Sponsor: Glenn J. Hanna (other)
Phase: 2
Start date: Feb. 26, 2025
Planned enrollment: 35
Ivonescimab, also known as AK112 or SMT112, is a first-in-class, humanized tetravalent bispecific antibody designed to simultaneously target programmed death-1 (PD-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A). This dual-targeting approach aims to enhance antitumor activity by combining immune checkpoint inhibition with anti-angiogenic effects.
Ivonescimab binds to PD-1 receptors on T cells, blocking the PD-1 pathway and thereby restoring T cell activity against tumor cells. Concurrently, it targets VEGF-A, inhibiting angiogenesis within the tumor microenvironment. This combined mechanism is intended to improve immune response and reduce tumor vascularization, potentially leading to enhanced therapeutic efficacy.
In a Phase 1a dose-escalation study involving 51 patients with advanced solid tumors, ivonescimab demonstrated promising antitumor activity. The confirmed objective response rate (ORR) was 25.5%, and the disease control rate (DCR) was 63.8%. Notably, responses were observed in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, microsatellite stable colorectal cancer, small cell ovarian cancer, pleural mesothelioma, and anal cancer. Among 19 patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, the ORR was 26.3%, with a higher response rate at the 20 mg/kg dose level compared to 10 mg/kg (30.0% vs. 14.3%). (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
In a Phase II study (AK112-201), ivonescimab combined with chemotherapy was evaluated in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). For first-line treatment of advanced or metastatic squamous NSCLC without actionable genomic alterations, the estimated 1-year overall survival rate was 85.6%, and the 2-year overall survival rate was 64.8%. The median overall survival was not reached after a median follow-up of 21.0 months. (investor.wedbush.com)
Ivonescimab was generally well-tolerated in clinical studies. In the Phase 1a study, treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in 74.5% of patients, with grade ≥3 TRAEs in 27.5%. The most common TRAEs included rash (29.4%), arthralgia (19.6%), hypertension (19.6%), fatigue (17.6%), and diarrhea (15.7%). Hypertension was the most common grade ≥3 TRAE (13.7%). Immune-related toxicities such as pruritus, rash, and hypothyroidism were mostly grade 1 or 2. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
In the Phase II study, the frequency of TRAEs leading to discontinuation of ivonescimab was 11%, with no TRAEs resulting in patient death. The most frequent treatment-emergent adverse events were anemia, decreased neutrophil counts, and decreased white-blood cell counts. (investor.wedbush.com)
Last updated: Apr 2025
Goal: Evaluate the antitumor activity and safety of ivonescimab in advanced, metastatic, or unresectable salivary gland carcinomas.
Patients: Adults (≥18 years) with histologically confirmed salivary gland carcinoma, any histologic subtype including adenoid cystic carcinoma, with recurrent, metastatic, or advanced unresectable disease. ECOG 0–1 required, adequate organ function, and at least one RECIST v1.1 measurable non-CNS lesion. Prior systemic therapy for recurrent/metastatic disease is allowed but not required; prior PD-1 inhibitors or oral VEGFR TKIs are excluded. Patients with stable, treated brain metastases may enroll; key exclusions include active CNS disease, significant autoimmune disease, uncontrolled cardiovascular disease, significant bleeding risk, uncontrolled hypertension, and recent major surgery.
Design: Phase 2, open-label, non-randomized, two-cohort study with a two-stage design using response to determine continuation of accrual within each cohort. Approximately 35 patients total with imaging every 9 weeks; follow-up every 12 weeks after treatment discontinuation.
Treatments: Ivonescimab administered on Day 1 of 21-day cycles until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Ivonescimab is a first-in-class bispecific tetravalent antibody targeting PD-1 and VEGF, designed to simultaneously alleviate tumor-induced immunosuppression and inhibit angiogenesis; binding to one target enhances affinity to the other. Across early-phase studies in solid tumors, it has shown objective responses with a manageable safety profile, and in NSCLC randomized data have demonstrated improved progression-free survival versus pembrolizumab in PD-L1–positive disease; it has regulatory approval in China for post–EGFR TKI NSCLC. Common toxicities include immune-related events and VEGF-pathway effects such as hypertension; grade ≥3 AEs have been reported but are generally manageable with standard algorithms.
Outcomes: Primary: Objective response rate by RECIST v1.1. Secondary: Progression-free survival, overall survival, duration of response (overall and by cohort), and safety/tolerability per CTCAE v5.0.
Burden on patient: Moderate. Participation requires in-clinic visits on a 21-day cycle for infusions, routine labs, and safety assessments; cross-sectional imaging every 9 weeks; and provision of archival or prior biopsy tissue, with new biopsies as feasible. There are no intensive pharmacokinetic schedules typical of phase 1 trials, but monitoring for immune-related and VEGF-related toxicities may necessitate additional visits or management of hypertension and related adverse events. Follow-up occurs every 12 weeks after treatment ends. Travel and time commitments are greater than standard surveillance due to triweekly treatment and q9-week imaging.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Participants must have histologically confirmed salivary gland carcinoma (any histologic subtype, including ACC) with evidence of recurrent, metastatic, or advanced, unresectable disease.
* Willing to provide tumor tissue from a diagnostic biopsy or prior surgery if deemed safe and feasible by the investigator.
* Age 18 years or older at the time of consent. There is no upper age limit restriction in an effort to include patients across the lifespan.
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-1.
* Participant must have organ and marrow function as defined below within 14 days prior to study registration:
* Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1000/mcL
* Hemoglobin ≥8.5 g/dL (with no blood transfusions within 7 days of start of therapy)
* Platelets ≥100,000/mcL
* Liver function:
* Serum total bilirubin (T-bili) ≤1.5× upper limit of normal (ULN); for patients with liver metastases or confirmed/suspected Gilbert syndrome, T-bili ≤3× ULN
* Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤2.5× ULN; for patients with liver metastases, AST and ALT ≤5× ULN
* Creatinine Within normal limits, or Creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≥50 mL/min using the Cockcroft-Gault formula or estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) value ≥50 mL/min using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation (adjustment by BSA is not required for eGFR)
* Urine protein: Urine protein \<2+ or 24-hour urine protein quantification \<1.0 g
* Coagulation:prothrombin time (PT) or international normalized ratio (INR) ≤1.5× ULN, and partial prothrombin time (PTT) or activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) ≤1.5× ULN (unless abnormalities are unrelated to coagulopathy or coagulation)
* Participants must have documentation of a new or progressive lesion on a radiologic imaging study performed within 12 months prior to study registration (progression of disease over any interval is allowed) and/or new or worsening disease-related symptoms within 12 months prior to study registration. This assessment is performed by the treating investigator. Evidence of progression by RECIST v1.1 criteria is not required.
* Participants must have at least one RECIST v1.1 measurable non-CNS based lesion, as defined as at least one lesion that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded for non-nodal lesions and short axis for nodal lesions) ≥1 cm with CT scans or MR imaging.
* Prior systemic therapy: At least 2 weeks must have elapsed since the end of prior chemotherapy, biological agents (3 weeks for anti-cancer monoclonal antibody containing regimens) or any investigational drug product, with adequate recovery of treatment-related toxicity to NCI CTCAE Version 5.0 grade ≤1 (or tolerable grade 2) or back to baseline (except for alopecia or neuropathy). Any number of prior therapies for recurrent/metastatic SGC are permitted except receipt of a prior oral VEGFR TKI or anti-PD-1 therapy; but prior therapy for recurrent/metastatic SGC is not required for participation.
* Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
* Female subjects of childbearing potential should have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 14 days of study registration. Female subjects of childbearing potential should have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test repeated within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of study medication.
* Female patient of childbearing potential having sex with an unsterilized male partner must agree to use a highly effective method of contraception from the beginning of screening until 120 days after the last dose of the Ivonescimab.
* Unsterilized male patient having sex with a female partner of childbearing potential must agree to use an effective method of contraception from the beginning of screening until Day 120 after the last dose of Ivonescimab.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Participant has known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis. Subjects with previously treated brain metastases may participate provided they are stable (without evidence of progression by imaging for at least four weeks prior to the first dose of trial treatment) and have no evidence of new or enlarging brain metastases.
* Concurrent administration of other cancer specific therapy or investigational agents during the course of this study is not allowed.
* Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including but not limited to ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, or cardiac arrhythmia.
* Pregnant or lactating women as the effects of the investigational therapy (ivonescimab) on the developing human fetus are unknown.
* Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment. Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy or in situ cervical cancer, and low- risk prostate adenocarcinoma being managed with active surveillance. A history of another separate malignancy in remission without evidence of active disease in the last 2 years is permitted.
* Existing significant autoimmune conditions. Patients with a history of Hashimoto thyroiditis who are stable on replacement hormone therapy are not excluded. Patients cannot be on long-term (\>4 weeks) corticosteroids at doses exceeding prednisone 10 mg daily (or its equivalent).
* Major surgical procedures or serious trauma within 4 weeks prior to starting therapy or plans for major surgical procedures within 4 weeks after the first dose (as determined by the investigator). Minor local procedures (excluding central venous catheterization and port implantation) are permitted.
* History of bleeding tendencies or coagulopathy and/or clinically significant bleeding symptoms or risk within 4 weeks prior to the start of therapy, including but not limited to:
* a. Gastrointestinal bleeding
* b. Hemoptysis (defined as coughing up ≥0.5 teaspoon of fresh blood or small blood clots). Note: transient hemoptysis associated with diagnostic bronchoscopy is allowed.
* c. Significant nasal bleeding/epistaxis (bloody nasal discharge is allowed)
* d. Need for therapeutic anticoagulant therapy within 14 days prior to the start of therapy.
* Current hypertension with systolic blood pressure ≥150 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥100 mmHg after oral antihypertensive therapy.
* History of major diseases , specifically:
* a. Unstable angina, myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association \[NYHA\] classification ≥ grade 2) or vascular disease (eg, aortic aneurysm at risk of rupture) that required hospitalization within 12 months prior to randomization, or other cardiac impairment that may affect the safety evaluation of the study drug (eg, poorly controlled arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia)
* b. History of esophageal gastric varices, severe ulcers, wounds that do not heal, abdominal fistula, intra-abdominal abscesses, or acute gastrointestinal bleeding within 6 months before randomization
* c. History of arterial thromboembolic event, venous thromboembolic event of Grade 3 and above as specified in National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) 5.0, transient ischemic attack, cerebrovascular accident, hypertensive crisis, or hypertensive encephalopathy within 6 months prior to randomization
* d. Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease within 4 weeks before randomization
* e. History of perforation of the gastrointestinal tract and/or fistula, history of gastrointestinal obstruction (including incomplete intestinal obstruction requiring parenteral nutrition), extensive bowel resection (partial colectomy or extensive small bowel resection) within 6 months prior to randomization
* Imaging during the screening period shows that the patient has:
* a. Radiologically documented evidence of major blood vessel invasion or encasement by cancer (per the judgment of the treatment investigator)
* b. Radiographic evidence of intratumor cavitation (per the judgment of the treating investigator)
Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
[email protected] / 617-632-3090
Status: Recruiting
Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
[email protected] / 617-632-3090
Status: Recruiting