Loargys (pegzilarginase)

P3, N=3, Recruiting, Immedica Pharma AB | Not yet recruiting --> Recruiting

P3, N=3, Not yet recruiting, Immedica Pharma AB

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) displays marked arginine auxotrophy due to inactivation of the rate-limiting enzyme argininosuccinate synthetase 1 (ASS1), and as a consequence may be targeted with pegylated arginine deiminase or ADI-PEG20 (pegargiminase) and human recombinant pegylated arginases (rhArgPEG, BCT-100 and pegzilarginase). Moreover, recent work has identified an intriguing role for targeting arginine in combination with PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors and clinical trials are in progress. Thus, future studies of arginine-depleting agents with chemoimmunotherapy, the current standard of care for SCLC, may lead to enhanced disease control and much needed improvements in long-term survival for patients.

This is consistent with the known autophagy-inducing effects of arginine depletion, and the link between autophagy and major histocompatibility complex antigen presentation to T cells. Our work supports the ongoing clinical investigations of pegzilarginase in solid tumors and clinical combination of pegzilarginase with immune checkpoint inhibitors.