tuspetinib (HM43239)

P1/2, N=240, Recruiting, Aptose Biosciences Inc. | Trial completion date: Dec 2026 --> Apr 2027 | Trial primary completion date: May 2026 --> Nov 2026

Oral TUS markedly extended survival in subcutaneously and orthotopically inoculated xenograft models of FLT3 mutant human AML, was well tolerated, and delivered enhanced activity when combined with venetoclax or 5-azacytidine...Cells selected for stable acquired resistance to TUS exhibited increased BAX and hypersensitivity to venetoclax (1900-fold), navitoclax and MCL1 inhibitors. MV-4-11 FLT3-ITD clones expressing NRASG12D revealed that high-level expression of NRASG12D generated modest resistance to TUS and greater resistance to venetoclax (VEN), yet the TUS/VEN combination exhibited synergy in NRASG12D AML model. Favorable preclinical safety and pharmacology properties, the efficacy of the TUS/VEN combination in a murine model, and the synthetic lethal vulnerability to VEN that accompanies TUS resistance provide the basis for exploration of the TUS/VEN combination in patients with relapsed or refractory AML.

P1/2, N=260, Recruiting, Aptose Biosciences Inc. | Trial completion date: Aug 2024 --> Dec 2026 | Trial primary completion date: Feb 2024 --> May 2026

Ten pts were R/R following previous treatment with other FLT3 inhibitors (gilteritinib, quizartinib, midostaurin, or HM43239). In dose-escalating phase Ia clinical trials, PHI-101 was well tolerated at all dose levels with no DLTs. Phase Ib dose-expansion trials with 160 mg daily dosing are currently ongoing. PHI-101 has delivered CRcs at 120 mg and 160 mg.

In an orthotopic mouse model of FLT3-mutant AML, tuspetinib exhibited greater antitumor activity than gilteritinib, entospletinib, venetoclax (VEN), and azacitidine (AZA) and combined favorably with VEN and AZA individually. Tuspetinib was well-tolerated and delivered single agent clinical responses across four dose levels among diverse AML genotypes; with a RP2D of 80 mg chosen for future single agent studies. Although early, the VEN/TUS combination has been well tolerated with preliminary objective responses noted.

The F691L mutation had relatively larger effect on gilteritinib than HM43239, which showed as the changed and fixed conformation, respectively. These observations rationalized that the binding affinity of gilteritinib decreased more than that of HM43239 in the F691L mutant.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

TUS-resistant cells (TUS/R) were 60-fold resistant to gilteritinib (FLT3 inhibitor) but not to quizartinib (FLT3 inhibitor). There was no observed resistance to azacitidine, luxeptinib (lymphoid & myeloid kinase inhibitor), brequinar (DHODH inhibitor), zelavespib (HSP90 inhibitor), or IMP-1088 (NMT1/2 inhibitor), and a small degree of hypersensitivity (<2-fold) of TUS/R cells to luxeptinib, brequinar, and IMP-1088... Resistance to TUS in MOLM-14 cells required prolonged high-level drug exposure. The fact that FLT3 remained fully inhibited in TUS/R cells growing in 75 nM TUS suggests that resistance is not due to a mutation of FLT3. Drug resistance in TUS/R cells in the absence of TUS over 60 days indicates a stable phenotype, distinct from "persister cell resistance" in which resistance fades during subsequent passages.

In a preclinical xenograft and orthotopic model of AML, HM43239 exhibited greater antitumor potency than FLT3 inhibitor gilteritinib, SYK inhibitor entospletinib, BCL-2 inhibitor venetoclax, and demethylation agent azacitidine. As of July 14, 2022, HM43239 has delivered CRc at 80 mg, 120mg and 160 mg, and was well tolerated at these dose levels over multiple cycles with no DLTs or drug-related SAEs. Pharmacokinetic data illustrate increasing drug exposures through 120 mg and observed objective responses through 160 mg in both FLT3-WT and FLT3-mutated R/R AML patients even after gilteritinib and midostaurin treatment. An update of this study, including a planned single agent and venetoclax combination expansion, will be presented at the meeting.

Seventy percent of enrolled patients had more than 3 prior anti-leukemic treatment attempts, and four patients had relapsed or refractory disease after treatment with other FLT3 inhibitors including gilteritinib, quizartinib, or HM43239. A dose-escalating phase 1a clinical data of PHI-101, which reflects up to cohort 4 of the study, indicates that PHI-101 generated potent FLT3 inhibition leading to encouraging anti-leukemic responses in R/R AML patients, including in those with prior FLT3 TKI therapeutic failure. PHI-101 showed good tolerance and favorable safety profile and reduced leukemic blasts significantly with 28-day dosing. PHI-101 sustained its activity to clear FLT3-ITD and/or FLT3-TKD mutations including D835Y or N676K identified in AML patients.

HM43239 inhibited FcγR-induced SYK and JAK/STAT5 activation in KG-1a (FLT3-WT) cells that upregulate RAS signaling which is a mechanism of acquired resistance to gilteritinib. Its ability to also inhibit SYK and, by reducing the activity of these upstream kinases, to also impair the activity of EKR1/2 and JAK/STAT5 that participate in rescue pathways, makes this a particularly interesting molecule with the potential of offsetting the development of resistance that is common with other FLT3 inhibitors. A Phase 1/2 trial of HM43239 in patients with AML is open and accruing patients (NCT03850574).

HM43239 a preclinically potent FLT3 and SYK inhibitor showed a favorable safety profile with only mild AEs and no DLTs in this ongoing Phase 1/2 study. At 80 mg dose, HM43239 demonstrates clinical activity in both FLT3m (including a prior gilteritinib failure pt) and FLT3wt AML (including >1 year CR without HSCT in a relapsed TP53m AML). We continue to further evaluate doses above 80 mg to determine the optimal recommended Phase 2 Dose (RP2D).

As a result, HM43239 alone more effectively induced tumor regression and prolonged the survival duration of animals than an approved FLT3 inhibitor (e.g. gilteritinib) in resistant FLT3 ITD/D835Y or ITD/F691L mutated MOLM-14 xenograft mice models. These results suggest that HM43239 could overcome the resistance induced by bone marrow microenvironment in AML patients.Taken together, HM43239 showed strong anticancer activity through various in vitro and in vivo preclinical models of AML, implicating the mechanism of overcoming resistance and preventing relapse. The effect of HM43239 in human would be demonstrated in ongoing Phase I/II clinical trials (NCT03850574) to develop promising therapeutics for patients with AML.

Trial Design: This is an ongoing, open-label, multicenter, first in human phase I/II trial enrolling adult FLT3 mutated and FLT3 wild-type patients with AML who have relapsed or refractory disease after at least one prior line of therapy, what can include prior FLT3 inhibitors such as gilteritinib, midostaurin. This study is currently recruiting patients at multiple sites in the Republic of Korea and the USA. Clinical trial information: NCT03850574.