On June 4, 2024 HOOKIPA Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ: HOOK, ‘HOOKIPA’), a company developing a new class of immunotherapeutics based on its proprietary arenavirus platform, reported positive updated results from its Phase 2 clinical trial of HB-200 in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with recurrent/metastatic human papillomavirus 16 positive (HPV16+) head and neck cancer (Press release, Hookipa Biotech, JUN 4, 2024, View Source [SID1234644090]).

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The updated data presented at the ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2024 Annual Meeting is as of March 29, 2024 (cutoff date) and includes 46 patients treated with HB-200 plus pembrolizumab in the first line setting. Results showed rapid and durable activation of antigen-specific CD8+ T cells and promising clinical activity.

Among 35 evaluable patients data showed a 37 percent confirmed objective response rate (ORR), 11 percent complete response (CR) rate, and 69% disease control rate (DCR), per RECIST 1.1 criteria. Duration of response was not yet mature with 62 percent of responders still on treatment as of the cutoff date.

In a subset of 17 evaluable patients with CPS of 20 or higher, the updated data showed a 53 percent confirmed ORR, 18 percent CR rate, and 82 percent DCR. These patients are representative of the Company’s planned pivotal Phase 2/3 trial population, which is targeted to begin enrolling patients in the fourth quarter of 2024.

Additionally, preliminary PFS for the CPS 20 or higher subgroup was 16.3 months and is encouraging based on the historical PFS data of 3.4 months reported for pembrolizumab alone1. The preliminary OS rate was 88% at 9 months, and median OS was unreached as of the cutoff date with 16 of 19 patients still alive. Median follow-up for these patients was 8.4 months.

"Based on the evidence from the Phase 2 trial of HB-200 plus pembrolizumab, I am encouraged by the potential this immunotherapy combination may provide as a targeted therapeutic option for HPV16+ head and neck cancer patients," said Dr. Alan Ho, Head and Neck Oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and a trial investigator. "The data show that this combination has been generally well-tolerated and can likely increase immunogenic tumor cell death, leading to improved response rates and potential durability."

"HPV16+ disease is a unique indication that requires a patient-centric and targeted therapeutic approach. HB-200 plus pembrolizumab has shown to be a potentially powerful combination that has consistently delivered positive outcomes for our patients," said Joern Aldag, Chief Executive Officer of HOOKIPA. "Among published data in HPV+ disease, HOOKIPA has a best-in-class asset with the HB-200 combination. We also have alignment on a clinical development strategy with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration with a path to potential accelerated approval. Importantly, our pivotal seamless Phase 2/3 trial is just the beginning—our platform continues to demonstrate the potential power of arenaviral-based immunotherapies to help provide targeted treatments for patients across disease areas and indications."

Call Details:
HOOKIPA HB-200 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Data Update
Tuesday, June 4, 2024, 4:15 p.m. ET
Webcast Registration
Dial-in Registration

Results:
HB-200 in combination with pembrolizumab:
Data were presented as of March 29, 2024, and included 46 first line patients with HPV16+, PD-L1 positive, recurrent or metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The updated data continue to demonstrate a favorable safety profile of HB-200 in combination with pembrolizumab and promising clinical activity as a first line treatment.

HB-200 + pembrolizumab was generally well tolerated. Grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were reported in 7 (15%) patients, serious TRAEs in 2 (4%) patients, and TRAEs leading to treatment discontinuation of HB-200 in 2 (4%) patients. No treatment-related deaths were reported.

Among 35 evaluable patients, 4 confirmed complete responses, 9 confirmed partial responses, and 11 confirmed stable disease were observed. Notably, among patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥20 (N=17), ORR was 53% (9/17), complete response rate was 18% (3/17), and DCR was 82% (14/17). All responses were confirmed per RECIST 1.1. Preliminary PFS for the CPS 20 or higher subgroup was 16.3 months. The preliminary OS rate was 88% at 9 months, and median OS was unreached as of the cutoff date with 16 of 19 patients still alive. Median follow-up for these patients was 8.4 months.

Abstract details: ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2024 Annual Meeting
Title: HB-200 arenavirus-based immunotherapy plus pembrolizumab as first-line treatment of patients with recurrent/metastatic HPV16-positive head and neck cancer: Updated results
Presenter: Dr. Alan L. Ho, Head and Neck Oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and a trial investigator
Abstract Type: Oral abstract
Session Name: Head and Neck Cancer
Session Date and Time: June 4, 2024; 9:45 AM-12:45 PM CDT
Abstract Number: 6005

About HB-200
HB-200 is HOOKIPA’s lead oncology candidate engineered with the company’s proprietary replicating arenaviral vector platform. It comprises two single-vector compounds with arenaviral backbones based on lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and pichinde virus (PICV). Both express the same transgene encoding an E7E6 fusion protein derived from HPV16. HB-200 is an alternating 2-vector immunotherapy designed to further focus the immune response against the encoded antigen.

HB-200 in combination with pembrolizumab received Fast Track Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and PRIME designation from the European Medicines Agency for the treatment of first-line HPV16+ recurrent/metastatic oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. These designations are supported by preliminary clinical evidence from the Phase 1/2, open-label, clinical trial (NCT04180215) evaluating safety, T cell response, and efficacy based on objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) as defined by RECIST 1.1.

1 Harrington et al. Pembrolizumab With or Without Chemotherapy in Recurrent or Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Updated Results of the Phase III KEYNOTE-048 Study. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2023;41(4);790-802.