Sponsor: Vasgene Therapeutics, Inc (industry)
Phase: 2
Start date: Sept. 17, 2020
Planned enrollment: 65
sEphB4-HSA (also known as Vas-01) is a recombinant fusion protein comprising the extracellular domain of human EphB4 fused to human serum albumin. It is being developed for multiple solid tumors and Kaposi sarcoma, and has been studied alone and in combination with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy. A phase II study in metastatic urothelial carcinoma reported antitumor activity, particularly in EphrinB2-positive tumors; a phase II single-arm study in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) suggested greater activity in HPV-negative, EphrinB2-positive disease. Multiple additional early-phase trials have been conducted or are ongoing. (pharmaceutical-technology.com, ascopubs.org, doi.org, ichgcp.net)
Metastatic urothelial carcinoma (post-platinum; phase II, multicenter, sEphB4-HSA + pembrolizumab; NCT02717156): In 70 patients, median OS was 14.6 months; ORR 37% (95% CI 26–48). In the 46 patients with EphrinB2-positive tumors, median OS 21.5 months and ORR 52% (CR 24%). Median PFS 4.1 months overall and 5.7 months in EphrinB2-positive tumors. (ascopubs.org)
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (post-platinum; phase II, single-arm, sEphB4-HSA + pembrolizumab): Among 25 patients, ORR was 24%; in the prespecified subgroup of HPV-negative, EphrinB2-positive patients (n=11), ORR was 45% with two complete responses; median PFS 3.2 months and median OS 10.9 months in this subgroup. (doi.org)
AML/MDS (pilot/safety study with hypomethylating agents after HMA failure): In 7 enrolled patients (3 MDS, 4 AML), no dose-limiting toxicities were observed; disease stabilization and hematologic improvement were noted in some MDS patients; no AML responses; study closed early due to funding. (ashpublications.org)
Additional early-phase/setting signals: Abstracts describe first-in-human and expansion cohorts across solid tumors (including HCC/cholangiocarcinoma) with an RP2D around 10 mg/kg weekly IV, and a phase Ib study combining sEphB4-HSA with first-line chemotherapy in pancreatic and biliary cancers. Results from these abstracts support biological activity and feasibility but are not yet definitive. (ascopubs.org)
Notes: “Vas-01” is used by some industry trackers as an alternate name for sEphB4-HSA. (pharmaceutical-technology.com)
Last updated: Sep 2025
Goal: Evaluate whether the EphB4–EphrinB2 pathway inhibitor sEphB4-HSA reduces the number and/or size of Kaposi sarcoma (KS) lesions and to characterize its safety at a dosing schedule of 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks.
Patients: Adults ≥18 years with biopsy-confirmed cutaneous Kaposi sarcoma, with or without visceral involvement; may be treatment-naïve or previously treated, including refractory or intolerant to prior systemic therapy (e.g., liposomal doxorubicin). Both HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals are eligible; if HIV-positive, patients must be on a stable antiretroviral regimen and any CD4 count is permitted. Key requirements include ECOG 0–2 (or KPS ≥50%), adequate organ function, and no evidence of recent improvement in KS unless progression in the 4 weeks prior to enrollment. Major exclusions include brain metastases, need for frontline cytotoxic therapy for symptomatic visceral/pulmonary KS, significant cardiovascular risks (e.g., uncontrolled hypertension, QTcF >480 ms, recent major infarct or bleed), full-dose anticoagulation, recent anti-neoplastic KS therapy, and pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Design: Single-arm, open-label, phase II treatment study with non-randomized allocation. Up to 65 participants will receive study therapy in repeated 28-day cycles and may continue until progression or unacceptable toxicity, or other protocol-defined discontinuation criteria. Serial clinical assessments and correlative studies are planned.
Treatments: sEphB4-HSA administered as an intravenous infusion on Days 1 and 15 of each 28-day cycle. sEphB4-HSA (Vas-01) is a recombinant fusion protein of the extracellular domain of human EphB4 linked to human serum albumin that binds EphrinB2 to block EphB4–EphrinB2 signaling, a pathway implicated in tumor angiogenesis, survival, and immune microenvironment modulation. Across prior early- and mid-phase studies in solid tumors, including urothelial carcinoma and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma—often in combination with pembrolizumab—antitumor activity was enriched in EphrinB2-positive disease; hypertension has been the most characteristic toxicity. The mechanism provides biological rationale in vascular tumors such as KS, where angiogenic signaling is central.
Outcomes: Primary: Proportion with clinical response and rate of unacceptable toxicity at 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks; time-to-event endpoints (time to response, progression, relapse, and death) analyzed by Kaplan-Meier. Secondary: Pharmacodynamic and translational endpoints including tumor apoptosis and proliferation by IHC, immune profiling in blood and tumor (flow cytometry, cytokines, immune infiltration), effects on HHV-8 replication and endothelial gene expression, changes in VEGF–Notch–EphrinB2 pathway markers, pharmacokinetics (trough and Cmax by ELISA), patient-reported quality of life, and biobanking of PBMCs and tissues. HIV-positive participants will have serial plasma viral loads and T-cell counts assessed.
Burden on patient: Moderate-to-high. Patients receive IV infusions twice per 28-day cycle with frequent clinic visits early on. There are multiple protocol-specified blood draws for safety labs, immunologic assays, HHV-8 testing, and pharmacokinetic sampling on Days 1 and 15 of cycles 1–2 and periodically thereafter. Optional tumor biopsies at baseline and around weeks 8–12 add procedural burden and potential discomfort. Ongoing vitals and ECGs are expected given hypertension and QTc monitoring needs. Travel and time commitments are greater than standard surveillance alone due to biweekly infusions and serial correlative studies.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Participants may be treatment naïve, refractory to, or intolerant of one or more prior therapies, or treated with prior systemic treatment including but not limited to liposomal doxorubicin.
* Participants must have biopsy-proven KS involving skin, with or without visceral involvement.
* If HIV-positive, any CD4 count will be allowed on study.
* Age ≥ 18 years.
* ECOG performance status ≤ 2 or Karnofsky performance score (KPS) ≥ 50%
* Life expectancy of greater than 3 months.
* Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,000/mcL
* Platelets ≥ 75,000/mcL
* Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 X ULN
* AST (SGOT) / ALT (SGPT) ≤ 2.5 X ULN
* Creatinine within normal institutional limit for the reference lab OR creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 as calculated by Cockcroft-Gault formula for participants with creatinine levels above institutional normal.
* Participants taking part in the optional biopsies must have cutaneous lesion(s) amenable to two (2) 5-mm tumor biopsy at study entry and optional second biopsy on therapy at week 8-12. Patients must have at least five additional lesions measurable for assessment with no improvement over the past month.
* Females of childbearing potential (FCBP)† must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test with a sensitivity of at least 25 mIU/mL within 14 days prior to enrollment and again within 24 hours prior to starting Cycle 1 of sEphB4-HSA. Further, they must either commit to continued abstinence from heterosexual intercourse or begin TWO acceptable methods of birth control: one highly effective method and one additional effective method AT THE SAME TIME during receipt of sEphB4-HSA, and 12 weeks after discontinuation of sEphB4-HSA. FCBP must also agree to ongoing pregnancy testing. Men must agree to use a latex condom during sexual contact with a FCBP even if they have had a successful vasectomy.
* A female of childbearing potential is a sexually mature woman who: 1) has not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy; or 2) has not been naturally postmenopausal for at least 24 consecutive months (i.e., has had menses at any time in the preceding 24 consecutive months).
* Documentation of HIV status. If participant is HIV positive, HIV-1 infection, as documented by any federally approved, licensed HIV rapid test performed in conjunction with screening (or ELISA test kit, and confirmed by Western blot or other approved test, or HIV rapid multispot antibody differentiation assay). Alternatively, this documentation may include a record demonstrating that another physician has documented the participant's HIV status based on either: 1) approved diagnostic tests, or 2) the referring physician's written record that HIV infection was documented, with supporting information on the participant's relevant medical history and/or current management of HIV infection.
* If the participant is HIV negative, documentation of a negative result for any federally approved, licensed HIV rapid test within 4 weeks prior to study enrollment will suffice. If the initial rapid test is positive, further approved confirmatory test results must be present to document the subject's HIV status.
* If participant is HIV positive, participant must be on a stable antiretroviral regimen for at least 12 weeks prior to study enrollment.
* There should be no evidence for improvement in Kaposi Sarcoma in the 3 months prior to study enrollment, unless there is evidence for progression of Kaposi Sarcoma in the 4 weeks immediately prior to study enrollment.
* Participants must, in the opinion of the investigator, be capable of complying with the protocol.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Inability to understand and inability to provide informed consent.
* Participants who are receiving any other investigational agents.
* Participants who have had anti-neoplastic treatment for KS (including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, local treatment including topical 5-FU, biological therapy or investigational therapy) within 4 weeks (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) prior to entering the study OR those who have not recovered from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier.
* Participants with known brain metastases should be excluded from this clinical trial because of their poor prognosis and because they often develop progressive neurologic dysfunction that would confound the evaluation of neurologic and other adverse events.
* History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to sEphB4-HSA or other agents used in study.
* Concurrent, acute, active infection, or treatment for infection, other than oral thrush or genital herpes, within 14 days of enrollment. Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) that is undergoing treatment is allowed.
* Participants for whom front-line cytotoxic therapy is indicated (i.e. symptomatic visceral or pulmonary Kaposi Sarcoma or symptomatic Kaposi Sarcoma impairing functional status).
* Concurrent neoplasia requiring cytotoxic therapy.
* Participant is ≤ 2 years free of another primary malignancy. Exceptions include the following:
* Basal cell skin cancer
* Cervical carcinoma in situ
* Anal carcinoma in situ
* Any steroid treatment except for that required for replacement therapy in adrenal insufficiency, topical or injected testosterone for hypogonadism, or inhaled steroids for the treatment of asthma.
* Previous local therapy of any KS-indicator lesion unless the lesion has clearly progressed since that local treatment. Any prior local treatment to indicator lesions regardless of the elapsed time should not be allowed unless there is evidence of clear-cut progression of said lesion.
* Female participants who are pregnant, lactating, or breast-feeding.
* Pregnant women are excluded from this study because sEphB4-HSA has not been tested in pregnant women and it could have potential teratogenic or abortifacient effects. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with sEphB4-HSA, breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated with sEphB4-HSA.
* Participants with a recent history (\< 6 months) of a major infarct including but not inclusive to bowel ischemia, cerebral vascular accident, transient ischemic attack, myocardial infarction, limb ischemia, or skin necrosis.
* Participants with a QTcF (Fridericia Correction Formula) \> 480 ms on 2 out of 3 EKGs (if first EKG is \< 480, no need to repeat, if first EKG is \> 480 repeat twice for a total of 3 EKGs).
* Participants with systolic blood pressure \>120 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure \>80 mm Hg who are unwilling to start antihypertensives (see Section 5.4 uncontrolled sustained for recommendations for management of hypertension which will be defined as during the study), or participants with systolic blood pressure \> 140, and mm Hg, or diastolic blood pressure \> 90, even mm Hg, with or without use of anti-hypertensive medications. (participants may not enroll onto the study until BP is ≤ 140/90 mm Hg with or without antihypertensives).
* Participants with a recent history (\< 6 months) of a major bleed which will be defined as a symptomatic bleeding in a critical area or organ, such as intracranial, intraspinal, intraocular, retroperitoneal, intraarticular or pericardial, or intramuscular with compartment syndrome, and/or bleeding causing a fall in hemoglobin level 2 grams/dL or more, or leading to transfusion of two or more units of whole blood or packed red cells.
* Participants on any dose of warfarin or are on full dose anticoagulation with other agents including low molecular weight heparin, antithrombin agents, antiplatelet agents and full dose aspirin within 7 days prior to study enrollment; participants on prophylactic doses of low molecular weight heparin are allowed.
* Cardiac related illnesses including, but not limited to:
* Symptomatic congestive heart failure including participants with Grade III/IV cardiac disease as defined by the New York Heart Association functional criteria
* Unstable angina pectoris
* Cardiac arrhythmia
* Physical or psychiatric illness/social situations that in the estimation of the investigator would limit compliance with study requirements or place the participant at high risk of toxicity or non-compliance.
* Patients with a history of CVA or TIA in the past 12 months
Beverly Hills, California, 90211, United States
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Status: Recruiting
Sarasota, Florida, 34237, United States
[email protected] / 941-366-0134
Status: Recruiting
Dallas, Texas, 75390, United States
[email protected] / 214-590-0611
Status: Recruiting