On December 7, 2015 Stemline Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq:STML) reported the presentation of positive clinical data, including high response rates, from the lead-in and ongoing expansion stage of its SL-401 pivotal trial in blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) at the 2015 American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting (Press release, Stemline Therapeutics, DEC 7, 2015, View Source [SID:1234508472]). The poster (no. 3795) detailing these data will be available for viewing 10am-6pm ET today and presented this evening, 6pm-8pm ET, at the conference.

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The data being presented demonstrate that multiple consecutive cycles of SL-401 produced an 86% (12/14) overall response rate (ORR) in BPDCN, with a 100% (9/9) ORR in first-line BPDCN and a 60% (3/5) ORR in relapsed/refractory BPDCN. There were four complete responses (CR) and four clinical complete responses (CRc) defined as a CR in all non-skin affected organ systems (e.g., bone marrow, lymph nodes, and/or viscera/organs) with marked clearance of gross skin lesions and residual microscopic disease detected by skin biopsy. While response duration data are maturing, of nine evaluable BPDCN responders treated at 12 ug/kg/day, five patients (including two relapsed/refractory patients) remain in remission receiving SL-401 therapy and two additional patients were successfully bridged to stem cell transplant (SCT). Patients continue to be followed for progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) and median PFS and OS have not been reached. Dosing and safety parameters were developed during the lead-in stage of the study to minimize the risk of severe capillary leak syndrome. Since implementation of these measures, SL-401 at doses of 12 ug/kg/day or below have yielded a manageable safety and tolerability profile as well as high levels of clinical activity. Also, multiple consecutive cycles of SL-401 at 12 ug/kg/day or below was not associated with cumulative side effects. The tables below summarize efficacy and safety observed in the lead-in and initial expansion stage of the ongoing pivotal trial in BPDCN. Patients continue to enroll and additional data will be available throughout 2016.

Naveen Pemmaraju, M.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Leukemia at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX), an investigator on the study, commented, "We are seeing remarkable activity to date with SL-401 in BPDCN, which in most cases is a fatal disease of unmet medical need. Importantly, we have also been able to successfully bridge some patients to transplant which, for the most part, has not been possible with existing therapies." Dr. Pemmaraju continued, "Based on the number of patients enrolled in the lead-in and expansion stage thus far, and those being referred to us now on a regular basis, we are learning that BPDCN may be a much more prevalent disease than previously thought. We look forward to advancing the study forward in relapsed/refractory patients, and believe the drug will play a key role in the upfront setting as well."

Andrew A. Lane, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Medical Oncology at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (Boston, MA), an investigator on the study, commented, "The clinical data observed thus far with SL-401 in BPDCN, and reported today at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper), are exciting and offer a potential new therapeutic approach for patients with this devastating disease for which there are few effective treatment options." Dr. Lane continued, "We are very pleased to be ongoing contributors to this study, and look forward to helping advance this active and promising agent in BPDCN and potentially other diseases as well."

Ivan Bergstein, M.D., Stemline’s Chief Executive Officer, stated, "We view today’s clinical data update as a key milestone for our SL-401 program. We are consistently observing high levels of single agent activity in a serious malignancy of unmet medical need." Dr. Bergstein continued, "We are dedicated to aggressively advancing this promising agent toward potential registration in BPDCN. Additionally, we are actively working to expand SL-401’s clinical potential across a range of additional malignancies."

Table 1. Overview of SL-401 Clinical Activity in BPDCN

Major objective responses

86% (12/14) ORR in BPDCN (all lines)
100% (9/9) ORR in first-line BPDCN
60% (3/5) ORR in relapsed/refractory (r/r) BPDCN
57% (8/14) CR+CRc rate in BPDCN (all lines); 4 CRs, 4 CRcs
Response duration data maturing

Of 9 evaluable BPDCN responders treated at 12 ug/kg/day:
5 patients, including 2 r/r patients, in remission on SL-401 therapy (ongoing)
2 patients bridged to successful stem cell transplant (SCT)