Full Press Release Details
Immunocore reports updated Phase 1 data of brenetafusp (IMC-F106C), an ImmTAC bispecific targeting PRAME, in immune checkpoint pre-treated cutaneous melanoma patients at ASCO 2024
Monotherapy brenetafusp (IMC-F106C) in late-line cutaneous melanoma demonstrated promising disease control (partial response and stable disease), progression free survival
(PFS), and ctDNA molecular response
Clinical activity was enriched in PRAME positive patients with 58% disease control rate and 4.2 months median PFS
Peripheral blood T cell fitness was associated with increased brenetafusp clinical activity and was higher in earlier lines of therapy
Brenetafusp is well tolerated as monotherapy and in combination with anti-PD1
Currently screening patients in a Phase 3 clinical trial (PRISM-MEL-301) of brenetafusp with nivolumab in first-line advanced cutaneous melanoma
Company to host a live webcast and conference call today at 7:15 PM ET / 6:15 PM CT
(OXFORDSHIRE, England & CONSHOHOCKEN, PA & ROCKVILLE, MD, US, 31 May 2024) Immunocore Holdings plc (Nasdaq: IMCR) ("Immunocore" or the "Company"), a commercial-stage biotechnology company pioneering
and delivering transformative immunomodulating medicines to radically improve outcomes for patients with cancer, infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases, today released Phase 1 data with the first off-the-shelf ImmTAC targeting PRAME, brenetafusp (IMC-F106C), in patients with late-line, post-checkpoint cutaneous melanoma. Brenetafusp was shown to be well tolerated, in monotherapy and in combination with
anti-PD1, and demonstrated durable clinical benefit.
"Brenetafusp continues to demonstrate promising monotherapy clinical activity in late-line cutaneous melanoma patients who were previously treated with checkpoint therapies," said Dr. Omid Hamid, Chief, Translational Research and Immunotherapy, Co-Director, Melanoma Therapeutics at Cedars-Sinai Cancer at the Angeles Clinic and Research Institute. "The disease control and PFS benefit for these
brenetafusp-treated melanoma patients compares favorably to data with other immunotherapies."
"The best measure of brenetafusp monotherapy activity is disease control, which is observed in 56% of checkpoint pre-treated melanoma patients," said David Berman, Head of Research
and Development. "We expect brenetafusp PFS to be even higher in first-line based on our analysis of blood T cell fitness. These data points, in conjunction with the significant molecular response and the expected additive benefit of
combining with an active anti-PD1, provide confidence for PFS as an endpoint in our ongoing Phase 3 first-line trial."
Phase 1 data in post-checkpoint cutaneous melanoma
As of 18 March 2024, 47 patients have received brenetafusp (IMC-F106C) monotherapy at clinically active target dose levels. All monotherapy treated patients had received prior immune checkpoint inhibitors (100%
anti-PD1, 81% anti-CTLA4). PRAME expression was high amongst evaluable patients (median H score of 215). Only 11% of patients had PRAME negative tumors, as measured by immunohistochemistry.
Brenetafusp was well-tolerated, with treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) that were manageable and consistent with the mechanism of action. The most frequent TRAE reported was Grade 1 or 2 cytokine release
syndrome (CRS) and rash; these events occurred predominantly following the initial three doses. There were no Grade 3 or higher CRS TRAEs.
Of the 47 monotherapy patients, 36 had a RECIST evaluable tumor assessment. The disease control rate (DCR), consisting of partial response (PR) and stable disease (SD), was 56% including 4 PR (ORR 11%) and 16 SD
(44%). Durable tumor reduction, confirmed by at least one subsequent scan, was observed in 28% of patients and is an attribute of the ImmTAC platform1. Clinical
benefit was enriched in the 31 evaluable PRAME positive patients. The DCR in this group was 58% and included all 10 patients (32%) with confirmed tumor reduction.
Both median progression free survival (mPFS) and 6-month overall survival (OS) rates were greater in PRAME positive than in PRAME negative monotherapy patients: 4.2 vs 2.1 months and 95% vs 40%, respectively.
42% of ctDNA-evaluable, PRAME positive monotherapy patients had a molecular response (10/24) and there was a trend for longer PFS and OS in molecular responders. No ctDNA-evaluable PRAME negative patients had ctDNA
In addition to the monotherapy patients treated with brenetafusp, there were 9 cutaneous melanoma patients who received brenetafusp in combination with an anti-PD1 (pembrolizumab), all of whom had received prior
checkpoint inhibitors (100% prior anti-PD1, 89% prior CTLA4). Overall, patients were more heavily pre-treated in the combination cohort compared to monotherapy (median prior lines: 4 vs 2; PD-1 refractory: 67% vs 30%). Brenetafusp in combination
with pembrolizumab was well tolerated, with TRAEs that were manageable and consistent with the mechanism of action of both agents. There was one dose-limiting toxicity (transaminitis) reported in one patient with prior history of checkpoint
inhibitor induced autoimmune hepatitis.
Of the 7 patients evaluable for efficacy in combination, 4 achieved disease control including 1 ongoing PR (confirmed after the data cut off for the presentation), and 3 of the 4 ctDNA evaluable patients having
In 41 gene-expression evaluable monotherapy patients, a gene signature was identified from baseline peripheral blood that was a measure of systemic T cell fitness. Patients with gene signature expression levels
greater than or equal to the median had higher clinical benefit including a median PFS of 6 months and DCR of 69%, compared to those with less than the median gene expression levels (2 months and 42%, respectively). Patients with only 1-2 prior
lines of therapy had higher T cell fitness gene signature, on average, than those with 3 or more prior lines of therapy.
The advanced cutaneous melanoma data from the ongoing Phase 1/2 trial of brenetafusp will be presented today at 2:45 PM CT / 3:45 PM ET, in the Melanoma/Skin Cancers oral abstract session at the 2024 American Society
of Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. The presentation will be accessible in the Events & Presentations' section of the Investor Relations section of the Company's website.
PRISM-MEL-301 - First PRAME Phase 3 clinical trial with brenetafusp in first-line advanced cutaneous melanoma
The Company is enrolling patients in a registrational Phase 3 clinical trial with brenetafusp in first-line advanced cutaneous melanoma (CM) with a primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS) (NCT06112314).
The trial will randomize HLA-A*02:01-positive, first-line advanced CM patients to brenetafusp + nivolumab versus a control arm of either nivolumab or nivolumab + relatlimab, depending on the country where the patient is enrolled.
Under the terms of a clinical trial collaboration and supply agreement, Immunocore will sponsor and fund this registrational Phase 3 clinical trial, and Bristol Myers Squibb will provide nivolumab.
Immunocore will host a conference call today, May 31, 2024 at 7:15 PM ET / 6:15 PM CT, to discuss the Phase 1 PRAME expansion data and Phase 3 registrational trial in cutaneous melanoma. The call will also be
available via webcast by visiting the Events & Presentations section on Immunocore's website. A replay of this webcast will be available for 30 days.
Conference Call Details:
U.S. (toll-free): 877-405-1239
International (toll): +1 201-389-0851
About ImmTAC molecules for cancer
Immunocore's proprietary T cell receptor (TCR) technology generates a novel class of bispecific biologics called ImmTAC (Immune mobilizing monoclonal TCRs Against Cancer) molecules that are designed to redirect the
immune system to recognize and kill cancerous cells. ImmTAC molecules are soluble TCRs engineered to recognize intracellular cancer antigens with ultra-high affinity and selectively kill these cancer cells via an anti-CD3 immune-activating effector
function. Based on the demonstrated mechanism of T cell infiltration into human tumors, the ImmTAC mechanism of action holds the potential to treat hematologic and solid tumors, regardless of mutational burden or immune infiltration, including
immune "cold" low mutation rate tumors.
About PRISM-MEL-301 - Phase 3 trial with brenetafusp (IMC-F106C; PRAME-A02) in 1L advanced cutaneous melanoma
The Phase 3 registrational trial will randomize patients with previously untreated, HLA-A*02:01-positive, advanced melanoma to brenetafusp + nivolumab versus nivolumab or nivolumab + relatlimab, depending on the
country where the patient is enrolled. The study will initially randomize to three arms: two brenetafusp dose regimens (40 mcg and 160 mcg) and control arm and will discontinue one of the brenetafusp dose regimens after an initial review of the
first 60 patients randomized to the two experimental arms (90 patients randomized total). The primary endpoint of the trial is progression free survival (PFS) by blinded independent central review (BICR), with secondary endpoints of overall
survival (OS) and overall response rate (ORR).
About the IMC-F106C-101 Phase 1/2 trial
IMC-F106C-101 is a first-in-human, Phase 1/2 dose escalation trial in patients with multiple solid tumor cancers including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), endometrial, ovarian,
cutaneous melanoma, and breast cancers. The Phase 1 dose escalation trial was designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), as well as to evaluate the safety, preliminary anti-tumor activity and pharmacokinetics of IMC-F106C
(brenetafusp), a bispecific protein built on Immunocore's ImmTAC technology, and the Company's first molecule to target the PRAME antigen. The Company has initiated patient enrollment into four expansion arms in cutaneous melanoma, ovarian, NSCLC,
and endometrial carcinomas. The IMC-F106C-101 trial is adaptive and includes the option for Phase 2 expansion, allowing for approximately 100 patients treated per tumor type in the Phase 1 and 2 expansion arms. Ph1 monotherapy continues in
additional solid tumors as well as multiple combinations with standards-of-care, including checkpoint inhibitors, chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and tebentafusp.
About Cutaneous Melanoma
Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is the most common form of melanoma. It is the most aggressive skin carcinoma and is associated with the vast majority of skin cancer-related mortality. The majority of patients with CM are
diagnosed before metastasis and survival remains poor for the large proportion of patients with metastatic disease. Despite recent progress in advanced melanoma therapy, there is still an unmet need for new therapies that improve first-line
response rates and duration of response as well as for patients who are refractory to first-line treatments.
KIMMTRAK is a novel bispecific protein comprised of a soluble T cell receptor fused to an anti-CD3 immune-effector function. KIMMTRAK specifically targets gp100, a lineage antigen expressed in melanocytes and
melanoma. This is the first molecule developed using Immunocore's ImmTAC technology platform designed to redirect and activate T cells to recognize and kill tumor cells. KIMMTRAK has been approved for the treatment of HLA-A*02:01-positive adult
patients with unresectable or metastatic uveal melanoma in the United States, European Union, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS), which may be serious or life-threatening, occurred in patients receiving KIMMTRAK. Monitor for at least 16 hours following first three infusions and
then as clinically indicated. Manifestations of CRS may include fever, hypotension, hypoxia, chills, nausea, vomiting, rash, elevated transaminases, fatigue, and headache. CRS occurred in 89% of patients who received KIMMTRAK with 0.8%
being grade 3 or 4. Ensure immediate access to medications and resuscitative equipment to manage CRS. Ensure patients are euvolemic prior to initiating the infusions. Closely monitor patients for signs or symptoms of CRS following infusions of
KIMMTRAK. Monitor fluid status, vital signs, and oxygenation level and provide appropriate therapy. Withhold or discontinue KIMMTRAK depending on persistence and severity of CRS.
Skin reactions, including rash, pruritus, and cutaneous edema occurred in 91% of patients treated with KIMMTRAK. Monitor patients for skin reactions. If skin reactions occur, treat with antihistamine and topical or
systemic steroids based on persistence and severity of symptoms. Withhold or permanently discontinue KIMMTRAK depending on the severity of skin reactions.
Elevated Liver Enzymes
Elevations in liver enzymes occurred in 65% of patients treated with KIMMTRAK. Monitor alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total blood bilirubin prior to the start of and during
treatment with KIMMTRAK. Withhold KIMMTRAK according to severity.
Embryo-Fetal Toxicity
KIMMTRAK may cause fetal harm. Advise pregnant patients of potential risk to the fetus and patients of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with KIMMTRAK and 1 week after the last
The most common adverse reactions ( 30%) in patients who received KIMMTRAK were cytokine release syndrome, rash, pyrexia, pruritus, fatigue, nausea, chills, abdominal pain, edema, hypotension, dry skin, headache, and
vomiting. The most common ( 50%) laboratory abnormalities were decreased lymphocyte count, increased creatinine, increased glucose, increased AST, increased ALT, decreased hemoglobin, and decreased phosphate.
For more information, please see full Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) or full U.S. Prescribing Information (including BOXED WARNING for CRS).
Immunocore is a commercial-stage biotechnology company pioneering the development of a novel class of TCR bispecific immunotherapies called ImmTAX - Immune mobilizing monoclonal TCRs Against X disease - designed to
treat a broad range of diseases, including cancer, autoimmune, and infectious disease. Leveraging its proprietary, flexible, off-the-shelf ImmTAX platform, Immunocore is developing a deep pipeline in multiple therapeutic areas, including nine
active clinical and pre-clinical programs in oncology, infectious diseases, and autoimmune diseases. The Company's most advanced oncology TCR therapeutic, KIMMTRAK has been approved for the treatment of HLA-A*02:01-positive adult patients with
unresectable or metastatic uveal melanoma in the United States, European Union, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," "believe," "expect,"
"plan," "anticipate," "estimate," and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical
facts, included in this press release are forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the expected clinical benefits of ImmTAC molecules, including KIMMTRAK, brenetafusp, and the Immunocore's
other product candidates, including tumor reduction, disease control rate of partial responses and stable diseases, ctDNA molecular response, progression free survival and extended overall survival benefit, alone and in combination with other
therapies; the expected efficacy and tolerability of Immunocore's products and product candidates, including brenetafusp; expectations regarding receipt of regulatory approvals and completion of related procedures; the value proposition of
Immunocore's products and product candidates, including KIMMTRAK and brenetafusp; future development plans of Immunocore's products and product candidates, including KIMMTRAK and brenetafusp; and expectations regarding the design, progress, timing,
enrollment, randomization, scope, expansion, funding and results of Immunocore's existing and planned clinical trials, including the Phase 3 PRISM-MEL301 trial with brenetafusp plus nivolumab versus standard nivolumab in 1L advanced cutaneous
melanoma and the IMC-F106C-101 Phase 1/2 dose escalation trial with brenetafusp in patients with multiple solid tumor cancers including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), endometrial, ovarian, cutaneous melanoma, and
breast cancers, and those of the Immunocore's collaboration partners or the combined clinical trials with Immunocore's collaboration partners; statements regarding the benefits of the Company's collaboration with Bristol-Meyers Squibb; and the
timing and sufficiency of clinical trial outcomes to support potential approval of any of the Immunocore's product candidates or those of, or combined with, its collaboration partners. Any forward-looking statements are based on management's
current expectations and beliefs of future events and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking
statements, many of which are beyond the Company's control. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the impact of worsening macroeconomic conditions on the Company's business, financial position, strategy and anticipated