Sponsor: TORL Biotherapeutics, LLC (industry)
Phase: 2
Start date: Nov. 20, 2024
Planned enrollment: 230
TORL-1-23 (CLDN6‑23‑ADC) is an investigational antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) targeting claudin‑6 (CLDN6), an oncofetal tight‑junction protein with little to no expression in normal adult tissues but aberrant expression in several cancers (notably ovarian, endometrial, testicular, and subsets of NSCLC). A first‑in‑human, two‑part phase 1 study (NCT05103683; TORL123‑001/TRIO‑049) is ongoing, with dose‑escalation and expansion cohorts in CLDN6‑positive solid tumors. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, oncologypro.esmo.org, ichgcp.net)
Human data are from an ongoing phase 1 study and conference presentations:
Notes: All clinical results above are preliminary from an ongoing phase 1 trial; dosing, response rates, and safety may evolve with additional follow‑up and peer‑reviewed publication. (oncologypro.esmo.org)
Last updated: Sep 2025
Goal: Evaluate the antitumor activity and safety of the CLDN6-targeted antibody–drug conjugate TORL-1-23 as monotherapy in women with advanced platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer (including primary peritoneal and fallopian tube cancers) whose tumors express CLDN6.
Patients: Women ≥18 years with histologically or cytologically confirmed advanced or metastatic high-grade serous or high-grade endometrioid ovarian, primary peritoneal, or fallopian tube cancer; platinum-resistant disease after 1–3 prior systemic lines where single-agent therapy is appropriate; measurable disease by RECIST v1.1; ECOG 0–1; adequate organ function. CLDN6 tumor expression is required by a central reference assay with tumor tissue submission prior to treatment. Key exclusions include clear cell/mucinous/sarcomatous/low-grade/borderline or non-epithelial histologies, primary platinum-refractory disease, prior CLDN6-targeting therapy or MMAE-containing ADC, active or progressive CNS disease, grade ≥2 neuropathy, recent serious cardiopulmonary disease, uncontrolled infection, and concomitant strong CYP3A4 or P-gp modulators.
Design: Randomized phase 2, treatment-intent study with multiple experimental cohorts of TORL-1-23. Approximately 230 patients will be enrolled. Efficacy is assessed by blinded independent central review per RECIST v1.1.
Treatments: All cohorts receive TORL-1-23 intravenously on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle with prophylactic pegfilgrastim on Day 4. TORL-1-23 is an investigational CLDN6-targeted antibody–drug conjugate composed of a humanized anti-CLDN6 antibody linked to monomethyl auristatin E via a cleavable valine–citrulline linker (average DAR ~4). Binding to CLDN6 leads to internalization and lysosomal release of MMAE, causing microtubule disruption; the antibody may also mediate ADCC. In an ongoing phase 1 study across CLDN6+ solid tumors, preliminary objective responses have been reported in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, with dose levels of 2.4–3.0 mg/kg every 3 weeks showing ORR around 42–50% in small cohorts and a manageable safety profile characterized mainly by neutropenia, fatigue, alopecia, and neuropathy; pegfilgrastim prophylaxis is used to mitigate neutropenia.
Outcomes: Primary: Objective response rate by RECIST v1.1 per blinded independent central review. Secondary: Duration of response, objective response rate by investigator, progression-free survival by BICR and investigator, overall survival, safety and tolerability per CTCAE v5.0, and CA-125 response per GCIG criteria. Assessments occur at predefined intervals through approximately 40 months of study duration.
Burden on patient: Moderate. Patients will require baseline and ongoing tumor tissue submission for CLDN6 testing, regular clinic visits every 21 days for IV infusions, pegfilgrastim administration on Day 4 each cycle, periodic imaging per RECIST, and routine labs for safety monitoring. The ADC and use of growth factor support may necessitate more frequent hematologic monitoring early in treatment, and neuropathy assessments are expected. No intensive pharmacokinetic sampling or inpatient monitoring is described, but travel every 3 weeks and repeated imaging and labs represent a meaningful commitment typical of phase 2 ADC trials.
Inclusion Criteria:
Participants are eligible to be included in the study only if all the following criteria apply:
1. Females ≥18 years of age (or the legal age of consent in the jurisdiction in which the study is taking place) at the time of signing the informed consent.
2. Participants must sign the informed consent, which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the informed consent form (ICF) and in this protocol.
3. Disease Type:
* Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of advanced (unresectable) or metastatic high grade serous ovarian, primary peritoneal (i.e, of primary origin), or fallopian tube cancer. High-grade endometrioid ovarian cancer is permitted for enrollment.
* Participant's tumor must be positive for CLDN6 expression as defined by the CLDN6 reference laboratory assay. Tumor tissue will be required for submission for CLDN6 testing prior to Cycle 1 Day 1.
* Participants must have platinum-resistant disease, defined as the following:
* If participants received only 1 line of platinum-based therapy, they must have completed 4 or more cycles of platinum-containing therapy, must have achieved a CR or PR, and progressed \>3 months but ≤6 months after the last dose of platinum.
* Participants who have received more than 1 line of platinum- based therapy must have progressed on or within 6 months after the last dose of platinum.
* NOTE: This should be calculated from the date of the last administered dose of platinum therapy to the date of the radiographic imaging showing progression (per RECIST v1.1).
* Participants who are platinum-refractory during front-line treatment are excluded.
* Participants must have received at least 1 but no more than 3 prior systemic lines of anticancer therapy, and for whom single- agent therapy is appropriate as the next line of treatment. Study rules for evaluation of number of prior systemic lines of therapy:
* Adjuvant ± neoadjuvant is considered one line of therapy
* Maintenance therapy (eg, bevacizumab or PARP inhibitors) will be considered part of the preceding line of therapy (ie, not counted independently)
* Therapy changed due to toxicity in the absence of progression will be considered part of the same line (ie, not counted independently)
* Hormonal therapy will not be counted as a separate line of therapy
4. Measurable disease, per RECIST v1.1
5. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) 0-1.
6. Adequate organ function, based on the following laboratory values:
* ANC: ≥1,500/mcL
* Platelets: ≥100,000/mcL without transfusion within 4 weeks of first dose
* Hemoglobin: 9 g/dL with transfusion or EPO support up to 14 days before eligibility assessment
* Measured or calculated creatinine clearance with a validated formula\*: ≥30 mL/min
* Serum total bilirubin: ≤1.5 X ULN (participants with known Gilbert disease or liver metastases who have serum bilirubin level ≤3×ULN may be enrolled
* AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT): ≤3 X ULN (participants with active liver metastases who have ALT/AST ≤5 X ULN may be enrolled)
* Albumin: ≥2.5 g/dL
* ECG: 12-Lead ECG with normal tracing or non-clinically significant changes that do not require medical intervention and QTcF interval
* 470 msec and without history of Torsades des Pointes or other symptomatic QTc abnormality.
7. Participants of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 72 hours before starting study drug treatment. The serum pregnancy test must be negative for the participant to be eligible.
8. Participants must agree to use a highly effective birth control method from the time of the first study drug treatment through 7 months after the last study drug treatment, or be of nonchildbearing potential.
9. Participants must agree not to donate eggs from the first study drug treatment through 7 months after the last study drug treatment.
10. Participants must agree to not breastfeed from the first dose of study treatment through 90 days after the last dose of study treatment.
Exclusion Criteria:
Participants are excluded from the study if any of the following criteria apply:
1. Has not recovered \[recovery is defined as National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE), version 5.0, Grade ≤1\] from the acute toxicities of previous therapy, except treatment-related alopecia or laboratory abnormalities otherwise meeting eligibility requirements.
2. Participants with clear cell, mucinous, sarcomatous (including carcinosarcoma), mixed histology, or low-grade, borderline ovarian tumors or non-epithelial ovarian cancers.
3. Participants with primary platinum-refractory ovarian, primary peritoneal (i.e. of primary origin) or fallopian tube cancer, defined as disease that did not respond to or has progressed within 3 months of the last dose of first line platinum-containing chemotherapy.
4. Received prior chemotherapeutic, investigational, radiotherapy, or other therapies for the treatment of cancer within 14 days with small molecule and within 28 days with biologic before the first dose of TORL-1-23. There is no waiting period required for stereotactic radiosurgery.
5. Prior treatment with a CLDN6-targeting agent or an MMAE-containing ADC.
6. Progressive or symptomatic brain metastases. Brain metastases that have been radiated, are asymptomatic, and on a stable or decreasing dose of steroids are allowed. Leptomeningeal disease is excluded.
7. Grade 2 or greater peripheral neuropathy.
8. History of non-infectious pneumonitis/ILD within 6 months of first dose of study drug.
9. Participants must not be considered a high medical risk due to a serious, uncontrolled medical disorder, nonmalignant systemic disease, or active, uncontrolled infection. Examples include, but are not limited to, uncontrolled major seizure disorder, unstable spinal cord compression, superior vena cava syndrome, or any psychiatric disorder that prohibits obtaining informed consent.
10. History of significant cardiac disease:
1. Congestive heart failure \>New York Heart Association class 2 within last year
2. Unstable angina (angina symptoms at rest), new-onset angina (begun within the last 3 months)
3. Myocardial infarction less than 6 months before start of study drug
4. Anti-arrhythmic therapy (beta blockers are permitted)
5. Any unstable ischemic disease or untreated arrhythmia
11. Known history of myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia.
12. History of another cancer within 3 years before Day 1 of study treatment, with the exception of basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has been definitively treated. Participants with malignancies with a low risk of recurrence, including appropriately treated ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast are not excluded.
13. Uncontrolled infection; active, clinically serious infections (CTCAE Grade \>2).
14. Participants with seizure disorder requiring medication.
15. Known hypersensitivity or intolerance to any of the study drugs, study drug classes, or excipients in the formulation.
16. History of having an allogeneic bone marrow or organ transplant.
17. Any condition (concurrent disease, infection, or comorbidity) that interferes with ability to participate in the study, causes undue risk, or complicates the interpretation of safety data, in the opinion of the Investigator.
18. Participants who are taking any drugs that are strong inducers and/or strong inhibitors of CYP3A4 enzymes.
19. Participants who are taking any drugs that are inhibitors of P-glycoprotein.
Clayton, Melbourne, VIC 3168, Australia
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting
Chermside, Queensland, QLD 4032, Australia
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting
Perth, Western Australia, WA 6009, Australia
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting
Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 4E6, Canada
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting
Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting
Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5, Canada
[email protected] / 416-480-5000
Status: Not yet recruiting
Montreal, Quebec, H2X 0C2, Canada
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting
Montreal, Quebec, H4A 3J1, Canada
[email protected] / 514-934-1934
Status: Not yet recruiting
Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1E2, Canada
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting
Singapore, Singapore, 168583, Singapore
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting
Singapore, Singapore, 119074, Singapore
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting
Tucson, Arizona, 85711, United States
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting
Duarte, California, 91010, United States
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting
Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting
Santa Barbara, California, 93105, United States
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting
New Haven, Connecticut, 06510, United States
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting
Annapolis, Maryland, 21401, United States
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting
Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55404, United States
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55404, United States
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting
St Louis, Missouri, 63108, United States
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting
Columbus, Ohio, 43210, United States
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73104, United States
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting
Portland, Oregon, 97227, United States
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104-4238, United States
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting
Doylestown, Pennsylvania, 18901, United States
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting
Fort Worth, Texas, 76104, United States
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting
Norfolk, Virginia, 23502, United States
[email protected] / 310-348-9636
Status: Recruiting