Bolt Biotherapeutics Doses First Patient with BDC-1001 in Combination with OPDIVO® (nivolumab) in Ongoing Phase 1/2 Clinical Trial for the Treatment of HER2-Expressing Solid Tumors

On January 6, 2022 Bolt Biotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: BOLT), a clinical-stage biotechnology company pioneering a new class of immuno-oncology agents that combine the targeting precision of antibodies with the power of both the innate and adaptive immune systems, reported that the first patient has been dosed in a new combination arm of the ongoing multi-center, multi-dose Phase 1/2 clinical trial of BDC-1001 (Press release, Bolt Biotherapeutics, JAN 6, 2022, View Source [SID1234618690]). This arm is evaluating BDC-1001 in combination with Bristol Myers Squibb’s PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor OPDIVO (nivolumab). In parallel, Bolt continues to advance the single-agent portion of the study, following the presentation of interim dose-escalation data at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Immuno-Oncology (ESMO I-O) Congress 2021. BDC-1001 is a HER2-targeting Boltbody immune-stimulating antibody conjugate (ISAC) (trastuzumab biosimilar conjugated to a toll-like receptor 7 and 8 agonist) in development for the treatment of patients with HER2-expressing solid tumors.

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"We are excited to evaluate BDC-1001 in combination with nivolumab, a leading PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor. Pairing BDC-1001’s mechanism of action with the checkpoint inhibitor approach has the potential to yield a stronger, targeted modulation of the immune system. Initial safety and early efficacy findings reported from the ongoing monotherapy arm of the Phase 1/2 clinical trial make BDC-1001 a potentially promising candidate for the treatment of patients with HER2-expressing solid tumors," said Edith A. Perez, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Bolt Biotherapeutics. "In the early clinical development of BDC-1001, our strategy is to follow the science, elucidating how this novel approach to engaging a patient’s immune system can eliminate tumors not addressed by currently available therapies. We look forward to investigating BDC-1001 in this first combination arm as we also continue investigation of its single-agent activity."

Bristol Myers Squibb will provide Opdivo for the combination dose escalation and combination dose expansion portions of the trial. Bolt Biotherapeutics is the study sponsor and will be responsible for costs associated with the trial execution.

About BDC-1001
BDC-1001 is a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) ISAC comprising a HER2-targeting biosimilar of trastuzumab conjugated with a non-cleavable linker to an innovative TLR7/8 agonist. It is currently being investigated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial (NCT04278144) in patients with HER2-expressing solid tumors, including breast, gastroesophageal and colorectal. The trial is being conducted in four parts, and the dose-escalation monotherapy part will continue in parallel with the combination therapy study. Interim monotherapy data presented by Bolt at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Immuno-Oncology (ESMO I-O) Congress 2021 demonstrated a safe and well-tolerated profile with early clinical activity, supporting continued dose escalation and evaluation of a weekly dosing regimen.

About the Boltbody Immune-Stimulating Antibody Conjugate (ISAC) Platform
ISACs are a new category of immunotherapy that combines the precision of antibody targeting with the strength of the innate and adaptive immune systems. Boltbody ISACs comprise three primary components: a tumor-targeting antibody, a non-cleavable linker, and a proprietary immune stimulant to activate the patient’s innate immune system. By initially targeting a single marker on the surface of a patient’s tumor cells, an ISAC can create a new immune response by activating and recruiting myeloid cells. The activated myeloid cells start a feed-forward loop by releasing cytokines and chemokines, chemical signals that attract other immune cells and lower the activation threshold for an immune response. This reprograms the tumor microenvironment and invokes an adaptive immune response that targets the tumor, with the goal of durable responses for patients with cancer.