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Drug development in oncology commonly exploits the tools of molecular biology to gain therapeutic benefit through reprograming of cellular responses. In immuno‐oncology (IO) the aim is to direct the patient’s own immune system to fight cancer. After remarkable successes of antibodies targeting PD1/PD‐L1 and CTLA4 receptors in targeted patient populations, the focus of further development has shifted toward combination therapies. However, the current drug‐development approach of exploiting a vast number of possible combination targets and dosing regimens has proven to be challenging and is arguably inefficient. In particular, the unprecedented number of clinical trials testing different combinations may no longer be sustainable by the population of available patients. Further development in IO requires a step change in selection and validation of candidate therapies to decrease development attrition rate and limit the number of clinical trials. Quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) proposes to tackle this challenge through mechanistic modeling and simulation. Compounds’ pharmacokinetics, target binding, and mechanisms of action as well as existing knowledge on the underlying tumor and immune system biology are described by quantitative, dynamic models aiming to predict clinical results for novel combinations. Here, we review the current QSP approaches, the legacy of mathematical models available to quantitative clinical pharmacologists describing interaction between tumor and immune system, and the recent development of IO QSP platform models. We argue that QSP and virtual patients can be integrated as a new tool in existing IO drug development approaches to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the search for novel combination therapies.

Background UCART19 is an allogeneic, genetically modified CAR T-cell product (anti-CD19 scFv- 41BB-CD3ζ) manufactured from healthy donor T cells, in which TRAC and CD52 genes have been knocked out to allow its administration in non-HLA matched patients (pts). Aims Preliminary safety/anti leukemic and cellular kinetics data of UCART19 administered to pediatric and adult patients with R/R B-ALL are reported. Methods Data of patients included in the ongoing CALM study (adult) and PALL study (pediatric) have been pooled. CALM is a dose-escalation study (approximate dose level [DL] 1: 1x105 cells/kg,DL2: 1x106 cells/kg, DL3: 3x106 cells/kg) and PALL is testing a unique dose of 1.1 to 2.3x106 cells/kg. Eligible patients presented with a morphological disease (>5%) or MRD load ≥1x10-3. A lymphodepleting regimen (LD) combining cyclophosphamide (1500 mg/m² in CALM, 120 mg/kg in PALL) and fludarabine (90 mg/m2 in CALM, 150 mg/m2 in PALL) without (FC) or with alemtuzumab (FCA) (1 mg/kg) was administered one week before UCART19 infusion on Day 0 (D0). Cellular kinetics of UCART19 was assessed by flow cytometry (flow) in CALM and by vector copy number in PALL. Results As of 15 July 2018, 20 pts had received at least one UCART19 infusion, including 13 pts in CALM (6 at DL1; 6 at DL2 and 1 at DL3) and 7 pts in PALL. Seventeen pts had completed D28 evaluation (1 pt died at D15, 2 pts have not reached D28 yet). Prior to LD, blasts % in the bone marrow (median [range]) was 6% [0-68%] in PALL and 25% [0-96%] in CALM. Seventeen pts received LD with FCA and 3 pts received LD with FC. Safety was evaluable in 18/20 pts. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) was reported in 17/18 pts and was mild and reversible in the majority of cases (2 G1, 12 G2, 2 G3, 1 G4). One pt died in context of CRS G4 and neutropenic sepsis. According to data available to date, the severity of CRS does not seem to follow the levels of serum cytokines (IL-6, IL-10 and IFNγ). Mild self-limited neurotoxicity events were reported in 6 pts (5 G1 and 1 G2). Two pts (1 infant and 1 adult) developed G1 acute skin GvHD (non-biopsy proven for 1 pt) that was reversible with steroids. Grade 1-4 viral infections were reported in 8/18 pts. The majority of events recovered, except in 2 pts who died after allo-SCT in context of prolonged cytopenia (defined as persistent G4 beyond D42 post UCART19 infusion): 1 child with BK virus infection and 1 adult with adenovirus infection. A further 4 pts developed prolonged cytopenia and all recovered after allo-SCT. Cellular kinetic data was available for 18/20 pts. UCART19 was detectable in blood from D7. Peak expansion was observed in 72% (13/18) pts between D10 and D17, mostly at D14, with a median persistence duration of 28 days. Expansion occurred at each dose tested; without consistent relationship between administered dose and magnitude of expansion. One patient treated at DL2 presented a high expansion and a long persistence (very low detection by flow at D120). UCART19 persistence could not be assessed beyond D42-D56 in 3 pts because the remaining CARs were ablated by the transplant conditioning regimen. No expansion was observed in 5/18 pts in whom early lymphocyte recovery was detected from D14. Of these 5 pts, 3 did not receive alemtuzumab. The role of clinical status, tumor burden and lymphodepleting regimen on UCART19 expansion is under investigation. Anti-leukemic activity was evaluable in 16/20 pts (1 pt died at D15, 1 pt was not assessed at D28, 2 pts have not yet reached D28). After UCART19 infusion, 88% of evaluable pts (14/16) achieved CR or CRi by D28 or D42 and 86% (12/14) of these pts were MRD negative (MRD- stands for < 1x10-4 copies) by flow or qPCR. Two out of 16 pts had no expansion and showed refractory disease. Among 12 pts achieving MRD-, 5 pts remain in molecular remission 4.5 to 16.4 months post UCART19. In total, 11 pts underwent allo-SCT (5 in PALL and 6 in CALM). Preliminary data suggests that in the majority of pts, anti-leukemic activity is linked with CAR expansion. Conclusion Pooled data of 20 pts show an acceptable and manageable safety profile of UCART19. Severe CRS was reported in 15%. Only 2 G1 cutaneous acute GvHD were observed and no severe neurotoxicity was reported. In this heavily pre-treated population, 88% pts of evaluable pts (14/16) achieved CR or CRi of which 86% (12/14) achieved MRD-. All pts who achieved MRD- had evidence of UCART19 expansion. Updated data, including data for the highest dose level in CALM study, will be presented (NCT 02746952, NCT02808442). Disclosures Benjamin: Servier: Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Gilead: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Pfizer: Research Funding. Graham:Servier: Research Funding. Yallop:Pfizer: Consultancy; Servier: Other: Travel funding. Jozwik:Servier: Honoraria, Research Funding. Ciocarlie:Servier: Research Funding. Jain:Cellectis: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Astra Zeneca: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding; Astra Zeneca: Research Funding; Abbvie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Verastem: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Infinity: Research Funding; Servier: Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Verastem: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novimmune: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Adaptive Biotechnologioes: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Astra Zeneca: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novimmune: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Verastem: Research Funding; Adaptive Biotechnologioes: Research Funding; Servier: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; ADC Therapeutics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Cellectis: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Verastem: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Servier: Research Funding; Infinity: Research Funding; Astra Zeneca: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Maus:adaptimmune: Consultancy; novartis: Consultancy; windmil therapeutics: Consultancy; agentus: Consultancy, Research Funding; crispr therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; kite therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding. Boissel:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Larghero:Gilead: Consultancy. Baruchel:Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Shire: Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel, accommodations or expenses; Amgen: Consultancy; Servier: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy. Mohty:Takeda: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Molmed: Consultancy; Servier: Consultancy; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; MaaT Pharma: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bristol Myers: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria. Bloor:Janssen: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding. Frey:Novartis: Consultancy; Servier Consultancy: Consultancy. Konto:Pfizer: Equity Ownership. Veys:Pfizer: Honoraria; Servier: Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria. Qasim:Bellicum: Research Funding; Autolus: Equity Ownership; Orchard: Equity Ownership; Servier: Research Funding.

Flotetuzumab (MGD006 or S80880) is a bispecific molecule that recognizes CD3 and CD123 membrane proteins, redirecting T cells to kill CD123-expressing cells for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia. In this study, we developed a mathematical model to characterize MGD006 exposure-response relationships and to assess the impact of its immunogenicity in cynomolgus monkeys. Thirty-two animals received multiple escalating doses (100-300-600-1,000 ng/kg/day) via intravenous infusion continuously 4 days a week. The model reflects sequential binding of MGD006 to CD3 and CD123 receptors. Formation of the MGD006/CD3 complex was connected to total T cells undergoing trafficking, whereas the formation of the trimolecular complex results in T-cell activation and clonal expansion. Activated T cells were used to drive the peripheral depletion of CD123-positive cells. Anti-drug antibody development was linked to MGD006 disposition as an elimination pathway. Model validation was tested by predicting the activity of MGD006 in eight monkeys receiving continuous 7-day infusions. MGD006 disposition and total T-cell and CD123-positive cell profiles were well characterized. Anti-drug antibody development led to the suppression of T-cell trafficking but did not systematically abolish CD123-positive cell depletion. Target cell depletion could persist after drug elimination owing to the self-proliferation of activated T cells generated during the first cycles. The model was externally validated with the 7-day infusion dosing schedule. A translational model was developed for MGD006 that features T-cell activation and expansion as a key driver of pharmacologic activity and provides a mechanistic quantitative platform to inform dosing strategies in ongoing clinical studies. .

Purpose: UCART19 is an “off-the-shelf” genome-edited anti-CD19 CAR-T cell product, manufactured from unrelated healthy donor cells. Patients and Methods: UCART19 was administered to 25 adult patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) in the CALM trial. All patients underwent lymphodepletion with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide ± alemtuzumab and received one of three ascending doses of UCART19. Given the allogeneic nature of UCART19, we analyzed the impact of lymphodepletion, HLA disparities and host immune system reconstitution on its kinetics, along with other factors known to affect autologous CAR-T cell clinical pharmacology. Results: Responder patients (12/25) had higher UCART19 expansion (Cmax) and exposure (AUCTlast) than non-responders (13/25), as measured by transgene levels in peripheral blood. The persistence of CAR+ T cells didn’t exceed 28 days in 10/25 patients and lasted beyond 42 days in 4/25. No significant correlation was found between UCART19 kinetics and administered cell dose, patient and product characteristics or HLA disparities. However, the number of prior lines of therapy and absence of alemtuzumab negatively impacted UCART19 expansion and persistence. Alemtuzumab exposure positively affected interleukin-7 and UCART19 kinetics, while negatively correlating with host T-lymphocyte AUC0-28. Conclusions: UCART19 expansion is a driver of response in adult R/R B-ALL patients. These results shed light on the factors associated with UCART19 kinetics, which remain highly affected by the impact of alemtuzumab on interleukin-7 and host-versus-graft rejection.

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Abstract.Design of phase 1 combination therapy trials is complex compared to single therapy trials. In this work, model-based adaptive optimal design (MBAOD) was exemplified and evaluated for a combination of paclitaxel and a hypothetical new compound in a phase 1 study to determine the best dosing regimen for a phase 2 trial. Neutropenia was assumed as the main toxicity and the dose optimization process targeted a 33% probability of grade 4 neutropenia and maximal efficacy (based on preclinical studies) by changing the dose amount of both drugs and the dosing schedule for the new drug. Different starting conditions (e.g., initial dose), search paths (e.g., maximal change in dose intensity per step), and stopping criteria (e.g., B3 + 3 rule^) were explored. The MBAOD approach was successfully implemented allowing the possibility of flexible designs with the modification of doses and dosing schedule throughout the trial. The 3 + 3 rule was shown to be highly conservative (selection of a dosing regimen with at least 90% of the possible maximal efficacy in less than 21% of the cases) but also safer (selection of a toxic design in less than 2% of the cases). Without the 3 + 3 rule, better performance was observed (>67% of selected designs were associated with at least 90% of possible maximal efficacy) while the proportion of DLTs per trial was similar. Overall, MBAOD is a promising tool in the context of dose finding studies of combination treatments and was showed to be flexible enough to be associated with requirements imposed by clinical protocols.