Seattle Genetics has just announced that the first patient has been dosed in a Phase I study for their new drug SGN-CD48A for patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The Company’s antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) technology harnesses the targeting ability of antibodies to deliver cell-killing agents directly to cancer cells. SGN-CD48A is a new drug that targets CD48, a cell surface protein that is highly expressed in multiple myeloma. The technology innovation enables conjugation (or linking together) of eight molecules of the microtubule-disrupting cytotoxic agent monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) to a CD48-targeted monoclonal antibody. SGN-CD48A is designed to be highly stable in circulation and release an increased amount of MMAE upon internalization into CD48-expressing cells, producing greater and demonstrated promising anti-tumor activity in preclinical studies. This new compound will be administered as a ‘single agent’ in the study (as opposed to the doublets, triplets or even quadruplets that are typical). The Phase 1 study is a multicenter open-label dose-escalation trial designed to enroll approximately 75 patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma. SGN-CD48A will be administered at an initial dosing interval of every three weeks. In going through the details of the inclusion/exclusion criteria for this clinical study it is noted that the Company is specifically looking for :
‘Patients must not have other therapeutic options known to provide clinical benefit in multiple myeloma available to them. Prior lines of therapy must include at least a proteasome inhibitor, an immunomodulatory drug, and an anti-CD38 antibody.’
In other words, if as a patient you have relapsed after treatment with products such as Revlimid, Pomalyst or Thalomid (immunomodulators) AND Velcade, Ninlaro or Kyprolis (proteasome inhibitors) AND Darzalex (anti-CD38 antibody), then this may become an alternative for you. This study is open at the Yale Cancer Center in Connecticut. To learn more, find this study on SparkCures here: Seattle Genetics Myeloma Study CD48A Seattle Genetics Myeloma Study CD352A
