A phase I study of EO-3021 in adult patients with solid tumors likely to express CLDN18.2.

Abstract

TPS429 Background: Claudin 18 isoform 2 (CLDN18.2) belongs to a family of tight junction proteins with broad expression in gastric and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ), pancreatic, esophageal, and other solid tumors. Expression of CLDN18.2 in normal tissue is limited to the gastric mucosa, making it a promising antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) therapeutic target. Currently, there are no approved therapies targeting CLDN18.2. EO-3021 (also known as SYSA1801) is an ADC comprised of a fully human CLDN18.2 monoclonal antibody (mAb) specifically conjugated at glutamine 295 with a cleavable linker and MMAE with a homogenous drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR) of 2. In preclinical models, EO-3021 selectively delivers a potent cytotoxic MMAE payload directly to cancer cells expressing CLDN18.2, retains antibody-dependent cellular toxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) activity, and exhibits a bystander effect.1 In an ongoing Phase 1 study in China (NCT05009966), EO-3021 exhibited signs of anti-tumor activity in patients with gastric cancer and had an acceptable safety profile.2 Outside of Greater China, EO-3021 is being evaluated by Elevation Oncology for the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic solid tumors likely to express CLDN18.2, particularly gastric and GEJ adenocarcinomas. Methods: This is a Phase I, open-label, multi-center, dose escalation and expansion study to investigate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK) and preliminary anti-tumor activity of EO-3021 in patients with solid tumors likely to express CLDN18.2 (NCT05980416). Patients whose tumors have progressed on or after standard therapy, or who are intolerable for available standard therapy are eligible for participation. Approximately 120 patients will be enrolled in this study. There are 4 planned dose levels in the dose finding portion of the study. Patients will receive EO-3021 intravenously (IV) once every three weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The expansion cohort will evaluate EO-3021 in patients with gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma. Provision of tumor samples (archived and fresh biopsy) is required for study enrollment. CLDN18.2 expression in tumor tissue via will be assessed by retrospective evaluation via central immunohistochemistry assay; results will be explored for possible correlation with tumor response. Enrollment in the dose escalation portion of the study began in August 2023. 1. Dan M, et al. Cancer Res. 83, 2023. 2. Wang Y, et al. J Clin Oncol. 41, 2023. Clinical trial information: NCT05980416 .