Classifications

• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K16/00—Immunoglobulins [IG], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies
  • C07K16/18—Immunoglobulins [IG], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans
  • C07K16/28—Immunoglobulins [IG], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans against receptors, cell surface antigens or cell surface determinants
  • C07K16/2803—Immunoglobulins [IG], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans against receptors, cell surface antigens or cell surface determinants against the immunoglobulin superfamily
  • C07K16/2818—Immunoglobulins [IG], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans against receptors, cell surface antigens or cell surface determinants against the immunoglobulin superfamily against CD28 or CD152
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P35/00—Antineoplastic agents
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61P—SPECIFIC THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITY OF CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS OR MEDICINAL PREPARATIONS
  • A61P35/00—Antineoplastic agents
  • A61P35/04—Antineoplastic agents specific for metastasis
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K16/00—Immunoglobulins [IG], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies
  • C07K16/18—Immunoglobulins [IG], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans
  • C07K16/28—Immunoglobulins [IG], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans against receptors, cell surface antigens or cell surface determinants
  • C07K16/2863—Immunoglobulins [IG], e.g. monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies against material from animals or humans against receptors, cell surface antigens or cell surface determinants against receptors for growth factors, growth regulators
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
  • A61K2039/505—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies comprising antibodies
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
  • A61K2039/505—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies comprising antibodies
  • A61K2039/507—Comprising a combination of two or more separate antibodies
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
  • A61K2039/54—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characterised by the route of administration
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K39/00—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies
  • A61K2039/545—Medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies characterised by the dose, timing or administration schedule
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
  • C07K2317/20—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by taxonomic origin
  • C07K2317/21—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by taxonomic origin from primates, e.g. man
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07K—PEPTIDES
  • C07K2317/00—Immunoglobulins specific features
  • C07K2317/20—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by taxonomic origin
  • C07K2317/24—Immunoglobulins specific features characterized by taxonomic origin containing regions, domains or residues from different species, e.g. chimeric, humanized or veneered

Definitions

• the present invention relates to combination therapies useful for the treatment of cancer.
• the invention relates to a combination therapy that comprises an antagonist of a Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and an antagonist of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2).
• PD-1 Programmed cell death protein 1
• VEGFR-2 vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2
• PD-1 is recognized as an important molecule in immune regulation and the maintenance of peripheral tolerance. PD-1 is moderately expressed on naive T, B and NKT cells and up-regulated by T/B cell receptor signaling on lymphocytes, monocytes and myeloid cells (1).
• Pembrolizumab is a potent humanized immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) mAb with high specificity of binding to the programmed cell death 1 (PD 1) receptor, thus inhibiting its interaction with programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and programmed cell death ligand 2 (PD-L2).
• IgG4 immunoglobulin G4
• pembrolizumab Based on preclinical in vitro data, pembrolizumab has high affinity and potent receptor blocking activity for PD-1.
• KEYTRUDA® pembrolizumab; Merck Sharp & Dohme, Corp., Rahway, NJ is indicated and stands approved for the treatment of patients across a number of indications.
• VEGF Vascular endothelial growth factor
• FGF fibroblast growth factor
• PDGF platelet-derived growth factor
• VEGFR is a representative receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), which enhances proliferation, growth, and differentiation of endothelial cells.
• RTK receptor tyrosine kinase
• the VEGFR exists as 3 isoforms, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3, also known as Flt-1, KDR (Flt-1 in mouse) and Flt-4, respectively.
• VEGFR-2/KDR is one of the key receptors in endothelial cell proliferation and angiogenesis by VEGF signaling, and it is known that VEGFR-2/KDR can regulate cell growth through an autocrine pathway.
• VEGF binds to VEGFR-2/KDR undergoes auto-phosphorylation and engages key downstream pathways, including PI3K-AKT and the RAS-RAF-MEK-MAPK signalling network, which are essential for stimulating diffusion, migration and survival of endothelial cell.
• Olinvacimab also known as TTAC-0001 binds to VEGFR-2 with high affinity, therefore effectively blocking VEGF binding to VEGFR-2/KDR The blockade of VEGF binding to VEGFR-2/KDR results in the inhibition of VEGFR-2 phosphorylation and downstream signalling. Consequently, olinvacimab presents anti-tumor as well as antiangiogenesis effects.
• Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States, the second most common cause of cancer death, and the main cause of death in women ages 45 to 55 years. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for approximately 15% to 20% of breast cancers.
• TNBC triple-negative breast cancer
• TNBC is a subtype of breast cancer defined classically by its lack of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpression, thereby making it difficult to target.
• TNBC tumors are frequently larger, less differentiated and approximately 2.5-fold more likely to metastasize within 5 years of diagnosis. Median time to death for a patient with TNBC is therefore shorter (4.2 versus 6 years); and overall survival (OS) also is poorer for patients with TNBC compared to other breast cancers.
• Metastatic TNBC mTNBC represents a continuing challenge because when compared to other breast cancer subtypes, it is associated with a higher frequency of progression, shorter progression free survival (PFS) and poorer OS.
• the lung, bone, liver and brain are the most common metastatic target sites for breast cancer. In fact, approximately 60% of metastatic breast cancer patients suffer lung or bone metastasis in their life.
• the only currently available strategy for recurrent or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) is re-challenging with systemic chemotherapy.
• cancer therapies including for breast cancer, triple negative breast cancer, metastatic breast cancer, and metastatic triple negative breast cancer.
• the invention provides a method for treating cancer in an individual comprising administering to the individual a combination therapy that comprises a PD-1 antagonist and a VEGFR-2 antagonist.
• the cancer is triplenegative breast cancer (TNBC).
• TNBC triplenegative breast cancer
• mTNBC metastatic triple-negative breast cancer
• the individual has mTNBC with at least one metastatic lesion in the lung or brain.
• the PD-1 antagonist and the VEGFR-2 antagonist are co-formulated.
• the PD-1 antagonist and the VEGFR-2 antagonist are co-administered.
• the PD-1 antagonist is an anti-PD-1 antibody that blocks the binding of PD-1 to PD-L1 and PD-L2.
• the VEGFR-2 antagonist is an anti- VEGFR-2 antibody that blocks the binding of VEGFR-2 to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).
• VEGF vascular endothelial growth factor
• Figure 3 depicts a graph (in the form of a “swimmer’s plot”) of the interim results for patients with metastatic triple negative breast cancer in a clinical trial, as a function of treatment cycles.
• PR partial remission.
• PD progressive disease.
• SD stable disease.
• Solid star indicates partial response.
• P pembrolizumab.
• O olinvacimab.
• Patients were assessed after each second (even) treatment cycle.
• the numbers on the y-axis are the patient identifier.
• Figure 4 depicts CT scans of the lungs of patient 2202 before (left panel) and after (right panel) treatment with olinvacimab 16 mg/kg in combination with pembrolizumab.
• the left panel depicts a metastatic lung lesion (circled).
• the right panel depicts the lung after treatment with olinvacimab 16 mg/kg weekly (q7d) infusion in combination with pembrolizumab 200 mg day 1 in 3 week (q21d) cycles.
• the metastatic lung lesion is not observed in the right panel.
• the patient’s lung lesion was measured and assessed according to RECIST 1.1 criteria.
• antibody refers to any form of antibody that exhibits the desired biological or binding activity. Thus, it is used in the broadest sense and specifically covers, but is not limited to, monoclonal antibodies (including full length monoclonal antibodies), polyclonal antibodies, multispecific antibodies (e.g., bispecific antibodies), humanized, fully human antibodies, chimeric antibodies and camelized single domain antibodies.
• Monoclonal antibodies including full length monoclonal antibodies
• polyclonal antibodies include multispecific antibodies (e.g., bispecific antibodies), humanized, fully human antibodies, chimeric antibodies and camelized single domain antibodies.
• Parental antibodies are antibodies obtained by exposure of an immune system to an antigen prior to modification of the antibodies for an intended use, such as humanization of an antibody for use as a human therapeutic.
• the basic antibody structural unit comprises a tetramer.
• Each tetramer includes two identical pairs of polypeptide chains, each pair having one “light” (about 25 kDa) and one “heavy” chain (about 50-70 kDa).
• the amino-terminal portion of each chain includes a variable region of about 100 to 110 or more amino acids primarily responsible for antigen recognition.
• the carboxy-terminal portion of the heavy chain may define a constant region primarily responsible for effector function.
• human light chains are classified as kappa and lambda light chains.
• variable regions of each light/heavy chain pair form the antibody binding site.
• an intact antibody has two binding sites.
• the two binding sites are, in general, the same.
• variable domains of both the heavy and light chains comprise three hypervariable regions, also called complementarity determining regions (CDRs), which are located within relatively conserved framework regions (FR).
• CDRs complementarity determining regions
• FR framework regions
• the CDRs are usually aligned by the framework regions, enabling binding to a specific epitope.
• both light and heavy chains variable domains comprise FR1, CDR1, FR2, CDR2, FR3, CDR3 and FR4.
• the assignment of amino acids to each domain is, generally, in accordance with the definitions of Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, Kabat, et al;, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md. ; 5 th ed.; NIH Publ.
• VH refers to a variable domain of the heavy chain.
• VL refers to a variable domain of the light chain.
• antibody fragment or “antigen binding fragment of an antibody” refers to antigen binding fragments of antibodies, i.e. antibody fragments that retain the ability to bind specifically to the antigen bound by the full- length antibody, e.g. fragments that retain one or more CDR regions.
• antibody binding fragments include, but are not limited to, Fab, Fab', F(ab')2, and Fv fragments; diabodies; linear antibodies; single-chain antibody molecules, e.g., sc-Fv; nanobodies and multispecific antibodies formed from antibody fragments.
• Such antibody fragments can have similar biological activity but perhaps less immunogenicity to the subject to whom it is administered.
• An antibody that “specifically binds to” a specified target protein is an antibody that exhibits preferential binding to that target as compared to other proteins, but this specificity does not require absolute binding specificity.
• An antibody is considered “specific” for its intended target if its binding is determinative of the presence of the target protein in a sample, e.g. without producing undesired results such as false positives.
• Antibodies, or binding fragments thereof, useful in the present invention will bind to the target protein with an affinity that is at least two fold greater, preferably at least ten times greater, more preferably at least 20-times greater, and most preferably at least 100-times greater than the affinity with non-target proteins.
• an antibody is said to bind specifically to a polypeptide comprising a given amino acid sequence, e.g. the amino acid sequence of a mature human PD-1 or human PD-L1 molecule, if it binds to polypeptides comprising that sequence but does not bind to proteins lacking that sequence.
• Chimeric antibody refers to an antibody in which a portion of the heavy and/or light chain is identical with or homologous to corresponding sequences in an antibody derived from a particular species (e.g., human) or belonging to a particular antibody class or subclass, while the remainder of the chain(s) is identical with or homologous to corresponding sequences in an antibody derived from another species (e.g., mouse) or belonging to another antibody class or subclass, as well as fragments of such antibodies, so long as they exhibit the desired biological activity.
• a particular species e.g., human
• another species e.g., mouse
• Co-administration means that the agents are administered so as to have overlapping therapeutic activities, and not necessarily that the agents are administered simultaneously to the subject.
• the agents may or may not be in physical combination prior to administration (e.g., in the same intravenous bag).
• the agents are administered to a subject simultaneously or at about the same time.
• the anti-PD-1 antibody and the anti-VEGFR-2 antibody may be contained in separate vials, when in liquid solution, and then may be mixed into the same intravenous infusion bag or injection device, and administered simultaneously to the patient.
• Co-formulated or “co-formulation” or “coformulation” or “coformulated” as used herein refers to at least two different antibodies or antigen binding fragments thereof that are formulated together and stored as a combined product in a single vial or vessel (for example an injection device) rather than being formulated and stored individually and then mixed before administration or separately administered.
• the coformulation contains two different antibodies or antigen binding fragments thereof.
• Human antibody refers to an antibody that comprises human immunoglobulin protein sequences only.
• a human antibody may contain murine carbohydrate chains if produced in a mouse, in a mouse cell, or in a hybridoma derived from a mouse cell.
• mouse antibody or rat antibody refer to an antibody that comprises only mouse or rat immunoglobulin sequences, respectively.
• Humanized antibody refers to forms of antibodies that contain sequences from non-human (e.g., murine) antibodies as well as human antibodies. Such antibodies contain minimal sequence derived from non-human immunoglobulin.
• the humanized antibody will comprise substantially all of at least one, and typically two, variable domains, in which all or substantially all of the hypervariable loops correspond to those of a non-human immunoglobulin and all or substantially all of the FR regions are those of a human immunoglobulin sequence.
• the humanized antibody optionally also will comprise at least a portion of an immunoglobulin constant region (Fc), typically that of a human immunoglobulin.
• Fc immunoglobulin constant region
• the prefix “hum”, “hu” or “h” is added to antibody clone designations when necessary to distinguish humanized antibodies from parental rodent antibodies.
• the humanized forms of rodent antibodies will generally comprise the same CDR sequences of the parental rodent antibodies, although certain amino acid substitutions may be included to increase affinity, increase stability of the humanized antibody, or for other reasons.
• Bidimensional irRC refers to the set of criteria described in Wolchok JD, et al., “Guidelines for the evaluation of immune therapy activity in solid tumors: immune- related response criteria,” Clin. Cancer Res. 2009;15(23): 7412-7420. These criteria utilize bidimensional tumor measurements of target lesions, which are obtained by multiplying the longest diameter and the longest perpendicular diameter (cm2) of each lesion.
• Biotherapeutic agent means a biological molecule, such as an antibody or fusion protein, that blocks ligand / receptor signaling in any biological pathway that supports tumor maintenance and/or growth or suppresses the anti-tumor immune response.
• Classes of biotherapeutic agents include, but are not limited to, antibodies to EGFR, Her2/neu, other growth factor receptors, CD20, CD40, CD-40L, CTLA-4, OX-40, 4-1BB, and ICOS.
• CDR or “CDRs” as used herein means complementarity determining region(s) in a immunoglobulin variable region, defined using the Kabat numbering system, unless otherwise indicated.
• “Chemotherapeutic agent” is a chemical compound useful in the treatment of cancer.
• Classes of chemotherapeutic agents include, but are not limited to: alkylating agents, antimetabolites, kinase inhibitors, spindle poison plant alkaloids, cytoxic/antitumor antibiotics, topoisomerase inhibitors, photosensitizers, anti-estrogens and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), anti-progesterones, estrogen receptor down-regulators (ERDs), estrogen receptor antagonists, leutinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists, antiandrogens, aromatase inhibitors, EGFR inhibitors, and anti-sense oligonucleotides that inhibit expression of genes implicated in abnormal cell proliferation or tumor growth.
• Chemotherapeutic agents useful in the treatment methods of the present invention include cytostatic and/or cytotoxic agents.
• Chothia as used herein means an antibody numbering system described in Al-Lazikani et al., JMB 273: 927-948 (1997).
• Constantly modified variants or “conservative substitution” refers to substitutions of amino acids in a protein with other amino acids having similar characteristics (e.g. charge, side-chain size, hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity, backbone conformation and rigidity, etc ), such that the changes can frequently be made without altering the biological activity or other desired property of the protein, such as antigen affinity and/or specificity.
• Those of skill in this art recognize that, in general, single amino acid substitutions in non- essential regions of a polypeptide do not substantially alter biological activity (see, e.g., Watson et al. (1987) Molecular Biology of the Gene, The Benjamin/Cummings Pub. Co., p. 224 (4th Ed.)).
• substitutions of structurally or functionally similar amino acids are less likely to disrupt biological activity. Exemplary conservative substitutions are set forth in Table 1 below.
• a PD-1 antagonist that consists essentially of a recited amino acid sequence may also include one or more amino acids, including substitutions of one or more amino acid residues, which do not materially affect the properties of the binding compound.
• DCR or “Disease Control Rate” means CR + PR + SD “DSDR” or “Durable Stable Disease Rate” means SD for > 23 weeks.
• Framework region or “FR” as used herein means the immunoglobulin variable regions excluding the CDR regions.
• “Kabaf ’ as used herein means an immunoglobulin alignment and numbering system pioneered by Elvin A. Kabat ((1991) Sequences of Proteins of Immunological Interest, 5th Ed. Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.).“Monoclonal antibody” or “mAb” or “Mab”, as used herein, refers to a population of substantially homogeneous antibodies, i.e., the antibody molecules comprising the population are identical in amino acid sequence except for possible naturally occurring mutations that may be present in minor amounts.
• conventional (polyclonal) antibody preparations typically include a multitude of different antibodies having different amino acid sequences in their variable domains, particularly their CDRs, which are often specific for different epitopes.
• the modifier “monoclonal” indicates the character of the antibody as being obtained from a substantially homogeneous population of antibodies, and is not to be construed as requiring production of the antibody by any particular method.
• the monoclonal antibodies to be used in accordance with the present invention may be made by the hybridoma method first described by Kohler et al. (1975) Nature 256: 495, or may be made by recombinant DNA methods (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567).
• the “monoclonal antibodies” may also be isolated from phage antibody libraries using the techniques described in Clackson et al. (1991) Nature 352: 624-628 and Marks et al. (1991) J. Mol. Biol. 222: 581- 597, for example. See also Presta (2005) J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 116:731.
• Non-responder patient when referring to a specific anti-tumor response to treatment with a combination therapy described herein, means the patient did not exhibit an anti-tumor response.
• ORR or “objective response rate” refers in some embodiments to CR + PR; ORR(week 24) refers to CR and PR measured using irRECIST in each patient in a cohort after 24 weeks of anti-cancer treatment.
• PD-1 antagonist means any chemical compound or biological molecule that blocks binding of PD-L1 expressed on a cancer cell to PD-1 expressed on an immune cell (T cell, B cell or NKT cell) and preferably also blocks binding ofPD-L2 expressed on a cancer cell to the immune-cell expressed PD-1.
• PD-1 and its ligands include: PDCD1, PD1, CD279 and SLEB2 for PD-1; PDCD1L1, PDL1, B7H1, B7- 4, CD274 and B7-H for PD-L1 ; and PDCD1L2, PDL2, B7-DC, Btdc, and CD273 for PD-L2.
• the PD-1 antagonist blocks binding of human PD-L1 to human PD-1, and preferably blocks binding of both human PD-L1 and PD-L2 to human PD-1.
• Human PD-1 amino acid sequences can be found in NCBI Locus No.: NP 005009.
• Human PD-L1 and PD-L2 amino acid sequences can be found in NCBI Locus No.: NP_054862 and NP_079515, respectively.
• an “olinvacimab variant” means a monoclonal antibody which comprises heavy chain and light chain sequences that are substantially identical to those in olinvacimab, except for having three, two or one conservative amino acid substitutions at positions that are located outside of the light chain CDRs and six, five, four, three, two or one conservative amino acid substitutions that are located outside of the heavy chain CDRs, e.g., the variant positions are located in the FR regions or the constant region, and optionally has a deletion of the C-terminal lysine residue of the heavy chain.
• olinvacimab and a olinvacimab variant comprise identical CDR sequences, but differ from each other due to having a conservative amino acid substitution at no more than three or six other positions in their full length light and heavy chain sequences, respectively.
• An olinvacimab variant is substantially the same as olinvacimab with respect to the following properties: binding affinity to VEGFR-2 and ability to neutralize the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR)2/VEGF axis.
• a “pembrolizumab variant” means a monoclonal antibody which comprises heavy chain and light chain sequences that are substantially identical to those in pembrolizumab, except for having three, two or one conservative amino acid substitutions at positions that are located outside of the light chain CDRs and six, five, four, three, two or one conservative amino acid substitutions that are located outside of the heavy chain CDRs, e g., the variant positions are located in the FR regions or the constant region, and optionally has a deletion of the C-terminal lysine residue of the heavy chain.
• pembrolizumab and a pembrolizumab variant comprise identical CDR sequences, but differ from each other due to having a conservative amino acid substitution at no more than three or six other positions in their full length light and heavy chain sequences, respectively.
• a pembrolizumab variant is substantially the same as pembrolizumab with respect to the following properties: binding affinity to PD-1 and ability to block the binding of each of PD- L1 and PD-L2 to PD-1.
• Responder patient when referring to a specific anti-tumor response to treatment with a combination therapy described herein, means a patient exhibiting an antitumor response.
• sustained response means a sustained therapeutic effect after cessation of treatment with a therapeutic agent, or a combination therapy described herein.
• the sustained response has a duration that is at least the same as the treatment duration, or at least 1.5, 2.0, 2.5 or 3 times longer than the treatment duration.
• tissue Section refers to a single part or piece of a tissue sample, e.g., a thin slice of tissue cut from a sample of a normal tissue or of a tumor.
• ‘Treat” or “treating” cancer as used herein means to administer a combination therapy of a PD-1 antagonist and a VEGFR-2 antagonist to a subject having cancer, or diagnosed with cancer, to achieve at least one positive therapeutic effect, such as for example, a reduced number of cancer cells, a reduced tumor size, a reduced rate of cancer cell infiltration into peripheral organs, or a reduced rate of tumor metastasis or tumor growth.
• Positive therapeutic effects in cancer can be measured in a number of ways (see, W. A. Weber, J. Nucl. Med. 50: 1S-10S (2009)).
• a T/C ⁇ 42% is the minimum level of anti-tumor activity.
• response to a combination therapy described herein is assessed using RECIST 1.1 criteria or irRC (bidimensional or unidimensional) and the treatment achieved by a combination of the invention is any of PR, CR, OR, PFS, DFS and OS.
• PFS also referred to as “Time to Tumor Progression” indicates the length of time during and after treatment that the cancer does not grow, and includes the amount of time patients have experienced a CR or PR, as well as the amount of time patients have experienced SD.
• DFS refers to the length of time during and after treatment that the patient remains free of disease.
• OS refers to a prolongation in life expectancy as compared to naive or untreated individuals or patients.
• response to a combination of the invention is any of PR, CR, PFS, DFS, OR and OS that is assessed using RECIST 1.1 response criteria.
• the treatment regimen for a combination of the invention that is effective to treat a cancer patient may vary according to factors such as the disease state, age, and weight of the patient, and the ability of the therapy to elicit an anticancer response in the subject.
• any of the aspects of treating a subject with the described combination therapy may not be effective in achieving a positive therapeutic effect in every subject, it should do so in a statistically significant number of subjects as determined by any statistical test known in the art such as the Student’ s t-test, the chi2-test, the U-test according to Mann and Whitney, the Kruskal-Wallis test (H-test), Jonckheere-Terpstra-test and the Wilcoxon-test.
• treatment regimen “dosing protocol” and “dosing regimen” are used interchangeably to refer to the dose and timing of administration of each therapeutic agent in a combination of the invention.
• Tumor as it applies to a subject diagnosed with, or suspected of having, cancer refers to a malignant or potentially malignant neoplasm or tissue mass of any size, and includes primary tumors and secondary neoplasms.
• a solid tumor is an abnormal growth or mass of tissue that usually does not contain cysts or liquid areas. Different types of solid tumors are named for the type of cells that form them. Examples of solid tumors are sarcomas, carcinomas, and lymphomas. Leukemias (cancers of the blood) generally do not form solid tumors (National Cancer Institute, Dictionary of Cancer Terms).
• Tumor burden also referred to as “tumor load”, refers to the total amount of tumor material distributed throughout the body. Tumor burden refers to the total number of cancer cells or the total size of tumor(s), throughout the body, including lymph nodes and bone marrow. Tumor burden can be determined by a variety of methods known in the art, such as, e.g. by measuring the dimensions of tumor(s) upon removal from the subject, e.g., using calipers, or while in the body using imaging techniques, e.g., ultrasound, bone scan, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
• CT computed tomography
• MRI magnetic resonance imaging
• tumor size refers to the total size of the tumor which can be measured as the length and width of a tumor. Tumor size may be determined by a variety of methods known in the art, such as, e.g. by measuring the dimensions of tumor(s) upon removal from the subject, e.g., using calipers, or while in the body using imaging techniques, e.g., bone scan, ultrasound, CT or MRI scans.
• imaging techniques e.g., bone scan, ultrasound, CT or MRI scans.
• VEGFR-2 antagonist means any biological molecule that specifically binds to VEGFR-2 and blocks binding of VEGF to VEGFR-2 on an endothelial cell and inhibits
• VEGFR-2 phosphorylation Inhibition of VEGFR-2 phosphorylation consequently inhibits downstream signaling, thereby neutralizing the VEGFR-2/VEGF axis and thereby blocking angiogenesis and inhibiting tumor growth and metastasis.
• Human VEGFR-2 comprises the amino acid sequence of Uniprot accession no. P35968. The N-terminal portion of the extracellular domain has the amino acid sequence shown in Table 2.
• Unidimensional irRC refers to the set of criteria described in Nishino M, Giobbie-Hurder A, Gargano M, Suda M, Ramaiya NH, Hodi FS. “Developing a Common Language for Tumor Response to Immunotherapy: Immune-related Response Criteria using
• V region means the segment of IgG chains which is variable in sequence between different antibodies. Typically, it extends to Kabat residue 109 in the light chain and 113 in the heavy chain.
• PD-1 antagonists useful in the treatment method, medicaments and uses of the present invention include a monoclonal antibody (mAb), or antigen binding fragment thereof, which specifically binds to PD-1 or PD-L1, and preferably specifically binds to human PD-1 or human PD-L1.
• the mAb may be a human antibody, a humanized antibody or a chimeric antibody, and may include a human constant region.
• the human constant region is selected from the group consisting of IgGl, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 constant regions, and in preferred embodiments, the human constant region is an IgGl or IgG4 constant region.
• the antigen binding fragment is selected from the group consisting of Fab, Fab'-SH, F(ab')2, scFv and Fv fragments.
• mAbs that bind to human PD-1 are described in U.S. Patent nos. 7488802, 7521051, US8008449, 8354509, 8168757, and PCT International application publ. nos. W02004/004771, W02004/072286, W02004/056875, and U.S. Patent publ. no. 2011/0271358.
• Specific anti-human PD-1 mAbs useful as the PD-1 antagonist in the treatment method, medicaments and uses of the present invention include: pembrolizumab (also known as MK-3475), a humanized IgG4 mAb with the structure described in WHO Drug Information, Vol.
• nivolumab (BMS-936558), a human IgG4 mAb with the structure described in WHO Drug Information, Vol. 27, No. 1, pages 68-69 (2013) and which comprises the heavy and light chain amino acid sequences shown in Table 3; the humanized antibodies h409Al l, h409A16 and h409A17, which are described in PCT International application publ. no. WO2008/156712, and AMP- 514, which is being developed by Medlmmune. Additional anti-PD-1 antibodies contemplated for use herein include MED 10680 (U.S. Patent no.
• BGB-A317 U.S. Patent publ. no. 2015/0079109
• INCSHR1210 SHR-1210
• REGN-2810 PCT International application publ. no. WO2015/112800
• PDR001 PCT International application publ. no. WO2015/112900
• TSR-042 ANB011
• STI- 1110 PCT International application publ. no. WO2014/194302
• Examples of mAbs that bind to human PD-L1 and are useful in the treatment methods, medicaments and uses of the present invention are described in PCT International application publ. nos. W02013/019906 and W02010/077634 Al and in U.S. Patent no. 8383796.
• Specific anti-human PD-L1 mAbs useful as the PD-1 antagonist in the treatment methods, medicaments and uses of the present invention include MPDL3280A, BMS- 936559, MEDI4736, MSB0010718C and an antibody that comprises the heavy chain and light chain variable regions of SEQ ID NO: 24 and SEQ ID NO: 21, respectively, of PCT International application publ. no. W02013/019906.
• PD-1 antagonists useful in the treatment methods, medicaments and uses of the present invention include an immunoadhesin that specifically binds to PD-1 or PD-L1, and preferably specifically binds to human PD-1 or human PD-L1, e.g., a fusion protein containing the extracellular or PD-1 binding portion of PD-L1 or PD-L2 fused to a constant region such as an Fc region of an immunoglobulin molecule.
• immunoadhesion molecules that specifically bind to PD-1 are described in PCT International application publ. nos. WO2010/027827 and WO2011/066342.
• Specific fusion proteins useful as the PD-1 antagonist in the treatment methods, medicaments and uses of the present invention include AMP-224 (also known as B7-DCIg), which is a PD-L2-FC fusion protein and binds to human PD-1.
• the PD-1 antagonist is a monoclonal antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, which comprises: (a) light chain CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2 and 3, respectively, and (b) heavy chain CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 of SEQ ID NOs: 6, 7 and 8, respectively.
• the PD-1 antagonist is a monoclonal antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, which specifically binds to human PD-1 and comprises (a) a heavy chain variable region comprising SEQ ID NO: 9 or a variant thereof, and (b) a light chain variable region comprising SEQ ID NO: 4 or a variant thereof.
• a variant of a heavy chain variable region sequence is identical to the reference sequence except having up to 17 conservative amino acid substitutions in the framework region (i.e., outside of the CDRs), and preferably has less than ten, nine, eight, seven, six or five conservative amino acid substitutions in the framework region.
• a variant of a light chain variable region sequence is identical to the reference sequence except having up to five conservative amino acid substitutions in the framework region (i.e., outside of the CDRs), and preferably has less than four, three or two conservative amino acid substitution in the framework region.
• the PD-1 antagonist is a monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to human PD-1 and comprises (a) a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NO: 10 and (b) a light chain comprising SEQ ID NO: 5.
• the PD-1 antagonist is a monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to human PD-1 and comprises (a) a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NO: 12 and (b) a light chain comprising SEQ ID NO: 11.
• the PD-1 antagonist is an anti-PD-1 antibody that comprises a heavy chain and a light chain, wherein the heavy and light chains comprise the amino acid sequences in SEQ ID NO: 10 and SEQ ID NO: 5, respectively.
• the PD-1 antagonist inhibits the binding of PD-L1 to PD-1, and preferably also inhibits the binding of PD-L2 to PD-1.
• the PD-1 antagonist is a monoclonal antibody, or an antigen binding fragment thereof, which specifically binds to PD-1 or to PD-L1 and blocks the binding of PD-L1 to PD-1.
• Table 3 provides a list of the amino acid sequences of exemplary anti- PD-1 mAbs for use in the treatment methods, medicaments and uses of the present invention.
• VEGFR-2 antagonists useful in the treatment methods, medicaments and uses of the present invention include a monoclonal antibody (mAh), or antigen binding fragment thereof, which specifically binds to VEGFR-2.
• the mAb may be a human antibody, a humanized antibody or a chimeric antibody, and may include a human constant region.
• the human constant region is selected from the group consisting of IgGl, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 constant regions, and in preferred embodiments, the human constant region is an IgGl or IgG4 constant region.
• the antigen binding fragment is selected from the group consisting of Fab, Fab'-SH, F(ab')2, scFv and Fv fragments.
• the anti-VEGFR-2 antibody is olinvacimab (TTAC- 0001).
• Olinvacimab recognizes two epitopes in the extracellular domain of VEGFR2: amino acids 111-117 and 219-225 of SEQ ID NO: 23.
• Olinvacimab also recognizes VEGFR2 of mice and rats; the epitope of amino acids 219-225 is 100% identical to the corresponding sequence in VEGFR2 of mice and rats.
• the anti-VEGFR-2 antibody can comprise: an immunoglobulin light chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13; and an immunoglobulin heavy chain comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 14; or a light chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 15 ; and a heavy chain variable region comprising the amino acid sequence SEQ ID NO: 16 ; or a light chain variable region comprising CDR1: (SEQ ID NO: 17); CDR2: (SEQ ID NO: 18); and CDR3: (SEQ ID NO: 19); and a heavy chain variable region comprising CDR1: (SEQ ID NO: 20); CDR2: (SEQ ID NO: 21); and CDR3: (SEQ ID NO: 22)
• Table 4 provides a list of the amino acid sequences of olinvacimab (an exemplary anti-VEGFR-2 mAbs) for use in the treatment methods, medicaments and uses of the present invention.
• the VEGFR-2 antagonist is a monoclonal antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, which comprises: (a) a light chain variable region comprising light chain CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 as set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 17, 18 and 19, respectively, and (b) a heavy chain variable region comprising heavy chain CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 as set forth in SEQ ID NOs: 20, 21 and 22, respectively.
• the VEGFR-2 antagonist is a monoclonal antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, which specifically binds to human VEGFR-2 and comprises (a) a heavy chain variable region comprising SEQ ID NO: 16 or a variant thereof, and (b) a light chain variable region comprising SEQ ID NO: 15 or a variant thereof.
• a variant of a heavy chain variable region sequence is identical to the reference sequence except having up to 17 conservative amino acid substitutions in the framework region (i.e., outside of the CDRs), and preferably has less than ten, nine, eight, seven, six or five conservative amino acid substitutions in the framework region.
• a variant of a light chain variable region sequence is identical to the reference sequence except having up to five conservative amino acid substitutions in the framework region (i.e., outside of the CDRs), and preferably has less than four, three or two conservative amino acid substitution in the framework region.
• the VEGFR-2 antagonist is a monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to human VEGFR-2 and comprises (a) a heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NO: 14 and (b) a light chain comprising SEQ ID NO: 13
• the heavy chain comprising SEQ ID NO: 14 comprises an IgGl constant region.
• the VEGFR-2 antagonist is a monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to human VEGFR-2 and comprises (a) a heavy chain variable region comprising SEQ ID NO: 16 and (b) a light chain variable region comprising SEQ ID NO: 15.
• mAbs that bind to human VEGFR-2 and are useful in the treatment methods, medicaments and uses of the present invention are ramucirumab, also known as LY3009806, IMC-1121B, and Cyramza® (Eli Lilly & Co.) and related mAbs disclosed in PCT International application publ. no. W02003075840A2.
• each of the anti-PD-1 and/or anti-VEGFR-2 antibodies or respective antigen-binding fragments thereof comprises a heavy chain constant region, e.g. a human constant region, such as > 1, D2, D3, or D4 human heavy chain constant region or a variant thereof.
• the anti-VEGFR-2 antibody or antigen-binding fragment thereof comprises a light chain constant region, e.g. a human light chain constant region, such as lambda ( ) or kappa (K) human light chain region or a variant thereof.
• the human heavy chain constant region can be D4 and the human light chain constant region can be kappa.
• the Fc region of the antibody is D4 with a Ser228Pro mutation (Schuurman, J et. al., Mol. Immunol. 38: 1-8, 2001).
• different constant domains may be appended to humanized VL and VH regions derived from the CDRs provided herein. For example, if a particular intended use of an antibody (or antigen binding fragment thereof) were to call for altered effector functions, a heavy chain constant domain other than human IgGl may be used, or hybrid IgGl/IgG4 may be utilized.
• human IgGl antibodies provide for long half-life and for effector functions, such as complement activation and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, such activities may not be desirable for all uses of the antibody.
• a human IgG4 constant domain for example, may be used.
• the present invention includes the use of a combination of an anti-PD-1 antibody and an anti-VEGFR-2 (or a respective antigen-binding fragment thereof) antibody and wherein the anti-PD-1 antibody comprises an IgG4 constant domain and the anti-VEGFR-2 antibody comprises an IgGl constant domain.
• the IgG4 constant domain can differ from the native human IgG4 constant domain (Swiss-Prot Accession No.
• a method for treating cancer in an individual comprising coadministering to the individual a PD-1 antagonist and a VEGFR-2 antagonist.
• a method for treating cancer in an individual comprising administering to the individual a composition comprising a PD-1 antagonist and a VEGFR-2 antagonist.
• a medicament comprising a PD-1 antagonist for use in combination with a VEGFR-2 antagonist for treating a cancer.
• a medicament is provided comprising a VEGFR-2 antagonist for use in combination with a PD-1 antagonist for treating cancer.
• a PD-1 antagonist in the manufacture of a medicament for treating cancer in an individual when administered in combination with a VEGFR-2 antagonist and use of a VEGFR-2 antagonist in the manufacture of a medicament for treating a cancer in an individual when administered in combination with a PD-1 antagonist.
• the invention provides a VEGFR-2 antagonist for use in the treatment of cancer in an individual, wherein said use is in combination with a PD-1 antagonist.
• the invention provides a combination of a PD-1 antagonist and a VEGFR-2 antagonist for use in treatment of a subject with cancer.
• the invention provides use of a PD-1 antagonist and a VEGFR-2 antagonist in the manufacture of a medicament for treating cancer in an individual.
• the medicaments comprise a kit, and the kit also comprises a package insert comprising instructions for using the PD-1 antagonist in combination with the VEGFR-2 antagonist to treat cancer in an individual.
• the PD- 1 antagonist and the VEGFR-2 antagonist are co-formulated.
• the PD-1 antagonist and the VEGFR-2 antagonist are co-administered.
• Cancers that may be treated by the combined compositions and methods of the invention include, but are not limited to: Cardiac cancers: sarcoma (angiosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, liposarcoma), myxoma, rhabdomyoma, fibroma, lipoma and teratoma; Lung cancers: bronchogenic carcinoma (squamous cell, undifferentiated small cell, undifferentiated large cell, adenocarcinoma), alveolar (bronchiolar) carcinoma, bronchial adenoma, sarcoma, lymphoma, chondromatous hamartoma, mesothelioma; Gastrointestinal cancers: esophagus (squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, leiomyosarcoma, lymphoma), stomach (carcinoma, lymphoma, leiomyos
• cancers that may be treated by the combined compositions and methods of the invention include, but are not limited to: a lung cancer, a pancreatic cancer, a colon cancer, a colorectal cancer, a myeloid leukemia, an acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), a chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), a chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, a thyroid cancer, a myelodysplastic syndrome, a bladder carcinoma, an epidermal carcinoma, a melanoma, a breast cancer, a prostate cancer, a head and neck cancer, an ovarian cancer, a brain cancer, a cancer of mesenchymal origin, a sarcoma, a tetracarcinoma, a neuroblastoma, a kidney carcinoma, a hepatoma, a nonHodgkin’s lymphoma, a multiple myeloma, and an anaplastic thyroid carcinoma
• AML acute mye
• the cancer that may be treated is a cancer selected from the group consisting of melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, head and neck squamous cell cancer, classical Hodgkin lymphoma, primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma, urothelial carcinoma, microsatellite instability high (MSLH) or a mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) solid tumor, a gastric cancer, squamous cell cancer of the esophagus, cervical cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC), and renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
• the cancer is renal cell carcinoma (RCC), or a gastrointestinal stromal tumor.
• the cancer is adenoid cystic carcinoma or recurrent glioblastoma multiforme.
• the forgoing cancers are advanced, unresectable, and/or metastatic.
• the patient to be treated with the drug combination can be refractory to anti-PD- 1 or anti-PD-Ll therapy.
• cancers that may be treated by the combined compositions and methods of the invention include, but are not limited to: breast cancer, triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), metastatic breast cancer, and metastatic triple negative breast cancer (mTNBC).
• cancers that may be treated by the antibodies, compositions and methods of the invention include glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (rGBM).
• the combination therapy may also comprise one or more additional therapeutic agents.
• the additional therapeutic agent may be, e.g., a chemotherapeutic, a biotherapeutic agent, an immunogenic agent (for example, attenuated cancerous cells, tumor antigens, antigen presenting cells such as dendritic cells pulsed with tumor derived antigen or nucleic acids, immune stimulating cytokines (for example, IL-2, IFNa2, GM-CSF), and cells transfected with genes encoding immune stimulating cytokines such as but not limited to GM- CSF).
• the specific dosage and dosage schedule of the additional therapeutic agent can further vary, and the optimal dose, dosing schedule and route of administration will be determined based upon the specific therapeutic agent that is being used.
• Each therapeutic agent in a combination therapy of the invention may be administered either alone or in a medicament (also referred to herein as a pharmaceutical composition) that comprises the therapeutic agent and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients and diluents, according to standard pharmaceutical practice.
• Each therapeutic agent in a combination therapy of the invention may be administered simultaneously (i.e., in the same medicament), concurrently (i.e., in separate medicaments administered one right after the other in any order) or sequentially in any order.
• Sequential administration is particularly useful when the therapeutic agents in the combination therapy are in different dosage forms (one agent is a tablet or capsule and another agent is a sterile liquid) and/or are administered on different dosing schedules, e.g., a chemotherapeutic that is administered at least daily and a biotherapeutic that is administered less frequently, such as once weekly, once every two weeks, or once every three weeks.
• the VEGFR-2 antagonist is administered before administration of the PD-1 antagonist, while in other embodiments, the VEGFR-2 antagonist is administered after administration of the PD-1 antagonist.
• the VEGFR-2 antagonist also can be administered concurrently with the PD-1 antagonist.
• At least one of the therapeutic agents in the combination therapy is administered using the same dosage regimen (dose, frequency and duration of treatment) that is typically employed when the agent is used as monotherapy for treating the same cancer.
• the patient receives a lower total amount of at least one of the therapeutic agents in the combination therapy than when the agent is used as monotherapy, e.g., smaller doses, less frequent doses, and/or shorter treatment duration.
• Each small molecule therapeutic agent in a combination therapy of the invention can be administered orally or parenterally, including the intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, rectal, topical, and transdermal routes of administration.
• a combination therapy of the invention may be used prior to or following surgery to remove or debulk a tumor and may be used prior to, during, or after radiation therapy.
• a combination therapy of the invention is administered to a patient who has not been previously treated with a biotherapeutic or chemotherapeutic agent, i.e., is treatment-naive.
• the combination therapy is administered to a patient who failed to achieve a sustained response after prior therapy with a biotherapeutic or chemotherapeutic agent, i.e., is treatment-experienced.
• a combination therapy of the invention is typically used to treat a tumor that is large enough to be found by palpation or by imaging techniques well known in the art, such as MRI, ultrasound, or CAT scan.
• a dosage regimen for a combination therapy of the invention depends on several factors, including the serum or tissue turnover rate of the entity, the level of symptoms, the immunogenicity of the entity, and the accessibility of the target cells, tissue or organ in the individual being treated.
• a dosage regimen maximizes the amount of each therapeutic agent delivered to the patient consistent with an acceptable level of side effects.
• the dose amount and dosing frequency of each biotherapeutic and chemotherapeutic agent in the combination depends in part on the particular therapeutic agent, the severity of the cancer being treated, and patient characteristics. Guidance in selecting appropriate doses of antibodies, cytokines, and small molecules are available.
• Determination of the appropriate dosage regimen may be made by the clinician, e.g., using parameters or factors known or suspected in the art to affect treatment or predicted to affect treatment, and will depend, for example, the patient's clinical history (e.g., previous therapy), the type and stage of the cancer to be treated and biomarkers of response to one or more of the therapeutic agents in the combination therapy.
• Biotherapeutic agents in a combination therapy of the invention may be administered by continuous infusion, or by doses at intervals of, e.g., daily, every other day, three times per week, or one time each week, two weeks, three weeks, monthly, bimonthly, etc.
• a total weekly dose is generally at least 0.05 pg/kg, 0.2 pg/kg, 0.5 pg/kg, 1 pg/kg, 10 pg/kg, 100 pg/kg, 0.2 mg/kg, 1.0 mg/kg, 2.0 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg body weight or more. See, e.g., Yang et al. (2003) New Engl. J. Med.
• VEGFR-2 antagonist in the combination therapy is olinvacimab or an olinvacimab variant, which may be administered from 2 to 24 mg/kg, weekly, every two weeks, or every three weeks, depending on tumor type, and patient factors.
• the dosing regimen will comprise administering the anti-human PD-1 mAb at a dose of 1, 2, 3, 5 or 10 mg/kg at intervals of about 14 days ( ⁇ 2 days) or about 21 days ( ⁇ 2 days) or about 30 days ( ⁇ 2 days) throughout the course of treatment.
• the dosing regimen will comprise administering the anti-human PD-1 mAb at a dose of from about 0.005 mg/kg to about 10 mg/kg, with intrapatient dose escalation.
• the interval between doses will be progressively shortened, e.g., about 30 days ( ⁇ 2 days) between the first and second dose, about 14 days ( ⁇ 2 days) between the second and third doses.
• the dosing interval will be about 14 days ( ⁇ 2 days), for doses subsequent to the second dose.
• a subject receiving the combination therapy will be administered an intravenous (IV) infusion or subcutaneous injection of a medicament comprising any of the PD-1 antagonists described herein.
• IV intravenous
• the PD-1 antagonist in the combination therapy is nivolumab, which is administered intravenously at a dose selected from the group consisting of: 1 mg/kg Q2W, 2 mg/kg Q2W, 3 mg/kg Q2W, 5 mg/kg Q2W, 10 mg Q2W, 1 mg/kg Q3W, 2 mg/kg Q3W, 3 mg/kg Q3W, 5 mg/kg Q3W, and 10 mg/kg Q3W.
• the PD-1 antagonist in the combination therapy is pembrolizumab, or a pembrolizumab variant, which is administered in a liquid medicament at a dose selected from the group consisting of 1 mg/kg Q2W, 2 mg/kg Q2W, 3 mg/kg Q2W, 5 mg/kg Q2W, 10 mg/kg Q2W, 1 mg/kg Q3W, 2 mg/kg Q3W, 3 mg/kg Q3W, 5 mg/kg Q3W, 10 mg/kg Q3W and flat-dose equivalents of any of these doses, i.e., such as 200 mg Q3W.
• pembrolizumab is provided as a liquid medicament that comprises 25 mg/ml pembrolizumab, 7% (w/v) sucrose, 0.02% (w/v) polysorbate 80 in 10 mM histidine buffer pH 5.5.
• pembrolizumab is provided as a liquid medicament that comprises about 125 to about 200 mg/mL of pembrolizumab, or an antigen binding fragment thereof; about 10 mM histidine buffer; about 10 mM L-methionine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof; about 7% (w/v) sucrose; and about 0.02 % (w/v) polysorbate 80.
• the selected dose of pembrolizumab is administered by IV infusion. In one embodiment, the selected dose of pembrolizumab is administered by IV infusion over a time period of between 25 and 40 minutes, or about 30 minutes.
• the patient is treated with the combination therapy for at least 24 weeks, e.g., eight 3-week cycles. In some embodiments, treatment with the combination therapy continues until the patient exhibits evidence of PD or a CR.
• Pembrolizumab may be administered 200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks, depending on tumor type, and patient factors. Pembrolizumab may be administered at 200 mg intravenously every three weeks starting on day 1 of a 21 day cycle.
• the route of administration may be varied in any way, limited by the physical properties of the drugs and the convenience of the patient.
• Olinvacimab may be used in simultaneous, separate, or sequential combination with pembrolizumab in the treatment of cancer, for example a metastatic triplenegative breast cancer (TNBC).
• Olinvacimab can be administered at a dose of 8 mg/kg to 16 mg/kg every week, for example, 8 mg/kg, 9 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, 11 mg/kg, 12 mg/kg, 13 mg/kg, 14 mg/kg, 15 mg/kg, or 16 mg/kg, or at a dose of 12 mg/kg to 24 mg/kg every 2 weeks, for example, 12 mg/kg, 13 mg/kg, 14 mg/kg, 15 mg/kg, 16 mg/kg, 17 mg/kg, 18 mg/kg, 19 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, 21 mg/kg, 22 mg/kg, 23 mg/kg, or 24 mg/kg, and pembrolizumab is administered at a dose of 200 mg every 3 weeks.
• TNBC metastatic triplenegative breast cancer
• Olinvacimab can be administered at a dose of 8 mg/kg to 20 mg/kg every week, for example, 8 mg/kg, 9 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg, 11 mg/kg, 12 mg/kg, 13 mg/kg, 14 mg/kg, 15 mg/kg, 16 mg/kg, 18, mg/kg, or 20 mg/kg, or at a dose of 12 mg/kg to 24 mg/kg every 2 weeks, for example, 12 mg/kg, 13 mg/kg, 14 mg/kg, 15 mg/kg, 16 mg/kg, 17 mg/kg, 18 mg/kg, 19 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg, 21 mg/kg, 22 mg/kg, 23 mg/kg, or 24 mg/kg, and pembrolizumab is administered at a dose of 400 mg every 6 weeks.
• the anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-Ll antibody and anti-VEGFR-2 antibody are co-administered.
• 200 mg pembrolizumab or a pembrolizumab variant is administered by IV infusion on Day 1 every three weeks, and 12 mg/kg olinvacimab or an olinvacimab variant is administered by IV infusion on Day 1 every week.
• 200 mg pembrolizumab or a pembrolizumab variant is administered by IV infusion on Day 1 every three weeks, and 16 mg/kg olinvacimab or an olinvacimab variant is administered by IV infusion on Day 1 every week.
• 200 mg pembrolizumab or a pembrolizumab variant is administered by IV infusion on Day 1 every three weeks, and 18 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg olinvacimab or an olinvacimab variant is administered by IV infusion on Day 1 every week.
• VEGFR-2 antagonist and PD-1 antagonist can be respectively administered in dosage forms, for example without limitation, reconstitutable powders, elixirs, liquids, solutions, suspensions, emulsions, powders, granules, particles, microparticles, dispersible granules, cachets, inhalants, aerosol inhalants, patches, particle inhalants, implants, depot implants, injectables (including subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous, and intradermal), infusions, and combinations thereof.
• dosage forms for example without limitation, reconstitutable powders, elixirs, liquids, solutions, suspensions, emulsions, powders, granules, particles, microparticles, dispersible granules, cachets, inhalants, aerosol inhalants, patches, particle inhalants, implants, depot implants, injectables (including subcutaneous, intramuscular, intravenous, and intradermal), infusions, and combinations thereof.
• the anti-VEGFR-2 antagonist and PD-1 antagonist are respectively administered as an intravenous (IV) infusion. In another embodiment, the anti- VEGFR-2 antagonist and PD-1 antagonist are respectively administered as a subcutaneous injection.
• the present invention also provides a medicament that comprises a PD-1 or VEGFR-2 antagonist as described above and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.
• a PD-1 antagonist or VEGFR-2 antagonist is a biotherapeutic agent, e.g., a mAb
• the antagonist may be produced in CHO cells using conventional cell culture and recovery/purification technologies.
• compositions of the present disclosure include for instance, solvents, bulking agents, buffering agents, tonicity adjusting agents, and preservatives (see, e.g., Pramanick et al., Pharma Times, 45: 65-77, 2013).
• the pharmaceutical compositions may comprise an excipient that functions as one or more of a solvent, a bulking agent, a buffering agent, and a tonicity adjusting agent (e.g., sodium chloride in saline may serve as both an aqueous vehicle and a tonicity adjusting agent).
• the pharmaceutical compositions of the present disclosure are suitable for parenteral administration.
• the pharmaceutical compositions comprise an aqueous vehicle as a solvent.
• Suitable vehicles include for instance sterile water, saline solution, phosphate buffered saline, and Ringer's solution.
• the composition is isotonic.
• the pharmaceutical compositions may comprise a bulking agent.
• Bulking agents are particularly useful when the pharmaceutical composition is to be lyophilized before administration.
• the bulking agent is a protectant that aids in the stabilization and prevention of degradation of the active agents during freeze or spray drying and/or during storage.
• Suitable bulking agents are sugars (mono-, di- and polysaccharides) such as sucrose, lactose, trehalose, mannitol, sorbital, glucose, and raffinose.
• the pharmaceutical compositions may comprise a buffering agent.
• Buffering agents control pH to inhibit degradation of the active agent during processing, storage and optionally reconstitution.
• Suitable buffers include for instance salts comprising acetate, citrate, phosphate or sulfate.
• Other suitable buffers include for instance amino acids such as arginine, glycine, histidine, and lysine.
• the buffering agent may further comprise hydrochloric acid or sodium hydroxide.
• the buffering agent maintains the pH of the composition within a range of 4 to 9.
• the pH is greater than (lower limit) 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8.
• the pH is less than (upper limit) 9, 8, 7, 6 or 5. That is, the pH is in the range of from about 4 to 9 in which the lower limit is less than the upper limit.
• the pharmaceutical compositions may comprise a tonicity adjusting agent.
• Suitable tonicity adjusting agents include for instance dextrose, glycerol, sodium chloride, glycerin, and mannitol.
• a medicament comprising an anti-PD-1 antibody as the PD-1 antagonist may be provided as a liquid formulation or prepared by reconstituting a lyophilized powder with sterile water for injection prior to use.
• PCT International application publ. no. WO 2012/135408 describes the preparation of liquid and lyophilized medicaments comprising pembrolizumab that are suitable for use in the present invention.
• a medicament comprising pembrolizumab is provided in a glass vial that contains about 100 mg of pembrolizumab in 4 ml of solution.
• Each 1 mL of solution contains 25 mg of pembrolizumab and is formulated in: L-histidine (1.55 mg), polysorbate 80 (0.2 mg), sucrose (70 mg), and Water for Injection, USP.
• L-histidine 1.55 mg
• polysorbate 80 0.2 mg
• sucrose 70 mg
• Water for Injection USP.
• the solution requires dilution for IV infusion.
• a VEGFR-2 antagonist for use in the treatment of a cancer wherein the use is in combination with a PD-1 antagonist.
• VEGFR-2 antagonist for use of embodiment 1 , wherein the individual is a human and the PD-1 antagonist is a monoclonal antibody, or an antigen binding fragment thereof, which specifically binds to human PD-1 and blocks the binding of human PD- L1 to human PD-1.
• VEGFR-2 antagonist for use of embodiment 4, wherein the PD- 1 antagonist is an anti -PD-1 monoclonal antibody that comprises a heavy chain and a light chain, and wherein the heavy chain comprises a heavy chain variable region comprising SEQ ID NO: 9 and the light chain comprises a light chain variable region comprising SEQ ID NO: 4
• VEGFR-2 antagonist for use of embodiment 4, wherein the PD- 1 antagonist is an anti -PD-1 monoclonal antibody that comprises a heavy chain and a light chain, and wherein the heavy chain comprises SEQ ID NO: 10 and the light chain comprises SEQ ID NO: 5.
• VEGFR-2 antagonist for use of embodiment 4, wherein the PD-1 antagonist is a pembrolizumab variant.
• VEGFR-2 antagonist for use of embodiment 4, wherein the PD-1 antagonist is nivolumab.
• VEGFR-2 antagonist for use of any one of embodiments 1 to 10, wherein the VEGFR-2 antagonist is a monoclonal antibody, or an antigen binding fragment thereof, that blocks the binding of VEGFR-2 to VEGF.
• VEGFR-2 antagonist for use of any one of embodiments 1 to 10, wherein the VEGFR-2 antagonist is an antibody, or antigen binding fragment thereof, which comprises: (a) light chain CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 of SEQ ID NOs: 17, 18 and 19, respectively, and (b) heavy chain CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 of SEQ ID NOs: 20, 21 and 22, respectively.
• VEGFR-2 antagonist for use of any one of embodiments 1 to 10, wherein the VEGFR-2 antagonist is an anti-VEGFR-2 antibody that comprises a heavy chain and a light chain, and wherein the heavy chain comprises a heavy chain variable region comprising SEQ ID NO: 16 and the light chain comprises a light chain variable region comprising SEQ ID NO: 15.
• VEGFR-2 antagonist for use of any one of embodiments 1 to 10, wherein the VEGFR-2 antagonist is an anti-VEGFR-2 antibody that comprises a heavy chain and a light chain, and wherein the heavy chain comprises SEQ ID NO: 14 and the light chain comprises SEQ ID NO: 13.
• the VEGFR-2 antagonist for use of embodiment 1, wherein the PD-1 antagonist is a humanized anti -PD-1 antibody that comprises a heavy chain and a light chain, and wherein the heavy chain comprises a heavy chain variable region comprising heavy chain CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 of SEQ ID NOs: 6, 7 and 8, respectively, and the light chain comprises a light chain variable region comprising light chain CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 of SEQ ID NOs: 1, 2 and 3, respectively; and the VEGFR-2 antagonist is a humanized anti-VEGFR-2 antibody that comprises a heavy chain and a light chain, and wherein the heavy chain comprises a heavy chain variable region comprising heavy chain CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 of SEQ ID NOs: 20, 21 and 22, respectively, and the light chain comprises a light chain variable region comprising light chain CDR1, CDR2 and CDR3 of SEQ ID NOs: 17, 18 and 19, respectively.
• VEGFR-2 antagonist for use of embodiment 1, wherein the PD-1 antagonist is an anti-PD-1 antibody that comprises a heavy chain and a light chain, and wherein the heavy chain comprises a heavy chain variable region comprising SEQ ID NO: 9 and the light chain comprises a light chain variable region comprising SEQ ID NO: 4; and the VEGFR-2 antagonist is an anti-VEGFR-2 antibody that comprises a heavy chain and a light chain, and wherein the heavy chain comprises a heavy chain variable region comprising SEQ ID NO: 16 and the light chain comprises a light chain variable region comprising SEQ ID NO: 15.
• VEGFR-2 antagonist for use of embodiment 1, wherein the PD-1 antagonist is an anti-PD-1 antibody that comprises a heavy chain and a light chain, and wherein the heavy chain comprises SEQ ID NO: 10 and the light chain comprises SEQ ID NO: 5; and the VEGFR-2 antagonist is an anti-VEGFR-2 antibody that comprises a heavy chain and a light chain, and wherein the heavy chain comprises SEQ ID NO: 14 and the light chain comprises SEQ ID NO: 13.
• VEGFR-2 antagonist for use of any one of embodiments 1 to 19, wherein the PD-
• VEGFR-2 antagonist are co-formulated.
• VEGFR-2 antagonist are co-administered.
• VEGFR-2 antagonist for use of any one of embodiments 1 to 21, wherein the individual has not been previously treated with anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-Ll therapy or is confirmed progressive while receiving prior anti-PD-1 therapy.
• VEGFR-2 antagonist for use of any one of embodiments 1 to 22, wherein the cancer is a breast cancer, a glioblastoma or a metastatic cancer.
• VEGFR-2 antagonist for use of any one of embodiments 1 to 22, wherein the cancer is triple negative breast cancer.
• VEGFR-2 antagonist for use of any one of embodiments 1 to 22, wherein the cancer is metastatic triple negative breast cancer.
• VEGFR-2 antagonist for use of any one of embodiments 1 to 25, wherein 200 mg pembrolizumab or a pembrolizumab variant is administered by IV infusion on Day 1 every three weeks, and 16 mg/kg olinvacimab or an olinvacimab variant is administered by IV infusion on Day 1 every week.
• VEGFR-2 antagonist for use of any one of embodiments 1 to 25, wherein 400 mg pembrolizumab or a pembrolizumab variant is administered on Day 1 every six weeks, and 16 mg/kg olinvacimab or an olinvacimab variant is administered by IV infusion on Day 1 every week for intravenous infusion.
• VEGFR-2 antagonist for use of any one of embodiments 26 to 27, wherein the cancer is triple-negative breast cancer.
• VEGFR-2 antagonist for use of any one of embodiments 26 to 27, wherein the cancer is metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.
• 30 A method of treating a cancer in a patient comprising administering an anti-VEGFR- 2 antagonist and PD-1 antagonist to the patient.
• a composition for use in a manufacture of a medicament for combined therapy method of treating a cancer in a patient comprising a VEGFR-2 antagonist and a PD- 1 antagonist.
• composition of embodiment 38, wherein the VEGFR-2 antagonist is an anti- VEGFR-2 antibody.
• composition of embodiment 38 or 39, wherein the PD-1 antagonist is an anti-PD- 1 antibody.
• composition of embodiment 38 or 39, wherein the cancer is a breast cancer, a glioblastoma, or a metastatic cancer.
• the composition of embodiment 38 or 39, wherein the breast cancer comprises triplenegative breast cancer.
• the composition of embodiment 38 or 39, wherein the cancer comprises metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.
• the composition of embodiment 44, wherein the VEGFR-2 antagonist is an anti- VEGFR-2 antibody.
• the composition of embodiment 44 or 45, wherein the PD-1 antagonist is an anti-PD- 1 antibody.
• a combined therapy method of treating a cancer in a patient comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a VEGFR-2 antagonist and a PD- 1 antagonist.
• a combined therapy method of treating a cancer in a patient having a lung or a brain metastatic lesion comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of a VEGFR-2 antagonist and a PD-1 antagonist.
• the combined therapy method of embodiment 47 or 48, wherein the VEGFR-2 antagonist is an anti-VEGFR antibody.
• the combined therapy method of any of embodiments 47 to 50, wherein the cancer comprises a breast cancer, preferably metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.
• a combined therapy method of treating a cancer in a patient comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-VEGFR-2 antibody and an anti -PD-1 antibody.
• a combined therapy method of treating a cancer in a patient having a lung or a brain metastatic lesion comprising administering to the patient a therapeutically effective amount of an anti-VEGFR-2 antibody and an anti-PD-1 antibody.
• Anti-VEGFR2 for use in any embodiment of this disclosure can be selected from the group including, but not limited to, olinvacimab and ramucirumab.
• Anti-PD-1 antibody for use in any embodiment of this disclosure can be selected from the group including, but not limited to, pembrolizumab, nivolumab, cemiplimab, camrelizumab, sintilimab, tislelizumab, and toripalimab.
• a method of treating a cancer in a patient comprising administering an anti-VEGFR- 2 antagonist and PD-1 antagonist to the patient.
• olinvacimab is administered at a dose from about 8 to 16 mg per kg once weekly or 12 to 24 mg per kg once every 2 weeks in combination with pembrolizumab administered at a dose of 200 mg every 3 weeks or at a dose of 400 mg every 6 weeks.
• Monoclonal, polyclonal, and humanized antibodies can be prepared (see, e.g., Sheperd and Dean (eds.) (2000) Monoclonal Antibodies, Oxford Univ. Press, New York, NY; Kontermann and Dubel (eds.) (2001) Antibody Engineering, Springer-Verlag, New York; Harlow and Lane (1988) Antibodies A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, NY, pp. 139-243; Carpenter, et al. (2000) J. Immunol. 165: 6205; He, et al. (1998) J. Immunol. 160:1029; Tang et al. (1999) J. Biol. Chem.
• An alternative to humanization is to use human antibody libraries displayed on phage or human antibody libraries in transgenic mice (Vaughan et al. (1996) Nature Biotechnol. 14: 309-314; Barbas (1995) Nature Medicine 1 :837-839; Mendez et al. (1997) Nature Genetics 15: 146-156; Hoogenboom and Chames (2000) Immunol. Today 21 : 371- 377; Barbas et al. (2001) Phage Display: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, New York; Kay et al. (1996) Phage Display of Peptides and Proteins: A Laboratory Manual, Academic Press, San Diego, CA; de Bruin et al. (1999) Nature Biotechnol. 17: 397-399).
• Animals can be immunized with cells bearing the antigen of interest.
• Splenocytes can then be isolated from the immunized animals, and the splenocytes can fuse with a myeloma cell line to produce a hybridoma (see, e.g., Meyaard et al. (1997) Immunity 7: 283-290; Wright et al. (2000) Immunity 13: 233-242; Preston et al., supra; Kaithamana et al. (1999) J. Immunol. 163: 5157-5164).
• Antibodies can be conjugated, e.g., to small drug molecules, enzymes, liposomes, polyethylene glycol (PEG). Antibodies are useful for therapeutic, diagnostic, kit or other purposes, and include antibodies coupled, e.g., to dyes, radioisotopes, enzymes, or metals, e.g., colloidal gold (see, e.g., Le Doussal et al. (1991) J. Immunol. 146: 169-175; Gibellini et al. (1998) J. Immunol. 160: 3891-3898; Hsing and Bishop (1999) J. Immunol. 162: 2804-2811; Everts et al. (2002) J. Immunol. 168: 883-889).
• PEG polyethylene glycol
• Fluorescent reagents suitable for modifying nucleic acids including nucleic acid primers and probes, polypeptides, and antibodies, for use, e.g., as diagnostic reagents, are available (Molecular Probesy (2003) Catalogue, Molecular Probes, Inc., Eugene, OR; Sigma-Aldrich (2003) Catalogue, St. Louis, MO).
• Phase lb, open-label, safety and tolerability studies were designed of olinvacimab in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) or patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (rGBM).
• mTNBC metastatic triple-negative breast cancer
• rGBM recurrent glioblastoma multiforme
• the primary endpoint of these trials was to determine the safety and tolerability of the drug combination and to establish a preliminary recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) of olinvacimab administered in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with mTNBC or rGBM.
• R2D Phase 2 dose
• efficacy endpoints such as ORR, DCR, OS and PFS, were evaluated by tumor assessment done at the end of every 2nd cycle of administering drug and/or study termination visit.
• RECIST 1.1 criteria was used to evaluate efficacy.
• Dose Level 1 refers to olinvacimab 12 mg/kg weekly (q7d) infusion in combination with pembrolizumab 200 mg day 1 in 3 week (q21d) cycles.
• the treatment cycles completed at Dose Level 1 were 1, 2, 12, 18, and 6 (range of 1-18). Thus, the 5 patients completed a median of 6 cycles (range 1-18).
• Six (6) patients were treated with olinvacimab at 16 mg/kg with pembrolizumab (Dose Level 2).
• Dose Level 2 refers to olinvacimab 16 mg/kg weekly (q7d) infusion in combination with pembrolizumab 200 mg day 1 in 3 week (q21d) cycles.
• the treatment cycles completed at Dose Level 2 were 2, 2, 8, 9, 14, and 21 (range 2-21).
• the 6 patients at Dose Level 2 completed a median of 8 cycles (range 2-21).
• Tumor assessment was performed at the end of every 2nd cycle of drug administration and/or at a study termination visit.
• Tumor size change from baseline data for four patients treated with 12 mg/kg olinvacimab with pembrolizumab is depicted in Figure 1.
• Tumor size change from baseline data for six patients treated with 16 mg/kg olinvacimab with pembrolizumab is depicted in Figure 2.

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