Full Press Release Details
Citius Pharmaceuticals Announces a Clinical
Collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh to Evaluate T-reg Cell Depletion with I/ONTAK (E7777) in Combination with Pembrolizumab
in Recurrent or Metastatic Solid Cancer Tumors in a Phase 1 Investigator-Initiated Trial
I/ONTAK plus PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab
to be evaluated in solid tumor patients
University of Pittsburgh dose-ranging study
expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2022
Collaboration marks second investigator-initiated
study of I/ONTAK as combination immunotherapy
CRANFORD, N.J., September 22, 2022 -
Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ("Citius" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: CTXR), a late-stage biopharmaceutical company
developing and commercializing first-in-class critical care products, today announced a collaboration with Dr. Haider Mahdi at the
University of Pittsburgh in an investigator-initiated trial to evaluate I/ONTAK ("denileukin diftitox" or "E7777")
in combination with pembrolizumab in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic solid tumors.
are honored to support Dr. Mahdi and his team at the University of Pittsburgh in this Phase 1 investigator-initiated study to evaluate
I/ONTAK as a combination therapy in the treatment of solid tumors. This study will expand the body of knowledge about I/ONTAK's
unique mechanism-of-action targeting the CD25 component of the IL-2 receptor which is present on both malignant T-cells (T-cell leukemias
and lymphomas) and immunosuppressive regulatory T-cells (T-regs)," stated Dr. Myron Czuczman, Chief Medical Officer of Citius. "Preclinical
research in a syngeneic solid tumor mouse model shows that E7777 (denileukin
diftitox) enhances anti-tumor activity and significantly extends survival benefit of anti-PD-1 therapy.
This data provides a positive signal of denileukin diftitox's
potential in the immuno-oncology space. There remains a significant ongoing need for innovative, effective, and well-tolerated treatments
for cancer patients with solid tumors, and we are excited that I/ONTAK may provide meaningful antitumor activity in combination with the
PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA )," added Dr. Czuczman.
clinical data emerging in the field of tumor immunotherapy have demonstrated that therapies focused on enhancing T-cell responses against
cancer result in a significant survival benefit in patients with advanced malignancies. Overexpression of PD-L1 on tumor cells has been
reported to impede anti-tumor immunity, resulting in immune evasion. The interruption of the PD-1:PD-L1 pathway combined with diminishing
the suppressive effect by T-regs may represent an attractive strategy for restoring tumor-specific T-cell immunity. This first in human
I/ONTAK plus anti-PD-1 combination immunotherapy study is a significant step towards advancing a T-cell-based therapeutic approach to
treating solid tumors," stated Dr. Haider Mahdi, University of Pittsburgh, Assistant Professor, Department
of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences. Education & Training.
Additionally, Citius is collaborating with an investigator-initiated
study at the University of Minnesota (UMN). This Phase 1 dose-finding study to evaluate I/ONTAK prior to tisagenleucel (KYMRIAH )
CAR-T therapy in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) enrolled its first patient in May 2021.
About the University of Pittsburgh Study
The investigator-initiated trial at UPMC is
an open label, Phase I/Ib study to evaluate T-reg cell depletion with I/ONTAK (E7777) in combination with pembrolizumab in recurrent or
metastatic solid tumors. The study consists of two parts. Part I is a dose escalation study of four cohorts (3,6,9,12 mcg of I/ONTAK)
and is expected to enroll 18-30 patients. Part II is a dose expansion study of approximately 40 patients to evaluate the safety and tolerability
of the recommended combination dose of I/ONTAK and pembrolizumab. The study will also investigate the alteration of the immune microenvironment
within tumors and peripheral blood. Secondary endpoints include the objective response (complete response plus partial response), progression-free
survival, and overall survival.
I/ONTAK is a recombinant fusion protein that
combines the interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor binding domain with diphtheria toxin fragments. The agent specifically binds to IL-2 receptors
on the cell surface, causing diphtheria toxin fragments that have entered cells to inhibit protein synthesis. I/ONTAK, a purified version
of denileukin diftitox, is a reformulation of previously FDA-approved oncology treatment ONTAK. ONTAK was marketed in the U.S. from 1999
to 2014, when it was voluntarily withdrawn from the market. Manufacturing improvements resulted in a new formulation, which maintains
the same amino acid sequence but features improved purity and bioactivity. The new formulation received regulatory approval in Japan in
2021 for the treatment of CTCL and PTCL. In 2011 and 2013, the FDA granted orphan drug designation (ODD) to I/ONTAK for the treatment
of PTCL and CTCL, respectively.
About Citius Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Citius is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company
dedicated to the development and commercialization of first-in-class critical care products, with a focus on oncology, anti-infectives
in adjunct cancer care, unique prescription products, and stem cell therapies. The Company's diversified pipeline includes two late-stage
product candidates, Mino-Lok , an antibiotic lock solution for the treatment of patients with catheter-related bloodstream
infections (CRBSIs), which is currently enrolling patients in a Phase 3 Pivotal superiority trial, and I/ONTAK (E7777), a novel IL-2R
immunotherapy for an initial indication in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), for which a BLA submission is being prepared for the second
half of 2022. Mino-Lok was granted Fast Track designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). I/ONTAK
has received orphan drug designation by the FDA for the treatment of CTCL and peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). In the first half of
2022, Citius initiated a Phase 2b trial for Halo-Lido, a topical formulation for the relief of hemorrhoids. The Company anticipates completing
enrollment in the Halo-Lido trial by the end of 2022. For more information, please visit www.citiuspharma.com.
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