Development of MGD007, a gpA33 x CD3-Bispecific DART Protein for T-Cell Immunotherapy of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer.

We have developed MGD007 (anti-glycoprotein A33 x anti-CD3), a DART protein designed to redirect T cells to target gpA33 expressing colon cancer. The gpA33 target was selected on the basis of an antibody-based screen to identify cancer antigens universally expressed in both primary and metastatic colorectal cancer specimens, including putative cancer stem cell populations. MGD007 displays the anticipated-bispecific binding properties and mediates potent lysis of gpA33-positive cancer cell lines, including models of colorectal cancer stem cells, through recruitment of T cells. Xenograft studies showed tumor growth inhibition at doses as low as 4 µg/kg. Both CD8 and CD4 T cells mediated lysis of gpA33-expressing tumor cells, with activity accompanied by increases in granzyme and perforin. Notably, suppressive T-cell populations could also be leveraged to mediate lysis of gpA33-expressing tumor cells. Concomitant with CTL activity, both T-cell activation and expansion are observed in a gpA33-dependent manner. No cytokine activation was observed with human PBMC alone, consistent with the absence of gpA33 expression on peripheral blood cell populations. Following prolonged exposure to MGD007 and gpA33 positive tumor cells, T cells express PD-1 and LAG-3 and acquire a memory phenotype but retain ability to support potent cell killing. In cynomolgus monkeys, 4 weekly doses of 100 µg/kg were well tolerated, with prolonged PK consistent with that of an Fc-containing molecule. Taken together, MGD007 displays potent activity against colorectal cancer cells consistent with a mechanism of action endowed in its design and support further investigation of MGD007 as a potential novel therapeutic treatment for colorectal cancer. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(8); 1761-72. ©2018 AACR.

Development of an Fc-enhanced anti-B7-H3 monoclonal antibody with potent antitumor activity.

PURPOSE: The goal of this research was to harness a monoclonal antibody (mAb) discovery platform to identify cell-surface antigens highly expressed on cancer and develop, through Fc optimization, potent mAb therapies toward these tumor-specific antigens. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Fifty independent mAbs targeting the cell-surface immunoregulatory B7-H3 protein were obtained through independent intact cell-based immunizations using human tissue progenitor cells, cancer cell lines, or cell lines displaying cancer stem cell properties. Binding studies revealed this natively reactive B7-H3 mAb panel to bind a range of independent B7-H3 epitopes. Immunohistochemical analyses showed that a subset displayed strong reactivity to a broad range of human cancers while exhibiting limited binding to normal human tissues. A B7-H3 mAb displaying exquisite tumor/normal differential binding was selected for humanization and incorporation of an Fc domain modified to enhance effector-mediated antitumor function via increased affinity for the activating receptor CD16A and decreased binding to the inhibitory receptor CD32B. RESULTS: MGA271, the resulting engineered anti-B7-H3 mAb, mediates potent antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against a broad range of tumor cell types. Furthermore, in human CD16A-bearing transgenic mice, MGA271 exhibited potent antitumor activity in B7-H3-expressing xenograft models of renal cell and bladder carcinoma. Toxicology studies carried out in cynomolgus monkeys revealed no significant test article-related safety findings. CONCLUSIONS: This data supports evaluation of MGA271 clinical utility in B7-H3-expressing cancer, while validating a combination of a nontarget biased approach of intact cell immunizations and immunohistochemistry to identify novel cancer antigens with Fc-based mAb engineering to enable potent antitumor activity.