Overview

Phase 2 Study of Imprime PGG & Pembrolizumab in Subjects With Adv SCCHN Who Failed Pembro Monotherapy or Experiencing SD

Status:
Terminated
Trial end date:
2018-04-13
Target enrollment:
0
Participant gender:
All
Summary
Objective: To determine the Overall Response Rate (ORR) to Imprime PGG + pembrolizumab in subjects with advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck (SCCHN) Safety: To characterize the safety of Imprime PGG + pembrolizumab given in combination Hypothesis: Restore (for subjects who have failed pembrolizumab mono therapy) or enhance (for subjects who actively experiencing SD) sensitivity to checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) by appropriate and effective stimulation of the subject's innate and adaptive immune systems by combining Imprime PGG with pembrolizumab. The study will require documenting at least 5 objective responses among the 38 subjects enrolled who have failed prior pembrolizumab monotherapy and at least 17 objective responses among the 49 subjects enrolled who are actively experiencing stable disease following at least 4 cycles (but no more than 8 cycles) of pembrolizumab monotherapy.
Phase:
Phase 2
Accepts Healthy Volunteers?
No
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Biothera
HiberCell, Inc.
Collaborator:
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
Treatments:
Pembrolizumab
Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Have signed an informed document prior to any study-specific procedures or treatment

2. Be ≥ 18 years of age at time of consent

3. Have histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of SCCHN irrespective of
PD-L1 status, which is either inoperable and recurrent, or metastatic

4. Up to 3 prior chemotherapy regimens or metastatic disease

5. Have either:

1. Investigator determined assessment of disease progression after treatment with
pembrolizumab monotherapy, OR

2. Investigator determined assessment of current stable disease following completion
of at least 4 cycles but no more than 8 cycles, of pembrolizumab monotherapy

6. Have resolution of all previous treatment-related toxicities to Grade 1 severity or
lower, except for stable sensory neuropathy (less than or equal to Grade 2) or
alopecia. If subject received major surgery or radiation therapy of > 30 Gy, must have
recovered from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention.

7. Have at least one radiologically measurable lesion as per RECIST v1.1 defined as a
lesion that is at least 10 mm in longest diameter or lymph node that is at least 15 mm
in short axis imaged by CT scan or MRI and obtained by imaging within 28 days prior to
start of study treatment. Tumor lesions situated in a previously irradiated area are
considered measurable if progression has been demonstrated in such lesions.

8. Have peripheral blood levels of IgG anti-β-glucan antibody (ABA) of ≥ 20 mcg/mL as
determined by an ELISA test within 90 days prior to start of study treatment

9. Be willing to consider providing fresh tissue for biomarker analysis, and, based on
the adequacy of the tissue sample quality, for assessment of biomarker status. Repeat
samples may be required if adequate tissue is not provided. Newly obtained biopsy
specimens are preferred to archived samples and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded
block specimens are preferred to slides.

Note: Information on 1 tumor biopsy sample is mandatory and is as follows: (1) To
determine eligibility, historical (diagnostic) tumor biopsy official pathology report
+/- an archival sample. Additional biopsy samples, preferably obtained from the same
localized region, are highly desirable when feasible at the following time points: (2)
Sample before the first dose of study treatment, (3) Sample after completion of Cycle
2 but before the start of Cycle 3 dosing, and (4) Sample either at the time of
response or at the End of Study Visit (if no response).

10. Have Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1 (see
Appendix 14.3)

11. Have life expectancy of 6 months or greater as determined by the treating physician

12. Have adequate organ function (all screening labs should be performed within 15 days
prior to study treatment):

1. Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN) OR direct bilirubin ≤ ULN for
subjects with total bilirubin levels > 1.5 x ULN

2. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 2.5 × ULN or ≤ 5 × ULN for subjects with known
hepatic metastases

3. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 × ULN or ≤ 5 × ULN for subjects with known
hepatic metastases

4. Albumin level ≥3 g/dL

13. Have adequate renal function within 15 days prior to study treatment, defined by the
following criteria:

Creatinine ≤ 1.5 x ULN and CrCl ≥ 30 ml/min per Cockcroft Gault formula:

14. Have adequate hematologic function within 15 days prior to study treatment, defined as
meeting all of the following criteria:

1. Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL (uncorrected by RBC transfusion)

2. Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 × 109/L

3. Platelet count ≥ 100 × 109/L

15. Have adequate coagulation functioning within 15 days prior to start of study
treatment, defined by either of the following criteria:

1. INR < 1.5 × ULN

2. OR for subjects receiving warfarin or low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), the
subjects must, in the Investigator's opinion, be clinically stable with no
evidence of active bleeding while receiving anticoagulant therapy. The INR for
these subjects may exceed 1.5 × ULN if that is the goal of anticoagulant therapy.

3. Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT) < 1.5 × ULN unless subject is
receiving anticoagulant therapy as long as PT or PTT is within therapeutic range
of intended use of anticoagulants

16. Female subjects of childbearing potential as defined in Section 5.7.2 must have a
negative urine or serum pregnancy within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of
study medication. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a
serum pregnancy test will be required.

17. If of childbearing potential as defined in Section 5.7.2, must be willing to use an
adequate method of contraception (see Section 5.7.2) from the first dose of study
medication through 120 days after the last dose of study medication

18. Be willing and have the ability to comply with scheduled visits (including
geographical proximity), treatment plans, laboratory tests, and other study procedures

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Has disease that is suitable for local therapy administered with curative intent

2. Is currently participating and receiving study therapy or has participated in a study
of an investigational agent and received study therapy or used an investigational
device within 4 weeks of the first dose of treatment

3. Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or receiving systemic steroid therapy (in dosing
exceeding 10 mg daily of prednisone equivalent) or any other form of immunosuppressive
therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of study treatment. The use of
physiologic doses of corticosteroids may be approved after consultation with the
Sponsor.

4. Has known history of active tuberculosis

5. Has known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (HIV 1/2 antibodies)

6. Has known active Hepatitis B (eg, HBsAg reactive) or Hepatitis C (eg, HCV RNA
[qualitative] is detected

7. Has a history of clinically severe autoimmune disease, or history of organ transplant

8. Has known hypersensitivity to baker's yeast

9. Had previous exposure to Betafectin® or Imprime PGG

10. Has severe hypersensitivity to pembrolizumab or any of its excipients

11. Had a prior anti-cancer monoclonal antibody (other than pembrolizumab) within 30 days
prior to start of study treatment, or failure to recover to CTCAE Grade 1 or better
from the adverse events of prior therapies

12. Had within 2 weeks prior to the first dose of study treatment, received prior
chemotherapy, targeted small molecule therapy, or radiation therapy, or who has not
recovered from adverse events due to a previously administered agent or major surgery

13. Has received transfusion of blood products (including platelets or red blood cells) or
administration of colony stimulating factors (including G-CSF, GM-CSF, or recombinant
erythropoietin) within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study treatment

14. Has known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment.
Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin or squamous cell carcinoma of the
skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy or in situ cervical cancer.

15. Has known active central nervous system metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis.
Subjects with previously treated brain metastases may participate provided they are
stable (without evidence of progression by imaging for at least 4 weeks prior to the
first dose of trial treatment and any neurologic symptoms have returned to baseline),
have no evidence of new or enlarging brain metastases, and are not using steroids for
at least 7 days prior to trial treatment. This exception does not include
carcinomatous meningitis, which is excluded regardless of clinical stability.

16. Has active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment in the past 2 years (ie,
with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs).
Replacement therapy (eg, thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteriod replacement
therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency) is not considered a form of systemic
treatment.

17. Has history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or current
pneumonitis

18. Has a history of interstitial lung disease

19. Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy

20. Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality
that might confound the results of the trial, interfere with the subject's
participation for the full duration of the trial, or is not in the best interest of
the subject to participate, in the opinion of the treating Investigator

21. Has a clinically significant cardiovascular disease such as unstable angina,
myocardial infarction, or acute coronary syndrome within ≤180 days prior to start of
study treatment, symptomatic or uncontrolled arrhythmia, congestive heart failure, or
any Class 3 or 4 cardiac disease as defined by the New York Heart Association
Functional Classification

22. Has a known psychiatric or substance abuse disorder(s) that would interfere with
informed consent or cooperation with the requirements of the trial

23. Is pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the
projected duration of the trial, starting with the pre-screening or screening visit
through 120 days after the last dose of trial treatment

24. Has received a live-virus vaccination within 30 days of planned treatment start.
Seasonal flu vaccines that do not contain live virus are permitted