram.
7. Previous AEs have been improved to baseline or Grade ≤ 1 NCI CTCAE v5.0.
8. Female patients with reproductive potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test 7 days prior to the administration of PEP07.
9. Patients will be required to have a Covid negative test either via reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) or a rapid antigen test (RAT) test on Day -7/Day 1.
10. Provision of signed and dated informed consent form.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Pregnant or breastfeeding females
2. Females of childbearing potential and males whose partners are of childbearing potential who do not agree to the use of 2 forms of highly effective contraception during the treatment period and for 120 days after the last dose of PEP07.
3. Patients who have received anti-cancer therapy including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, hormonal, or any investigational therapy within 14 days or 5 half-lives (whichever is shorter), or immunotherapy within 30 days prior to the first dose of PEP07. Patients who have received hydroxyurea or dexamethasone at any time prior to the start of study treatment is an exception to this criterion.
4. Patients who have undergone allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) within 60 days of PEP07 treatment.
5. Patients who have received strong or moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers such as ketoconazole, erythromycin, netupitant, isavuconazole etc. within 5 half-lives or 7 days (whichever is the shortest) prior to the initiation of study treatment.
6. Viral infection with HIV or viral hepatitis type B or C which require antiviral therapy and/or have positive serology test of hepatitis B surface antigen \[HBsAg (+)\] with HBV DNA ≥ 1000 IU/mL, or hepatitis C virus antibody \[anti-HCV Ab (+)\] with HCV RNA (+). If a patient is HBsAg (+) then HBV DNA needs to be tested. If a patient is anti-HCV Ab (+) then the patient needs to be followed for HCV RNA (-) to be enrolled.
7. Uncontrolled systemic infection /or requiring isolation.
8. Patients with previous history of other malignant diseases within the last 5 years (other than adequately treated non-melanotic skin cancer, in-situ carcinoma of the uterine cervix or myelodysplastic syndromes).
9. Patients with ongoing ≥ Grade 2 (CTCAE v5.0) toxicity (except alopecia and hot flashes) related to previous treatment.
10. Patients with baseline QTc interval \> 450 msec (i.e., CTCAE Grade ≥ 2) at screening (within 28 days prior to 1st dose of PEP07, mean of triplicate readings within approximately 5 minutes).
11. Patients with cardiovascular disability status of New York Heart Association (NYHA) ≥ Class III, left ventricular ejection fraction \< 45 % at baseline, history of cardiac ischemia within the past 6 months, or prior history of cardiac arrhythmia requiring treatment.
12. Patients who have undergone any major surgery within 3 weeks prior to first study drug administration after enrollment.
13. Patients with known active central nervous system (CNS) or leptomeningeal involvement.
14. Patients who have had any of the following within 6 months prior to first administration of PEP07 after enrollment: myocardial infarction, severe/unstable angina pectoris, coronary/peripheral artery bypass graft, symptomatic congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack, or seizure disorder.
15. Have a history of hypersensitivity reactions or allergic reactions to PEP07 excipients and components.
16. Patients with other medical or psychiatric condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, might interfere with the patient's participation in the trial or interfere with the interpretation of trial results.
17. Others who are ineligible to participate in this clinical study as determined by the PI or designee.

Where it's running

  • Monash Medical Centre
    Clayton, Victoria, Australia
    Recruiting
  • Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital
    Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
    Recruiting
  • China Medical University Hospital
    Taichung, Taiwan
    Recruiting
  • Chang Gung Memorial Hospital- Linkou
    Taipei, Taiwan
    Recruiting
  • National Taiwan University Hospital
    Taipei, Taiwan
    Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Hsin-An Hou, M.D. — Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital
  • Study coordinator: Brian Shen
  • Email: brian.shen@pharmaengine.com
  • Phone: +886 2 2515-8228

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.