Combining receptor-targeted alpha particle therapy and immunotherapy to achieve complete responses in metastatic melanoma

NIH RePORTER · NIH · R44 · $976,668 · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

Revised. Metastatic melanoma is a lethal disease because low response rates (near 50%), acquired resistance, and severe adverse side effects limit long-term quality of life for these patients (5-yr. survival <30%). Radiopharmaceutical therapies are emerging as an exciting alternative in oncology and systemic receptor- targeted alpha-particle therapy (a-RT) is emerging as particularly transformative due to recent reports of complete responses in early trials. Viewpoint is introducing an MC1R-targeted peptide-based a-RT ([212Pb]VMT01) for Stage III/IV metastatic melanoma and has received IND approval (#152145) to begin [203Pb]VMT01 imaging trials (Mayo Clinic) to prepare for [212Pb]VMT01 monotherapy trials. However, our now published predicate R&D (PMID 34359580) revealed a combination of [212Pb]VMT01 a-RT and immunotherapy (ICI) that achieved a 43% complete response rate in an immune-competent mouse melanoma model and a tumor-specific immune response to [212Pb]VMT01. This is significant because this model is unresponsive to ICI alone, which suggests that combining ICIs with a-RT could improve outcomes for thousands of melanoma patients who are unresponsive to current standard of care treatment with single or dual agent ICI blockade. Thus, there is a rigorous scientific basis to develop combined ICI therapy and [212Pb]VMT01 for metastatic melanoma. PHASE I MILESTONES: >$13M Series A secured; IND for [203Pb]VMT01 Phase 1 melanoma imaging trial secured (Mayo Clinic; IND#152145); completed pre-IND consultation with for [212Pb]VMT01 monotherapy and Agency is in support of Viewpoint approach (IND#156357; see letters); IP licensed (exclusive); isotope supply 203Pb/212Pb secured; prototype 212Pb production device (VMT-a-GEN) completed; established VMT-a-GEN mfg facilities to control 212Pb supply. Pharm/tox/dosimetry in mice for VMT01 complete. Completing the revised Specific Aims readies Viewpoint for combined [212Pb]VMT01 a-RT with ICI clinical trials for metastatic melanoma. AIM 1 (Viewpoint Lab): Develop a detailed understanding of the regimens of [212Pb]VMT01 plus immune checkpoint inhibitors that maximize complete responses with minimal toxicities in immune-competent mice. Revised includes toxicity response to ICI’s, timing of administrations, and abscopal effects. AIM 2 (Morris Lab/University of Wisconsin): Develop a detailed understanding of the immunomodulating effect of [212Pb]VMT01 in two syngeneic melanoma models with heterogenous expression of MC1R. IMPACT AND SIGNIFICANCE: By completing this project, we expect to have identified dosing regimens for systemic [212Pb]VMT01 α-RT with immune checkpoint inhibitors that maximize complete responses, while minimizing toxicities in 4 immune-competent mouse models. We further expect to have developed understanding of the systemic anti-tumor immune response for primary and metastatic tumors that captures known intertumoral heterogeneity of metastatic melanoma. We anticipate that this will lead to clinica...

Key facts

NIH application ID
10482495
Project number
2R44CA232954-02A1
Recipient
VIEWPOINT MOLECULAR TARGETING, INC.
Principal Investigator
Michael King Schultz
Activity code
R44
Funding institute
NIH
Fiscal year
2022
Award amount
$976,668
Award type
2
Project period
2019-06-01 → 2024-05-31