On June 4, 2024 AbelZeta Pharma, Inc. ("AbelZeta" or the "Company"), a global clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative and proprietary cell-based therapeutic products, reported preliminary safety and efficacy results from its first time in human investigator-initiated trial (IIT) of C-CAR031 in connection with the Company’s oral presentation at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting (Press release, AbelZeta, JUN 4, 2024, View Source [SID1234644103]). The presentation shared data indicating a manageable safety profile and encouraging anti-tumor activity of C-CAR031 in patients with heavily pretreated advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (1-6 lines of prior therapy). C-CAR031 is based on a novel GPC3-targeting CAR-T designed by AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) and is manufactured by AbelZeta. C-CAR031 is being co-developed in China by AbelZeta and AstraZeneca.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"We are encouraged by the first clinical results of C-CAR031 in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients," said Tony (Bizuo) Liu, Chairman and CEO of AbelZeta. "The early data presented today provide compelling proof-of-concept to potentially redefine therapeutic paradigms in HCC and other GPC3-expressing solid tumors."

Principal Investigator (PI) of the study, Professor Tingbo Liang from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University, stated "C-CAR031 showed a good safety profile and promising efficacy in late-stage hepatocellular carcinoma patients, who typically have a limited number of treatment options available. The observed tumor shrinkage in the large/vast majority (91.3%) of the patients suggests that C-CAR031 has the potential to bring clinical value and offer hope to these patients."

As of March 14, 2024, 23 of 24 patients on the study were eligible for efficacy assessment. Tumor reductions were observed in 91.3% patients, in both intrahepatic and extrahepatic lesions, with a median reduction of 42.2% (range, -28.1% 94.4%). The disease control rate was 91.3% and the ORR was 56.5% for patients across all DLs. In DL4, the ORR was 75.0%. With 9.03-month median follow-up, Kaplan-Meier estimation of median overall survival (mOS) is 11.14 months (95% CI, 7.56-NE).

No dose-limiting toxicity or immune effector cell associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) was observed. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) was observed in 22 (91.7%) patients with the majority (87.5%) grade 1/2 CRS and only 1 (4.2%) grade 3 CRS.

About C-CAR031

C-CAR031 is an autologous, armored GPC3-targeting chimeric antigen receptor T-Cell (CAR-T) therapy, being studied for the treatment of HCC. It is based on a novel GPC3-targeting CAR-T designed by AstraZeneca using their dominant negative transforming growth factor-beta receptor II dominant negative (dnTGFβRII) armoring discovery platform and is manufactured by AbelZeta in China. C-CAR031 is being developed in China under a co-development agreement between AbelZeta and AstraZeneca.1

About the Study

A Phase I clinical study (NCT05155189) aiming to assess the safety and anti-tumor activity of C-CAR031 injection in advanced/unresectable HCC patients is being conducted in China. As of March 14, 2024, a total of 24 patients received C-CAR031 infusion at 4 dose levels (DLs). 83.3% (20/24) had extrahepatic metastasis. The median number of prior lines of systemic therapy was 3.5 (range 1-6).

Abstract Title: "Phase I study of C-CAR031, a GPC3-specific TGFβRIIDN armored autologous CAR-T, in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)."
Abstract Number: 4019
Session Type and Title: Rapid Oral Abstract – Gastrointestinal Cancer – Gastroesophageal, Pancreatic, and Hepatobiliary
Session Date and Time: 6/3/2024; 9:45 AM-11:15 AM CDT