Idera Pharmaceuticals Advances Investigational Treatment – Intratumoral IMO-2125 in Combination with Ipilimumab - for Unmet Need in Anti-PD-1 Refractory Metastatic Melanoma
“We are very pleased with the progress to date in the Phase 1 dose escalation trial of IMO-2125 in combination with ipilimumab, and with the outcomes observed,” stated
The Phase 2 portion of the trial utilizes a Simon two-stage design to evaluate the objective response rate of IMO-2125 in combination with ipilimumab, compared to historical data for ipilimumab alone in the anti-PD-1 refractory metastatic melanoma population. The ipilimumab arm of IMO-2125-204 has already met the pre-specified futility assessment to advance immediately into the second stage of the Phase 2 portion of the trial given that 2 patients treated at the Phase 2 dose experienced confirmed responses, including one complete response (CR).
All dose levels of IMO-2125 in the Phase 1 portion of the trial have been well tolerated; however the 8 mg dose level has been selected for the Phase 2 portion of the trial based on its safety, clinical efficacy, and data from multiple translational immune parameters supporting the mechanism. Phase 2 will evaluate twenty-one patients dosed at 8mg, of which 9 are already enrolled.
Additionally, the company has begun and will continue to engage in discussions with regulatory authorities regarding the path to registration for IMO-2125 in combination with ipilimumab in PD-1 refractory metastatic melanoma patients.
The Phase 1 clinical trial of intratumoral IMO-2125 in combination with pembrolizumab in PD-1 refractory melanoma patients is enrolling as expected, and patient enrollment in a phase 1 trial of intratumoral IMO-2125 monotherapy in multiple tumor types has been activated and the first patient is expected to enroll early this quarter.
“I am very encouraged by the tremendous progress that has been made to date to advance us to this important stage in IMO-2125’s development cycle,” stated
About the Phase 1/2 trial of IMO-2125 in combination with ipilimumab
The Phase 1/2 trial of intratumoral IMO-2125 in combination with ipilimumab is being conducted in patients who are refractory to anti-PD-1 therapy. The phase 1 portion of the trial was conducted at
About IMO-2125
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a central role in the innate immune system, the body's first line of defense against invading pathogens, as well as damaged or dysfunctional cells including cancer cells. The innate immune system is also involved in activating the adaptive immune system, which marshals highly specific immune responses to target pathogens or tissue. Cancer cells may exploit regulatory checkpoint pathways to avoid being recognized by the immune system, thereby shielding the tumor from immune attack. Checkpoint inhibitors such as agents targeting CTLA4 or programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1) are designed to enable the immune system to recognize tumor cells. In this setting, intratumoral TLR9 agonist administration may increase the tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and thereby potentiate anti-cancer activity of checkpoint inhibitors in the injected tumor as well as systemically.
IMO-2125, Idera’s TLR9 agonist, has been created using the company's proprietary chemistry-based discovery platform. IMO-2125 has been shown in various scientific presentations and publications to activate dendritic cells and induce interferon. Idera selected IMO-2125 to advance into clinical development in combination with checkpoint inhibitors based on this immunological profile. In previously completed clinical trials, subcutaneous administration of IMO-2125 was very well tolerated in about 114 patients with hepatitis C. Idera has conducted further preclinical and clinical research evaluating the potential of IMO-2125 to enhance the anti-tumor activity of other checkpoint inhibitors in cancer immunotherapy with data has been presented at several scientific and medical conferences during the past few years. The posters from these presentations can be found at http://www.iderapharma.com/our-approach/key-publications.
About Metastatic Melanoma
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that begins in a type of skin cell called melanocytes. As is the case in many forms of cancer, melanoma becomes more difficult to treat once the disease has spread beyond the skin to other parts of the body such as by through the lymphatic system (metastatic disease). Melanoma accounts for only one percent of skin cancer cases, but causes a large majority of skin cancer deaths.
About Idera Pharmaceuticals
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included or incorporated in this press release, including statements regarding the Company's strategy, future operations, collaborations, intellectual property, cash resources, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans, and objectives of management, are forward-looking statements. The words "believes," "anticipates," "estimates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "may," "could," "should," "potential," "likely," "projects," "continue," "will," and "would" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Idera cannot guarantee that it will actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in its forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. There are a number of important factors that could cause Idera's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by its forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include: whether interim results from a clinical trial, such as preliminary results reported in this release, will be predictive of the final results of the trial, whether results obtained in preclinical studies and clinical trials will be indicative of the results that will be generated in future clinical trials, including in clinical trials in different disease indications; whether products based on Idera's IMO-2125 will successfully advance through the clinical trial process on a timely basis or at all and receive approval from the
Investor and Media ContactRobert Doody Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications Office: 617-679-5515 Mobile: 484‐639‐7235 rdoody@iderapharma.com