A Multicenter, Open-label, Randomized Phase 3 Study of THIO Sequenced With Cemiplimab (LIBTAYO®) vs Investigator's Choice of Chemotherapy as Third-line Treatment in Advanced/Metastatic NSCLC
THIO is a first-in-class small molecule telomere targeting agent, in development for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in combination with cemiplimab (LIBTAYO®). THIO is preferentially incorporated into telomeres sequence in telomerase-positive cells leading to rapid telomere uncapping, genomic instability, and cell death. Cemiplimab is a programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitor recently approved as a first-line treatment for patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with 50% or more PD-L1 expression. It is hypothesized that THIO administration prior to cemiplimab would restore tumor responses to immunotherapy in subjects who either developed resistance or relapsed after receiving first line treatment with an immune check point inhibitor.
⁃ At least 18 years of age at the time of signing the Informed Consent Form (ICF) prior to initiation of any study specific activities/procedures.
⁃ Disease Characteristics
⁃ Stage 3b or 4 histologically or cytologically confirmed NSCLC. Note: Stage is determined at the time of diagnosis.
⁃ Two (2) prior lines of systemic treatment for advanced/metastatic disease, including an ICI (anti-PD-1/PD-L1) and a platinum-based chemotherapy (given in combination or in separate lines) for advanced/metastatic disease.
⁃ Note: The combination of primary therapy followed by maintenance is considered as one line of therapy. Prior treatment with docetaxel is preferred (but not mandated) and is a pre-specified stratification factor.
⁃ Documented progression or intolerance following the most recent line of therapy.
∙ Stage 4 subjects - must have progressed or relapsed after first-line treatment.
‣ Stage 3b subjects - must have already failed, or be ineligible for, local, curative-intent therapy including surgery, and/or chemoradiation.
⁃ Note: Local, curative-intent therapy including surgery, and/or chemoradiation is not considered a treatment line in the advanced setting.
⁃ Documented secondary resistance to the prior ICI treatment, as defined by the SITC IRTF (Kluger, 2020):
⁃ Resistance phenotype Drug exposure requirements Best response Confirmation scan for PD requirement Confirmation scan timeframe Secondary resistance ≥ 6 months CR, PR, SD for \> 6 months Yes \[1\] At least 4 weeks after disease progression (per RECIST V1.1) \[1\] Other than when tumor growth is very rapid, and subjects are deteriorating clinically.
⁃ Abbreviations: CR=complete response; PD=progressive disease; PR=partial response; SD=stable disease
⁃ No prior targeted therapy for driver mutations.
⁃ At least one measurable target lesion that meets the definition of RECIST v1.1, with documented progression following the most recent line of therapy.
⁃ An archival tissue sample (formalin fixed paraffin-embedded \[FFPE\] tissue block or unstained slides) is required if tissue is available at baseline.
⁃ Note: The sample does not need to be received by the central laboratory prior to Cycle 1, Day 1 (C1D1). Subjects without archival tissue available at baseline may be eligible with Medical Monitor approval.
⁃ Diagnostic Assessments
⁃ Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-1.
‣ Demonstrate adequate organ function as defined below. All screening laboratories should be performed up to 14 days before initiating IP:
‣ Bone marrow function:
‣ ○ Neutrophil count ≥ 1500/mm3, hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL, platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm3
‣ Liver function:
∙ Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x the upper limit of normal (ULN), up to ≤ 3 × ULN if due to Gilbert's syndrome
∙ Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 1.5 × ULN.
‣ Note: For subjects with liver metastases present at baseline, ALT and/or AST ≤ 3 × ULN is permitted.
‣ Renal function:
‣ ○ Creatinine clearance (CrCl) ≥ 60 mL/min calculated by the Cockcroft-Gault formula using actual body weight (see Table 18) or 24-hour urine collection.
‣ Gender and Reproductive Requirements
‣ Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must have a negative serum pregnancy test (minimum sensitivity 25 IU/L or equivalent units of human chorionic gonadotropin \[HCG\]) within 72 hours prior to receiving the first administration of IP.
‣ Contraception use:
• In the THIO / cemiplimab arm:
• WOCBP must agree to use a highly effective birth control and refrain from oocyte donation during the study (prior to the first dose with THIO, for the duration of the treatment with THIO, and for six months after the last dose of study treatment, if conception is possible during this interval).
• Unless permanently sterile by bilateral orchidectomy, male subjects and WOCBP partners of male subjects should use a combination of the methods specified for female subjects in Appendix 4, Section 10.4 along with a male condom, from start of study treatment, for the duration of the treatment, and for six months after the last dose of study treatment. Male subjects should also refrain from sperm donation during this time.
• In the single-agent chemotherapy arm: For WOCBP, male subjects and WOCBP partners of male subjects, contraception requirements should follow the relevant product's package labelling and standard of care.
• Note: Contraception use by men or women in both treatment arms should be consistent with local regulations regarding the methods of contraception for those participating in clinical studies.
• Informed Consent 13. Capable and willing to give signed informed consent which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the ICF and in this protocol.