Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Treatment With NLM-001 and Standard Chemotherapy Plus Zalifrelimab in Patients With Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

• Status: Recruiting
• Trial end date: 2022-11-15
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

In order to improve the survival rates and decrease progression of pancreatic advanced cancer, this study aims to evaluate the first line treatment approved for this disease (gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel) in combination with two experimental drugs, an inhibitor of the signaling pathway of Hedgehog and an immunotherapy drug able of blocking the CTLA-4 receptor.

• Phase: Phase 1/Phase 2
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Nelum Corp
• Collaborators: Agenus Inc.; Apices Soluciones S.L.
• Treatments: Gemcitabine; Paclitaxel

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Investigators must ensure that patients are able to understand the requirements of the study and provide informed consent

2. Age ≥18 years

3. Histological or cytological diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma

4. Stage IV disease

5. No prior treatment for advanced disease. Patients who have received chemotherapy for localize disease are eligible if at least six months have elapsed from the last chemotherapy treatment

6. Measurable disease per RECIST 1.1 as determined by the investigator

7. ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) PS 0-1

8. Sufficient hematopoietic, renal and liver function as defined as:

• Neutrophil count ≥ 1.5 x 109 / L

• Platelet count ≥ 100 x 109 / L

• Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN (upper limit of normal)

• AST and / or ALT ≤2.5 x ULN or ≤5 for patients with liver disease

• Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x ULN

9. Tumor lesion amenable for safe repeated biopsy

10. Women of child-bearing age and men who wish to participate in the study must agree to use appropriate contraceptive methods from the signing of informed consent until 3 months after discontinuation of the study drug

• Adequate contraception includes abstinence, oral contraceptives, transdermal patches, and injections that prolong release of a progestogen (starting at least 4 weeks prior to the administration of the investigational drug), double barrier method: condom or female condom (diaphragm or condom / vaginal) plus spermicide, intrauterine device (IUD), implant or a vaginal ring (placed at least 4 weeks prior to administration of investigational drug) or male partner sterilization (vasectomy with documentation of azoospermia) before the inclusion of the woman in the trial if the male is the only sex partner of the woman

Investigators must ensure that patients recruited will be able to meet all study requirements, including tumor biopsy, chemotherapy and monitoring

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Active or uncontrolled infection, disease or serious medical condition that may interfere with the patient's eligibility or treatment

2. History of psychiatric condition that would compromise the patient's ability to understand or comply with the requirements of the protocol, or the ability to provide informed consent

3. Concurrent antineoplastic therapy

4. Pregnant or lactating women

5. History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical structure or similar biological study drug composition

6. History of life-threatening serious adverse events to Gemcitabine or Nab-Paclitaxel

7. Prior chemotherapy or chemo-radiation therapy for advanced pancreatic cancer

8. Patients requiring or being treated with potent CYP3A4 inhibitors and inducers

9. Other malignancies treated within the last 5 years, except in situ cervix carcinoma or nonmelanoma skin cancer

10. History of interstitial lung disease

11. Subjects with a history or presence of a known clotting disorder or difficulty achieving haemostasis will be excluded

12. Primary or secondary immunodeficiency, including immunosuppressive disease or autoimmune disease (including autoimmune endocrinopathies).

Note: Subjects with diabetes type 1, vitiligo, psoriasis, hypo-, or hyperthyroid disease not requiring immunosuppressive treatment are eligible. Subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus are allowed

13. Subjects with a known history of human immunodeficiency virus 1 and 2, human T lymphotropic virus 1.

14. Administration of anticancer medications or investigational drugs within the following intervals before the first administration of study drug:

1. A 1-week washout is permitted for palliative radiation to non- central nervous system (CNS) disease, with medical monitor approval. Subjects must also not have had radiation pneumonitis as a result of treatment and cannot participate in the study if they are on chronic corticosteroids for radiation pneumonitis Note: Bisphosphonates and denosumab are permitted medications

2. ≤7 days for prior corticosteroid treatment, with the following exceptions:

• Use of an inhaled or topical corticosteroid is permitted

• Corticosteroid premedication for radiographic imaging for dye allergies is permitted

• Use of physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy may be approved after consultation with the medical monitor

3. ≤7 days for immunosuppressive-based treatment for any reason, with the exceptions noted above for prior corticosteroid treatment

4. ≤21 days or 5 half-lives before first dose of study treatment for all other investigational study drugs or devices. For investigational agents with long half-lives (e.g., >5 days), enrollment before the fifth half-life requires medical monitor approval

15. Has not recovered to grade ≤1 from toxic effects of prior therapy and/or complications from prior surgical intervention before starting therapy Note: Subjects with grade ≤2 neuropathy and alopecia are an exception and may enroll

16. History or presence of an abnormal ECG that, in the investigator's opinion, is clinically meaningful

17. Concurrent participation in other investigational drug trials

18. Has a CNS tumor, metastasis(es), and/or carcinomatous meningitis identified either on the baseline brain imaging obtained during the screening period, clinically indicated at investigator criteria, or identified prior to consent Note: Subjects with history of brain metastases that have been treated may participate provided they show evidence of stable supratentorial lesions at screening (defined as 2 brain images, both of which are obtained after treatment to the brain metastases. These imaging scans should both be obtained ≥4 weeks apart). In addition, any neurologic symptoms that developed either as a result of the brain metastases or their treatment must have returned to baseline or resolved. For individuals who received steroids as part of brain metastases treatment, steroids must be discontinued ≥ 7 days prior to first dose of study drug.