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Varlilumab

Phase 2

Glioblastoma | Monoclonal antibody | Oncology |Celldex Therapeutics, Inc.|Last Updated: Apr 15, 2025

Target and mechanism

Molecular targetCD27
Target classAgonist
ModalityMonoclonal antibody

Success Probability

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Market & Valuation

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Trial Design

RandomizedDouble-BlindCONTROLLEDDMCBiomarker
Total Trials1
Total Enrollment43

FDA Designations

No designations recorded

Clinical trial landscape

Varlilumab · 2 trials · 6 indications

Phase 2 1Phase 1 1
NCT03688178DC Migration Study to Evaluate TReg Depletion In GBM Patients With and Without VarlilumabGlioblastoma
ACTIVE NOT_RECRUITING43 Analytics
PHASE2ACTIVE NOT_RECRUITING
DC Migration Study to Evaluate TReg Depletion In GBM Patients With and Without Varlilumab
GlioblastomaUnlock trial analytics

Study Endpoints

Primary Endpoints

Median Overall Survival (OS) of Subjects Receiving Td pre-conditioning
5 years

OS is defined as the time in months between randomization and death, or last follow-up if alive (Groups 1 and 2). Kaplan-Meier methods will be used to estimate median OS

Safety of administering Varlilumab to GBM patients receiving temozolomide and dendritic cell vaccines ± Td pre-conditioning as measured by the percentage of patients with unacceptable toxicity regardless of attribution
5 years

Percentage of patients with unacceptable toxicity (all Groups)

Median percent change between baseline, assessed on day 14, and nadir levels of Treg before the time that the second cycle of adjuvant TMZ would be administered. Treg determined by flow cytometry (CD3+ CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+).
50 days

Change between baseline and nadir before the 2nd cycle of TMZ (Combined Groups 1 and 2, Group 3)

Phase I: Number of participants with treatment-related adverse events as determined by CTCAE v4.0, dose-limiting toxicities, and laboratory abnormalities.
Safety follow-up is 100 days from last study drug dose.
Phase II: Preliminary antitumor activity of the combination of varlilumab and nivolumab as measured by objective response rate (ORR) in patients with CRC, ovarian cancer, RCC and SCCHN and Overall Survival-12 months in GBM.
Evaluated every 8 weeks following treatment initiation until treatment is discontinued or disease progression, for up to 3 years.

Secondary Endpoints

Median Overall Survival (OS) of Subjects Receiving DC vaccines, varlilumab, and Td pre-conditioning
5 years
Median Progression-free Survival (PFS)
5 years
Median Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 3 (CCL3) Levels in Serum at 24, 48, and 72 hours after Pre-conditioning
2 days
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Study Design & Arms

AllocationRANDOMIZED
MaskingTRIPLE
ModelPARALLEL
PurposeTREATMENT

Treatment Arms

ArmTypeDescription
Gr1: DC vaccine (DC pre-conditioning)EXPERIMENTALPatients will receive TMZ at a target dose of 150-200 mg/m\^2/d for 5 days every 4 (+2) weeks for up to 12 cycles. DC vaccines will be administered in equal amounts to both inguinal regions. DC vaccines #1-3 occur every 2 weeks and all subsequent vaccines (up to 10) occur monthly. Group 1 patients will receive autologous unpulsed DC vaccines administered to a single side of the groin and saline administered to the contralateral side the day prior to the 4th DC vaccine as pre-conditioning.
Gr2: DC Vaccine (Td pre-conditioning)EXPERIMENTALPatients will receive TMZ at a target dose of 150-200 mg/m\^2/d for 5 days every 4 (+2) weeks for up to 12 cycles. DC vaccines will be administered in equal amounts to both inguinal regions. DC vaccines #1-3 occur every 2 weeks and all subsequent vaccines (up to 10) occur monthly. Group 2 patients will receive a single dose of Td toxoid administered to a single side of the groin and saline administered to the contralateral side the day prior to the 4th DC vaccine, which is always given bilaterally at the groin site.
Gr3:DC Vaccine+varlilumab(Td pre-conditioning)EXPERIMENTALPatients will receive TMZ at a target dose of 150-200 mg/m\^2/d for 5 days every 4 (+2) weeks for up to 12 cycles. DC vaccines will be administered in equal amounts to both inguinal regions. DC vaccines #1-3 occur every 2 weeks and all subsequent vaccines (up to 10) occur monthly. Group 3 patients will receive the first 3 DC vaccines every 2 weeks, same as Groups 1 and 2, but they will also receive varlilumab intraveneously (IV) 7 days before vaccine #1 and again at the same visit as vaccine #1, as well as 7 days before every DC vaccine except vaccine #2. Prior to the 4th vaccine, patients will receive a single dose of Td toxoid administered to a single side of the groin and saline administered to the contralateral side.
Varlilumab and NivolumabEXPERIMENTAL -

Interventions

NameTypeDescription
Human CMV pp65-LAMP mRNA-pulsed autologous DCsBIOLOGICAL2x10\^7 human CMV pp65-LAMP mRNA-pulsed autologous DCs are given intradermally and bilaterally at the groin site (divided equally to both inguinal regions). Patients will receive up to a total of 10 DC vaccines.
TemozolomideDRUGTemozolomide is a standard chemotherapy given to all enrolled patients at a targeted dose of 150-200mg/m2/d for 5 days every 4 (+ 2) weeks for up to 12 cycles (patients with unmethylated MGMT gene promoter will receive only cycle 1)
VarlilumabBIOLOGICALVarlilumab is an agonist anti-CD27 monoclonal antibody
TdBIOLOGICALA single dose of Td toxoid (1 flocculation unit, Lf, in 0.4 mLs) administered to a single side of the groin given intradermally
Unpulsed DCsBIOLOGICALPatients in Group I will receive 1 x 10\^6 autologous unpulsed DCs in saline administered to a single side of the groin intradermally 1 day before the fourth vaccine.
Combination of varlilumab and nivolumabDRUGPhase I: Varlilumab dosing will be dependent on the cohort assigned in combination with 3 mg/kg of nivolumab every two weeks. Phase II: Patients with CRC, RCC or GBM enrolled in Phase ll will receive 3.0 mg/kg of varlilumab in combination with 240 mg of nivolumab every 2 weeks. Patients with SCCHN or ovarian cancer will receive varlilumab at a dose of either 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks, 3 mg/kg every 12 weeks, or 0.3 mg/kg every 4 weeks, in combination with 240 mg of nivolumab every 2 weeks. Patients may be discontinued from receiving study treatment based on the results of disease assessments or if experiencing intolerable side effects.
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Eligibility Criteria

Age Range18 Years to N/A
SexALL
Healthy VolunteersNo
Study Sites1

Inclusion Criteria: * Age ≥18 years of age. * Glioblastoma with definitive resection prior to enrollment, with residual radiographic contrast enhancing disease on the post-operative CT or MRI of \<1 cm in maximal diameter in any plane. * Able to receive SOC RT/TMZ for approximately 6 weeks duration...

Countries:United States
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Frequently asked questions about Varlilumab

What is the combination of varlilumab and nivolumab used for?

The combination of varlilumab and nivolumab is being studied for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). It is an investigational combination therapy in Phase 1 clinical development, evaluated in patients with advanced refractory solid tumors, including SCCHN.

What does varlilumab target?

Varlilumab targets CD27, a costimulatory receptor on immune cells, and acts as an agonist. By activating CD27, varlilumab is designed to enhance the immune system's anti-tumor response. It is combined with nivolumab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, in this investigational regimen.

Who is developing the combination of varlilumab and nivolumab?

The combination of varlilumab and nivolumab is being developed by Celldex Therapeutics, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company traded on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol CLDX. The therapy is in Phase 1 clinical development for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

What phase is the combination of varlilumab and nivolumab in?

The combination of varlilumab and nivolumab is in Phase 1 clinical development. It is an investigational therapy, not yet approved by regulatory authorities. The Phase 1 study has been completed, with results expected to inform further development.

What clinical trials is the combination of varlilumab and nivolumab in?

The combination of varlilumab and nivolumab was studied in a completed Phase 1 clinical trial with the identifier NCT02335918. This trial was a dose escalation and cohort expansion study in advanced refractory solid tumors, including squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, with a total enrollment of 175 participants.

Is varlilumab the same as the combination of varlilumab and nivolumab?

Varlilumab is the anti-CD27 antibody component of the combination therapy. The combination of varlilumab and nivolumab refers to the regimen that pairs varlilumab with nivolumab, an anti-PD-1 antibody. Varlilumab alone is a distinct investigational agent, while the combination is the specific therapeutic approach being studied.