On September 26, 2017 Aduro Biotech, Inc. (Nasdaq:ADRO), a biopharmaceutical company with three distinct immunotherapy technologies, reported that the first patient has been dosed in the Phase 1b dose escalation and dose expansion clinical trial (see www.clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT03172936) designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ADU-S100 (also known as MIW815), a novel STING pathway activator, in combination with PDR001, Novartis’ investigational PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor, for the treatment of advanced/metastatic solid tumors or lymphomas (Press release, Aduro Biotech, SEP 26, 2017, View Source [SID1234520631]). The trial, which is being conducted in collaboration with Aduro’s partner, Novartis, is expected to enroll approximately 175 patients at sites located in the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia and Japan.
“We are pleased with our early progress in the ongoing Phase 1 dose escalation trial of ADU-S100 as a single agent and are eager to expand our investigation into a separate clinical trial to evaluate the effect of ADU-S100 used in combination with the PDR001 checkpoint inhibitor,” said Natalie Sacks, M.D., chief medical officer of Aduro Biotech. “As a leader in STING activation, we look forward to gaining more insight into the potential therapeutic application of this novel combination therapy.”
Clinical Design of Phase 1b ADU-S100 (MIW815)/PDR100
The Phase 1b multi-center, open-label study is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ADU-S100 (MIW815) in combination with PDR001 in patients with accessible solid tumors or lymphomas. The trial will evaluate two treatment schedules of ADU-S100 in dose escalation. One group will receive a fixed dose of intravenous PDR001 on day 1 and an intratumoral injection of ADU-S100 three times in a 28-day cycle. Another group will receive a fixed dose of intravenous PDR001 on day 1 and intratumoral injection of MIW815 (ADU-S100) on day 1 of every 28-day cycle. Once the maximum tolerated dose and/or recommended dose for expansion is determined, the expansion part of the study will open.
Ongoing Phase 1 Dose Escalation Trial of ADU-S100 (MIW815) in Multiple Tumor Types
In May 2016, Aduro announced the initiation of the ongoing Phase 1, multicenter, dose escalation study designed to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and anti-tumor activity of ADU-S100 (MIW815) in patients with cutaneously accessible metastatic solid tumors or lymphomas (see www.clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT02675439). The trial is ongoing.
About STING Pathway Activator Platform
The Aduro-proprietary STING pathway activator product candidates, including ADU-S100 (MIW815), are synthetic small molecule immune modulators that are designed to target and activate human STING. STING is generally expressed at high levels in immune cells, including dendritic cells. Once activated, the STING receptor initiates a profound innate immune response through multiple pathways, inducing the expression of a broad profile of cytokines, including interferons and chemokines. This subsequently leads to the development of a systemic tumor antigen-specific T cell adaptive immune response.
About Aduro/Novartis Collaboration
In March 2015, Aduro and Novartis entered into a collaboration and license agreement relating to the global research, development and commercialization of immuno-oncology products derived from Aduro’s proprietary STING pathway activator platform technology. Under the terms of the agreement, Aduro received an upfront payment from Novartis of $200 million and a $35 million development milestone upon initiation of the Phase 1 trial for ADU-S100 in May 2016, and if all development and regulatory milestones are met, is eligible to receive up to an additional aggregate amount of $465 million. The collaboration is guided by a joint steering committee with both Aduro and Novartis having final decision making authority regarding specified areas of development or commercialization. Pending regulatory approval, Aduro will lead commercialization activities and will book sales in the United States for any products developed and commercialized pursuant to this collaboration, and Novartis will lead commercialization activities in all other regions. The companies will share in profits, if any, in the United States, Japan and major European countries. Novartis will pay Aduro a mid-teens royalty for sales in the rest of the world. Aduro maintains rights to its STING platform technology in all therapeutic areas outside of oncology, including infectious disease and autoimmunity, among others.