Abstract Background: Abemaciclib is a selective and potent small molecule inhibitor of CDK4 and 6, with evidence of single-agent antitumor activity, and a safety profile that enables dosing on a continuous schedule. Abemaciclib demonstrated anti-tumor activity as a single agent with a 19.7% objective response rate for women with previously treated HR+, HER2- MBC1. In the phase 1b study JPBH, abemaciclib demonstrated a tolerable safety profile when combined with endocrine or HER2 targeted agents for MBC2. Abemaciclib given BID in combination with pembrolizumab also demonstrated a tolerable safety profile in phase 1b study of stage IV NSCLC3. Methods: JPCE is a multicenter, nonrandomized, open-label, phase 1b study of abemaciclib plus pembrolizumab for patients with HR+, HER2- MBC or NSCLC (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02779751). The study has 3 disease-specific cohorts, each with approximately 25 patients (N=75); the HR+, HER2- MBC cohort (part C) will be presented here. The primary objective was to characterize safety of the abemaciclib and pembrolizumab combination. Secondary objectives included efficacy endpoints (objective response rate, disease control rate, duration of response, progression-free survival, and overall survival), pharmacokinetics of abemaciclib plus pembrolizumab, and changes in patient-reported pain and disease-related symptoms. Patients received 150 mg of abemaciclib orally Q12H plus pembrolizumab 200 mg as a 30-minute IV infusion on Day 1 every 21 days. Eligible patients included women with confirmed HR+, HER2- MBC who have previously received at least 1 but no more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens for MBC; are able to provide tumor tissue at baseline and at cycle 3, day 1; have measurable disease (RECIST v.1.1), adequate organ function, ECOG PS ≤1, are able to swallow oral medications; and have not received treatment with CDK4 & 6 or PD-1/ PD-L1 inhibitors. Results: At the time of abstract submission, study JPCE part C cohort (HR+, HER2- MBC) was fully enrolled at 25 patients. Data to be presented include patient demographics, baseline disease characteristics, adverse events by frequency and by grade, and preliminary efficacy of the abemaciclib plus pembrolizumab combination in HR+, HER2- MBC.