On January 4, 2024 Sensei Biotherapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: SNSE), a clinical stage immuno-oncology company focused on the discovery and development of next-generation therapeutics for cancer patients, reported corporate updates on its research and development programs and upcoming milestones (Press release, Sensei Biotherapeutics, JAN 4, 2024, View Source [SID1234638984]).

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"In 2023, we significantly advanced our lead clinical asset while prudently maintaining our strong balance sheet," said John Celebi, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We believe SNS-101, which has demonstrated potentially best-in-class pharmacokinetics and tolerability at clinical doses far beyond other VISTA-targeted immunotherapies, has strong potential as a transformative option in multiple cancer indications. Given the favorable data thus far, we are expanding the SNS-101 Phase 1/2 clinical trial to include additional patients in a more focused set of indications as an intermediate stage to further optimize the Phase 2 study design with additional patient data while we prepare for an anticipated end of Phase 1 meeting with FDA by Q4 2024. As a result, we are dedicating additional resources to support this expanded clinical program while pausing the IND-enabling studies originally planned for our next TMAb product candidate. We expect these adjustments to extend our cash runway into the fourth quarter of 2025."

Highlights and Milestones

SNS-101

SNS-101 is a conditionally active antibody harnessing the acidic tumor microenvironment to target the immune checkpoint VISTA (V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation). VISTA is implicated in numerous cancer indications and its expression correlates with low survival rates. Sensei is conducting a multi-center Phase 1/2 clinical trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and efficacy of SNS-101 as both a monotherapy and in combination with Regeneron’s PD-1 inhibitor Libtayo (cemiplimab) in patients with advanced solid tumors. Recent updates include:

As of January 2, 2024:
A total of 25 patients have been treated with SNS-101 across various dose levels, with 16 patients in the monotherapy arm and nine patients in the combination arm. There have been no dose limiting toxicities (DLT) observed across both the monotherapy arm and the combination arm.
In the monotherapy dose escalation arm, patients have cleared all planned dosing cohorts of 0.3, 1, 3, 10 and 15 mg/kg.
In the combination dose escalation arm, six patients have been enrolled in the first cohort and have cleared the DLT period at a dose level of 3.0 mg/kg SNS-101 + Libtayo. The second cohort at a dose level of 10.0 mg/kg SNS-101 + Libtayo has been enrolled and is pending clearance of the DLT period as determined by the study safety monitoring committee.
Following completion of dose escalation and prior to initiating the Phase 2 portion, the Company plans to enroll up to 40 additional patients in both monotherapy and in combination with Libtayo in specific tumor types to further optimize the design of the Phase 2 trial.
In the monotherapy dose expansion arm, Sensei plans to enroll up to 10 patients with microsatellite stable (MSS) colorectal cancer (CRC) at a dose level of 15 mg/kg.
In the combination dose expansion arm, Sensei plans to enroll up to 30 patients with MSS CRC, head and neck cancer (H&N), non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and melanoma. The dose level will be determined following completion of the combination dose escalation phase of the study.
The solid tumor types were selected to focus the cancer indications on a basket of more commonly occurring histologies, including both "hot" (NSCLC, H&N, Melanoma) and "cold" (CRC) tumors where we believe SNS-101 has potential to provide clinical benefit based on VISTA biology and supporting preclinical data. All patients with "hot" tumors enrolling into the expansion arm are expected to have been previously treated with a PD1/L1 checkpoint inhibitor. Additional tumor types and doses may be considered for both the monotherapy and combination expansion arms.
Sensei expects to open enrollment in the monotherapy expansion arm later this month. The combination expansion arm will begin following completion of the combination dose escalation phase of this study.
Anticipated milestones for the SNS-101 Phase 1/2 clinical trial include:

Initial safety and pharmacokinetic data for the combination dose escalation arm of SNS-101 and Libtayo in Q1 2024
Topline data for the SNS-101 monotherapy dose escalation arm in Q2 2024
Topline data for the combination dose escalation arm of SNS-101 and Libtayo in Q3 2024
Initial data for the SNS-101 dose expansion cohorts by the end of 2024
Additional Corporate Updates

Sensei announces that Ron Weitzman, M.D., F.A.C.P., has joined Sensei as part-time Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Weitzman joined Sensei as a consultant in August 2022 and has been instrumental in the design and implementation of the ongoing Phase 1/2 clinical trial. Dr. Weitzman brings over 25 years experience leading oncology clinical studies ranging from early to late-stage clinical development, including a pivotal study for cabozantanib that led to its FDA approval. Dr. Weitzman has held leadership roles at various global biopharmaceutical companies, including Exelixis, Genentech and Novartis, and has served as a consulting CMO to various biotechnology companies for nearly a decade. Dr Weitzman is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Medical Oncology and is an active member of the American College of Physicians.
Sensei has decided to realign its resources to fully support the Phase 1/2 clinical trial of SNS-101. As a result, Sensei will pause IND-enabling work on its preclinical-stage TMAb programs, including SNS-102 (VSIG4), SNS-103 (CD39) and SNS-201 (VISTAxCD28). During this time, preclinical work to characterize selected lead antibodies, including their mechanisms of action, and target biology is expected continue.
In 2023, Sensei selected lead candidates for both SNS-102 and SNS-201. SNS-102 is a conditionally active antibody targeting VSIG4 that is 585-fold more selective for VSIG4 at low pH conditions. SNS-201 is a bispecific antibody incorporating a CD28 agonist arm and a pH-sensitive anti-VISTA arm designed to conditionally activate CD28 under low pH conditions, such as those found in the tumor microenvironment, leading to T cell activation in the tumor while minimizing off-tumor toxicity.
This realignment of resources is expected to extend cash runway into the fourth quarter of 2025.