Modulation of CD47-SIRPα innate immune checkpoint axis with Fc-function detuned anti-CD47 therapeutic antibody.

Cluster of differentiation 47 (CD47) is a transmembrane protein ubiquitously expressed on human cells but overexpressed on many different tumor cells. The interaction of CD47 with signal-regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα) triggers a "don't eat me" signal to the macrophage, inhibiting phagocytosis. Thus, overexpression of CD47 enables tumor cells to escape from immune surveillance via the blockade of phagocytic mechanisms. We report here the development and characterization of CC-90002, a humanized anti-CD47 antibody. CC-90002 is unique among previously reported anti-CD47 bivalent antibodies that it does not promote hemagglutination while maintaining high-affinity binding to CD47 and inhibition of the CD47-SIRPα interaction. Studies in a panel of hematological cancer cell lines showed concentration-dependent CC-90002-mediated phagocytosis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), lenalidomide-resistant multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines and AML cells from patients. In vivo studies with MM cell line-derived xenograft models established in immunodeficient mice demonstrated significant dose-dependent antitumor activity of CC-90002. Treatment with CC-90002 significantly prolonged survival in an HL-60-disseminated AML model. Mechanistic studies confirmed the binding of CC-90002 to tumor cells and concomitant recruitment of F4-80 positive macrophages into the tumor and an increase in expression of select chemokines and cytokines of murine origin. Furthermore, the role of macrophages in the CC-90002-mediated antitumor activity was demonstrated by transient depletion of macrophages with liposome-clodronate treatment. In non-human primates, CC-90002 displayed acceptable pharmacokinetic properties and a favorable toxicity profile. These data demonstrate the potential activity of CC-90002 across hematological malignancies and provided basis for clinical studies CC-90002-ST-001 (NCT02367196) and CC-90002-AML-001 (NCT02641002).

CC-96673 (BMS-986358), an affinity-tuned anti-CD47 and CD20 bispecific antibody with fully functional fc, selectively targets and depletes non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Cluster of differentiation 47 (CD47) is a transmembrane protein highly expressed in tumor cells that interacts with signal regulatory protein alpha (SIRPα) and triggers a "don't eat me" signal to the macrophage, inhibiting phagocytosis and enabling tumor escape from immunosurveillance. The CD47-SIRPα axis has become an important target for cancer immunotherapy. To date, the advancement of CD47-targeted modalities is hindered by the ubiquitous expression of the target, often leading to rapid drug elimination and hematologic toxicity including anemia. To overcome those challenges a bispecific approach was taken. CC-96673, a humanized IgG1 bispecific antibody co-targeting CD47 and CD20, is designed to bind CD20 with high affinity and CD47 with optimally lowered affinity. As a result of the detuned CD47 affinity, CC-96673 selectively binds to CD20-expressing cells, blocking the interaction of CD47 with SIRPα. This increased selectivity of CC-96673 over monospecific anti-CD47 approaches allows for the use of wild-type IgG1 Fc, which engages activating crystallizable fragment gamma receptors (FcγRs) to fully potentiate macrophages to engulf and destroy CD20+ cells, while sparing CD47+CD20- normal cells. The combined targeting of anti-CD20 and anti-CD47 results in enhanced anti- tumor activity compared to anti-CD20 targeting antibodies alone. Furthermore, preclinical studies have demonstrated that CC-96673 exhibits acceptable pharmacokinetic properties with a favorable toxicity profile in non-human primates. Collectively, these findings define CC-96673 as a promising CD47 × CD20 bispecific antibody that selectively destroys CD20+ cancer cells via enhanced phagocytosis and other effector functions.

Drug hypersensitivity reactions: review of the state of the science for prediction and diagnosis.

Drug hypersensitivity reactions (DHRs) are a type of adverse drug reaction that can occur with different classes of drugs and affect multiple organ systems and patient populations. DHRs can be classified as allergic or non-allergic based on the cellular mechanisms involved. Whereas nonallergic reactions rely mainly on the innate immune system, allergic reactions involve the generation of an adaptive immune response. Consequently, drug allergies are DHRs for which an immunological mechanism, with antibody and/or T cell, is demonstrated. Despite decades of research, methods to predict the potential for a new chemical entity to cause DHRs or to correctly attribute DHRs to a specific mechanism and a specific molecule are not well-established. This review will focus on allergic reactions induced by systemically administered low-molecular weight drugs with an emphasis on drug- and patient-specific factors that could influence the development of DHRs. Strategies for predicting and diagnosing DHRs, including potential tools based on the current state of the science, will also be discussed.

CC-90009: A Cereblon E3 Ligase Modulating Drug That Promotes Selective Degradation of GSPT1 for the Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is marked by significant unmet clinical need due to both poor survival and high relapse rates where long-term disease control for most patients with relapsed or refractory AML remain dismal. Inspired to bring novel therapeutic options to these patients, we envisioned protein degradation as a potential therapeutic approach for the treatment of AML. Following this course, we discovered and pioneered a novel mechanism of action which culminated in the discovery of CC-90009. CC-90009 represents a novel protein degrader and the first cereblon E3 ligase modulating drug to enter clinical development that specifically targets GSPT1 (G1 to S phase transition 1) for proteasomal degradation. This manuscript briefly summarizes the mechanism of action, scientific rationale, medicinal chemistry, pharmacokinetic properties, and efficacy data for CC-90009, which is currently in phase 1 clinical development.

Covalent binding of the nitroso metabolite of sulfamethoxazole is important in induction of drug-specific T-cell responses in vivo.

Immune-mediated drug hypersensitivity reactions (IDHRs) represent a significant problem due to their unpredictable and severe nature, as well as the lack of understanding of the pathogenesis. Sulfamethoxazole (SMX), a widely used antibiotic, has been used as a model compound to investigate the underlying mechanism of IDHRs because it has been associated with a relatively high incidence of hypersensitivity. Previous studies by others showed that administration of 4-(nitroso)-N-(5-methyl-1,2-oxazol-3-yl)benzenesulfonamide (SMX-NO), the reactive metabolite of SMX, to rats resulted in the generation of SMX-specific antibodies and ex vivo splenocyte proliferative responses, as well as haptenation of skin keratinocytes, circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and splenocytes. The objective of the present study was to further investigate SMX-NO-protein binding in relationship to its immunogenicity. In female DBA/1 mice treated with SMX-NO, varying degrees of SMX-NO-dependent T-cell responses and SMX-NO-protein adduct formation were observed in the spleen and in inguinal, brachial, and axillary lymph nodes. The data suggested a tissue-specific threshold of SMX-NO dosage that triggers the detection of adducts and immune response. Furthermore, serum albumin and immunoglobulin were identified as protein targets for SMX-NO modification. It seemed that these adducts were formed in the blood, circulated to lymphoid tissues, and initiated SMX-NO-dependent immune responses. Collectively, these data revealed a causal link between the deposition of SMX-NO-protein adducts in a lymphoid tissue and the induction of immune response in that tissue. Our findings also suggest that the immunogenicity of SMX-NO is determined by the immunogenic nature of the hapten, rather than special characteristics of the adducted protein.

Developmental immunotoxicity (DIT) testing of pharmaceuticals: current practices, state of the science, knowledge gaps, and recommendations.

The development and regulatory approval of immunomodulatory pharmaceuticals to treat many human diseases has increased significantly over the last two decades. As discussed by FDA and ICH guidelines, all human pharmaceuticals in development should be evaluated for potential adverse effects on the immune system. Developmental immunotoxicology (DIT) focuses on the concern that early-life (during pre-/post-natal development) exposure to agents which target the immune system may result in enhanced susceptibility to immune-related disease (e.g., infection, autoimmunity, and cancer, particularly leukemia) compared to adults, unique effects not observed in adults, or more persistent effects in comparison to those following adult exposure. This article provides a substantive review of the literature and presents detailed considerations for DIT testing strategies with a specific focus on pharmaceuticals and biopharmaceuticals. In this regard, differences between small molecule and large molecule therapeutics will be considered, along with recommendations for best practices in the assessment of DIT during drug development. In addition, gaps in the DIT knowledge base and current testing strategies are identified. Finally, a summary of an ILSI-HESI-ITC sponsored Workshop conducted in 2010, entitled 'Developmental Immunotoxicity Testing of Pharmaceuticals' will be presented. This Workshop consisted of participants from the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, academic, and regulatory sectors, where many of the issues relating to DIT outlined in this review were discussed, key points of consensus reached, and current gaps in the science identified.

Summary of a workshop on nonclinical and clinical immunotoxicity assessment of immunomodulatory drugs.

The number of anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory drugs being developed in the pharmaceutical industry has increased considerably in the past decade. This increase in research and development has been paralleled by questions from both regulatory agencies and industry on how best to assess decreased host resistance to infections or adverse immunostimulation caused by immunomodulatory agents such as anti-cytokine antibodies (e.g., the tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors), anti-adhesion molecule antibodies (e.g., anti-alpha-4 integrin inhibitors) and immunostimulatory molecules (e.g., anti-CD28 antibodies). Although several methods have been developed for nonclinical assessment of immunotoxicity, highly publicized adverse events have brought to light significant gaps in the application of nonclinical immunotoxicity testing in assessing potential risk in humans. Confounding this problem is inconsistent application of immunotoxicology methods for risk assessment within the scientific community, limited understanding of appropriate immunotoxicity testing strategy for immunomodulators and inconsistent testing requests by regulatory agencies. To address these concerns, The Immunotoxicology Technical Committee (ITC) of the International Life Science Institute (ILSI) Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI) organized a workshop on Immunomodulators and Clinical Immunotoxicology in May 2007. The Workshop was convened to identify key gaps in nonclinical and clinical immunotoxicity testing of anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory agents and to begin to develop consistent approaches for immunotoxicity testing and risk assessment. This paper summarizes the outcome of the HESI ITC Immunomodulators and Clinical Immunotoxicology Workshop. Topics not discussed at the Workshop were outside the scope of this report. Although more work is needed to develop consistent approaches for immunotoxicity assessment of immunomodulators, this Workshop provided the foundation for future discussion.

Use of an ex vivo local lymph node assay to assess contact hypersensitivity potential.

The local lymph node assay (LLNA) is used to assess the contact hypersensitivity potential of compounds. In the standard assay, mice are treated topically with test compound to the dorsum of both ears on Days 1-3. The induction of a hypersensitivity response is assessed on Day 6 by injecting [(3)H]-thymidine into a tail vein and measuring thymidine incorporation into DNA of lymph node cells draining the ears. The ex vivo LLNA is conducted similarly except lymphocyte proliferation is assessed after in vitro incubation of lymph node cells with [(3)H]-thymidine, which significantly reduces the amount of radioactive waste. The current study tested the use of this approach for hazard assessment of contact hypersensitivity and to estimate allergenic potency. Female BALB/c mice were treated on Days 1-3 with two nonsensitizers (4' -methoxyacetophenone, diethyl phthalate), three weak sensitizers (hydroxycitronellal, eugenol, citral), one weak-to-moderate sensitizer (hexylcinnamic aldehyde), two moderate sensitizers (isoeugenol, phenyl benzoate), and one strong sensitizer (dinitrochlorobenzene). On Day 6, isolated lymph node cells were incubated overnight with [(3)H]-thymidine and thymidine incorporation was measured by liquid scintillation spectrophotometry. The ex vivo LLNA accurately distinguished the contact sensitizers from the nonsensitizing chemicals, and correctly ranked the relative potency of the compounds tested. The EC3 values, i.e., the effective concentration of test substance needed to induce a stimulation index of 3, were as follows: 4' -methoxyacetophenone (> 50%), diethyl phthalate (> 50%), hydroxycitronellal (20.4%), eugenol (13.6%), citral (8.9%), isoeugenol (3.8%), hexylcinnamic aldehyde (2.7%), phenyl benzoate (2%), and dinitrochlorobenzene (0.02%). In addition, low inter-animal and inter-experiment variability was seen with 25% hexyl-cinnamic aldehyde (assay positive control). The results of the ex vivo LLNA in the current study were consistent with published reports using the standard LLNA and provided further evidence that supports the use of this alternative approach to assess the skin sensitization potential of test compounds.

Evaluation of an ex vivo murine local lymph node assay: multiple endpoint comparison.

The local lymph node assay (LLNA) is used to assess the skin sensitization potential of chemicals. In the standard assay, mice are treated topically on the dorsum of both ears with test substance for 3 days. Following 2 days of rest, the initiation of the hypersensitivity response is evaluated by injecting (3)H-thymidine into a tail vein, and then measuring the levels of radioisotope incorporated into the DNA of lymph node cells draining the ears. In the current study, BALB/c mice were treated with the contact sensitizers hexylcinnamic aldehyde (HCA) and oxazolone, and the nonsensitizer methyl salicylate. The proliferative response of lymph node cells was evaluated in an ex vivo assay, in which isolated cells were cultured in vitro with (3)H-thymidine. Treatment of mice with HCA at 5-50% resulted in concentration-related increases in (3)H-thymidine incorporation, with stimulation indices ranging from 3 to 14. Low animal-to-animal variability was seen in three replicate assays testing HCA at 25%. As anticipated, the proliferative response induced by the potent sensitizer oxazolone at 0.25% was greater than HCA at all concentrations tested. Stimulation indices of 1.5 and 3 were seen in two independent experiments with methyl salicylate. These equivocal findings were likely due to the irritancy properties of the compound. Importantly, measuring ex vivo (3)H-thymidine incorporation was more sensitive than evaluating lymph node weight and cellularity, and in vitro bromodeoxyuridine incorporation. Furthermore, the results of the ex vivo LLNA were comparable to the standard assay. This study provided evidence that supports the use of an ex vivo LLNA for hazard assessment of contact hypersensitivity.

Induction of apoptosis by cationic amphiphilic drugs amiodarone and imipramine.

Phospholipidosis is the excessive accumulation of intracellular phospholipids in cell lysosomes. Drugs that induce this disease often share common physiochemical properties and are collectively classified as cationic amphiphilic drugs (CADs). Although the cause of phospholipidosis and morphologic appearance of affected lysosomes have been studied extensively, less is known about the physiologic effects of the condition. In the current study, U-937 cells were incubated with the CADs amiodarone (2.5-10 microg/mL) and imipramine (2.5-20 microg/mL). Treatment of U-937 cells with these compounds for 96 h resulted in concentration-related increases in phospholipids, as assessed by flow cytometry using the fluorophore nile red. These results were verified by measuring the concentrations of choline-derived phospholipids, which were significantly increased in drug-treated cells. Cell number in amiodarone (10 microg/mL) and imipramine (20 microg/mL) cultures following the 96-h incubation period were markedly reduced compared to control cultures. These observations suggested that accumulation of cellular phospholipids could inhibit cell proliferation. Flow cytometric analysis revealed a decrease in the percentage of cells in the S-phase of the cell cycle following drug treatment, yet DNA replication still occurred in a significant portion of cells. Interestingly, amiodarone and imipramine induced apoptosis in U-937 cells as shown by annexin V-FITC staining and DNA fragmentation. Enzymatic assays demonstrated that amiodarone and imipramine induced the activity of caspases 2 and 3. These results suggest that disruption of cell lysosomes in U-937 cells following accumulation of phospholipids does not cause a cell cycle arrest but instead induces apoptosis by activation of caspase pathways.

T-cell-dependent antibody response: assay development in cynomolgus monkeys.

The current study was designed to develop and test a T-cell dependent antibody response to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) in cynomolgus monkeys. In an optimization experiment, monkeys (3/sex) were given a single intramuscular injection of KLH at 10 mg/animal to evaluate the kinetics of the antibody response. Serum samples were collected pretest, and on Days 4, 6, 8, 11, 15 and 22 for measurement of anti-KLH IgM and IgG endpoint titers. In a subsequent experiment, female monkeys (3/group) were treated once daily by gavage with the immunosuppressive agent cyclosporine (Neoral) at 0, 10 and 50 mg/kg for 21 days, and the effects of drug treatment on anti-KLH IgM and IgG responses were determined. The effects of cyclosporine on hematology, biochemistry, bone marrow, organ weights, gross and histopathology, and peripheral lymphocyte subsets also were evaluated. Robust anti-KLH IgM and IgG responses were seen in monkeys given a single intramuscular injection of KLH at 10 mg/animal, with peak antibody responses at approximately 10-14 days post-immunization for anti-KLH IgM, and 14-21 days for anti-KLH IgG. Decreases in anti-KLH IgG endpoint titers were seen in 1 monkey given cyclosporine at 10 mg/kg, and 1 monkey dosed at 50 mg/kg. Relative to vehicle control animals, mild lymphoid depletion was evident in lymph nodes and tonsil of monkeys with suppressed anti-KLH IgG titers. Collectively, these findings in individual animals provided evidence of cyclosporine-induced immunosuppression. Cyclosporine at 10 and 50 mg/kg did not alter anti-KLH IgM production, hematology, biochemistry, bone marrow, organ weights, or peripheral lymphocyte subsets. Lastly, the results of this study demonstrated that KLH immunization at 10 mg/animal did not alter the standard toxicity endpoints evaluated in control animals.