A first-in-human phase I study of the PD-1 inhibitor, retifanlimab (INCMGA00012), in patients with advanced solid tumors (POD1UM-101).

BACKGROUND: Retifanlimab is a humanized, hinge-stabilized immunoglobulin G4κ monoclonal antibody against human programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1). This first-in-human, phase I study assessed the safety and efficacy of retifanlimab in patients with advanced solid tumors and identified optimal dosing. PATIENTS AND METHODS: POD1UM-101 was conducted in two parts: (i) dose escalation-evaluated retifanlimab [1 mg/kg every 2 weeks (q2w), 3 or 10 mg/kg q2w or every 4 weeks (q4w)] in patients with relapsed/refractory, unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors; (ii) cohort expansion-biomarker-unselected tumor-specific cohorts [endometrial, cervical, sarcoma, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC)] received retifanlimab 3 mg/kg q2w, and tumor-agnostic cohorts received flat dosing [375 mg every 3 weeks (q3w), or 500 and 750 mg q4w]. Primary objectives were safety and tolerability; secondary objective was efficacy in selected tumor types. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients were enrolled in dose escalation, 134 in PD-1 therapy-naïve tumor-specific cohort expansion (endometrial, n = 29; cervical, NSCLC, soft tissue sarcoma, each n = 35), and 45 in flat dosing (375 mg q3w, 500 and 750 mg q4w, each n = 15). No dose-limiting toxicities occurred during dose escalation; maximum tolerated dose was not reached and 3-mg/kg q2w expansion dose was selected based on safety and pharmacokinetic data. Immune-related adverse events were experienced by 40 patients (30%) in tumor-specific cohorts (most frequently hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, colitis, nephritis) and 6 (13%) in flat dosing (most frequently hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism). Objective response rate (95% confidence interval) was 14% (4.8 to 30.3), 14% (3.9 to 31.7), 20% (8.4 to 36.9), and 3% (0.1 to 14.9) in advanced NSCLC, endometrial, cervical, and sarcoma tumor-specific cohorts that progressed after multiple prior systemic therapies. CONCLUSIONS: Retifanlimab demonstrated clinical pharmacology, safety, and antitumor activity consistent with the programmed death (ligand)-1 inhibitor class. POD1UM-101 results support further exploration of retifanlimab as monotherapy and backbone immunotherapy in combination treatments, with recommended doses of 500 mg q4w and 375 mg q3w.

Feasibility of home delivery of pemetrexed in patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the feasibility and adherence to home delivery (HD) of pemetrexed maintenance treatment in patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (nsqNSCLC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Exploratory, prospective, single-arm, Phase II study in advanced nsqNSCLC patients, with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0/1 that did not progress after 4 first-line induction cycles of a platinum doublet. The first cycle of pemetrexed (500mg/m(2)) was hospital administered, further cycles were HD until progressive disease or discontinuation. Feasibility was assessed by the adherence rate to HD (probability of reversion to hospital administration or treatment discontinuation due to HD) as primary endpoint, and by health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL: EQ-5D, lung cancer symptom scale [LCSS]), satisfaction with HD, overall survival (OS), and safety. RESULTS: 52 patients (UK & Sweden) received a median of 4 (range 1-19) pemetrexed maintenance cycles. Adherence rate up to Cycle 6 was 98.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 86.4%, 99.7%). All but 2 patients remained on HD. 1 patient discontinued after Cycle 1 (patient decision), and 1 after Cycle 6 (non-compliance with oral dexamethasone). 87% (33/38) of the patients preferred home to hospital treatment and in 90% (28/31) of cases, physicians were satisfied with distant management of patients. During HD Cycles 2-4 mean change from baseline ranged from 3.0 to 7.7 for EQ-5D visual analog scale. The 6-month OS rate was 73% (95% CI: 58%, 83%). 1 patient had an HD-related adverse event (device-related infection, Grade 2) and 1 patient died after Cycle 1, before HD, due to a possibly drug-related atypical pneumonia. CONCLUSION: HD of pemetrexed maintenance treatment in patients with advanced nsqNSCLC was feasible, safe, and preferred by patients, while maintaining HRQoL. Physicians were satisfied with distant patient management.

[First cases of secondary transmission of a novel swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus in France]. / Premiers cas de transmission secondaire en France du nouveau virus grippal d'origine porcine A(H1N1)v.

On April 2009, a new swine-origin A(H1N1) influenza virus, A(H1N1)v, was identified in the United States. Today (June 12, 2009), more than 29,000 cases have been reported in the world, and 73 in France. This is the first report of secondary transmission in France. The three patients presented with common influenza signs including cough, fever, and sore throat. The incubation period could last from two to four days; it should be kept in mind that the first international data mentioned one to seven days. The buildup and maintenance of an infectious focus involve secondary transmissions.