ALBERT

Description: Background: In light chain (AL) amyloidosis, aggregates of misfolded light chain or fragments of a light chain produced by clonal plasma cells accumulate in various organs and tissues, leading to progressive organ failure. This aggregation is particularly catastrophic when the heart is affected and is the primary cause of death. Diagnosis is often delayed because symptoms at onset can mimic those of other common conditions. Current treatments are aimed at eliminating the clonal plasma cells that produce the toxic light chains; however, optimal treatment regimens are undefined, and no therapies have received regulatory approval. Physicians were surveyed to identify potential investigators for clinical trials of AL amyloidosis and to detect regional treatment patterns. Here we present characteristics of physicians who typically treat this rare disease, the treatments they use, and differences across countries and regions. Method: The survey was designed and conducted by Prothena Biosciences in association with a contract research organization. Physicians (n = 133) in 22 countries were supplied the survey by email, and data were evaluated using descriptive statistics and χ2 tests. Results: Respondents (N = 116) represented 21 countries and 5 continents. The primary therapeutic area was hematology (80.2%), followed by oncology (14.7%), with the remaining physicians specializing in cardiology (2.6%) and internal medicine (2.6%). Most physicians (90.5%) practiced in an academic or university setting. The majority (99; 85.3%) self-identified as practitioners at major referral centers. These physicians saw an average of 65 patients with confirmed diagnoses of AL amyloidosis each year; 23 reported seeing ≥50 such patients each year, and 6 reported seeing ≥100 such patients each year. With the exception of one institution, physicians at nonreferral centers saw ≤18 patients with confirmed AL amyloidosis each year. Patients with newly diagnosed AL amyloidosis and those who were treatment naive accounted for 53.9% of all patients seen; of these, 60.4% had cardiac involvement. Most institutions (75.4%) preferred to use proteasome-inhibiting (PI) agents (bortezomib or combination) or marrow ablation followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in select patients (21.1%); these values generally paralleled actual treatments provided (64.0% and 20.6%, respectively). The remaining patients received treatments that did not include PI agents or ASCT. Equal percentages of European and North American responding physicians (65.4% vs 63.7%) reported using PI agents as initial treatment. However, significantly fewer European physicians than North American physicians used marrow ablation followed by ASCT (16.7% vs 26.4%; P 〈 0.05). Respondents from Asia, Australia, and South America, though fewer, primarily used PI agents as initial therapy and least frequently used marrow ablation and ASCT. Among all respondents, ASCT was performed primarily after chemotherapy (30%) rather than as initial treatment (13%); however, average timing to proceed to ASCT varied broadly (weeks to months). Conclusions: AL amyloidosis is treated primarily by hematologists with the use of proteasome-inhibiting agents, either alone or in combination. There is marked regional variation in the use of marrow ablation with ASCT. AL amyloidosis is a rare disease that, despite these treatments, remains progressive and fatal. Optimal treatment regimens remain undefined, and no specific therapeutic approaches exist that reverse organ dysfunction. Disclosures Guthrie: Prothena Biosciences Inc: Employment, Other: Stock. Chapman:Prothena Biosciences Inc: Employment, Other: Stock. Koller:Prothena Biosciences Inc: Employment, Other: Stock, Travel expenses. Walling:Prothena Biosciences Inc: Consultancy. Kinney:Prothena Biosciences Inc: Employment, Other: Stock.

Description: Background: Light chain (AL) amyloidosis is the most common form of systemic amyloidosis and is characterized by the accumulation of aggregated, misfolded light chain protein in a variety of organs, resulting in serious organ damage and dysfunction. To date, no therapies have been approved to treat patients with AL amyloidosis, and current approaches do not directly target the underlying cause of organ dysfunction. NEOD001 is a conformation-specific antibody currently in a phase 3 clinical trial that specifically targets light chain amyloid aggregates and may promote the clearance of AL deposits by means of phagocytosis. In the present study, we compared the binding characteristics of NEOD001 to aggregates deposited in various AL organs using immunolabeling and binding assays. We also assessed the ability of the antibody to induce the clearance of AL amyloid by phagocytosis in vitro. Methods: The murine form of NEOD001, the 2A4 antibody, was used in these studies to avoid the nonspecific detection of human immunoglobulin G in human tissue. Immunohistochemical and biochemical techniques were used to characterize 2A4 immunoreactivity to AL aggregates. A total of 15 organs (heart, kidney, spleen, and liver) derived from 10 AL patients were examined. Fluorescent and chromogenic immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed on both fresh frozen and aldehyde-fixed samples. Thioflavin T (ThioT) labeling was used to identify amyloid in IHC-labeled tissue. To assess the binding of 2A4 to AL amyloidosis patient extracts and recombinant light chain, we used surface plasmon resonance and a newly developed, plate-based immunoassay specific to AL aggregates. Phagocytosis was assessed using a macrophage cell line cultured in the presence of aggregated light chain. All experiments included isotype-control antibodies. Results: In fresh frozen sections, 2A4 demonstrated specific immunoreactivity to AL aggregates in patient samples, but not in samples from healthy subjects, for all organs examined. Although 2A4 immunolabeling largely colocalized with ThioT, additional 2A4+/ThioT-unlabeled deposits were present that likely represented amorphous light chain deposits. Immunostaining of deposits with 2A4 was almost completely attenuated in aldehyde-fixed samples, even after brief fixation (1 minute), and was minimally recovered with antigen-retrieval methods. The aggregated light chain immunoassay demonstrated 2A4 binding in all organ tissue extracts from patients with AL amyloidosis but not from healthy subjects. The specificity of 2A4 to aggregated versus monomeric light chain was confirmed by biochemical assays. 2A4 induced the rapid engagement of macrophages and the phagocytic clearance of light chain aggregate particles in vitro. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that 2A4, the murine form of NEOD001, specifically binds to amyloid light chain and amorphous light chain aggregates in various organs of patients with AL amyloidosis and, in vitro, promotes the clearance of light chain aggregate particles by macrophage phagocytosis. NEOD001 may thus hold therapeutic potential for directly targeting the underlying cause of organ dysfunction in AL amyloidosis. Disclosures Zago: Prothena Biosciences Inc: Employment, Other: Stock. Renz:Prothena Biosciences Inc: Employment, Other: Stock. Torres:Prothena Biosciences Inc: Employment, Other: Stock. Dolan:Prothena Biosciences Inc: Employment, Other: Stock. Barbour:Prothena Biosciences Inc: Employment, Other: Stock. Salmans:Prothena Biosciences Inc: Employment, Other: Stock. Shughrue:Prothena Biosciences Inc: Employment, Other: Stock. Schenk:Prothena Biosciences Inc: Employment, Other: Stock. Kinney:Prothena Biosciences Inc: Employment, Other: Stock.

Description: Introduction: Systemic amyloidoses are a group of rare disorders characterized by the accumulation of misfolded proteins in tissue, resulting in the dysfunction of vital organs (eg, heart and kidneys). In amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis, the most common form of systemic amyloidosis, the amyloidogenic protein is a misfolded light chain (LC) or a fragment of an LC produced by clonal plasma cells. Current therapies used to treat AL amyloidosis limit LC production but do not directly target deposits underlying multiorgan failure. NEOD001, a monoclonal antibody, targets misfolded LC and is thought to neutralize circulating LC aggregates and to clear insoluble deposits. In an interim analysis of a phase 1/2 dose-escalation study in 27 patients with AL amyloidosis and persistent organ dysfunction (NCT01707264; EudraCT2012-002683-27), monthly infusions of NEOD001 were safe, well tolerated, and associated with renal and cardiac responses.1 Here we report updated results from the escalation phase and new results from the expansion phase of this study. Patients and Methods: Inclusion criteria for this trial were that patients complete ≥1 PCD treatment before enrollment, attain partial hematologic response (HR) or better to any previous therapy, and have persistent organ dysfunction. NEOD001 was administered intravenously every 28 days. During the dose-escalation phase, 27 patients received NEOD001 at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, or 24 mg/kg in a 3+3 study design. An additional 42 patients with renal, cardiac, or peripheral nerve involvement were enrolled and treated (24 mg/kg) in the expansion phase. We assessed safety/tolerability, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, cardiac and renal responses based on consensus criteria, and neuropathy responses using the Neuropathy Impairment Score-Lower Limb (NIS-LL). Results: The 42 additional patients enrolled in the expansion study included cohorts with renal (16 patients), cardiac (15 patients), and peripheral nerve (11 patients) involvement. In the overall population (n = 69), the median age was 60 years, and 61% of patients were men. Median (range) time since diagnosis was 2.8 (0.4-12.8) years, and 45% of patients underwent ≥3 previous plasma cell-directed regimens. The total number of infusions administered was 913 over a mean of 13.2 (range, 3-35) months. NEOD001 treatment was not associated with dose-limiting toxicities or discontinuations; patients did not develop antidrug antibodies or treatment-related serious adverse events. The most frequent treatment-emergent adverse events, regardless of relationship to study drug, were fatigue, upper respiratory tract infection, nausea, and diarrhea. In a best response analysis, 53% of cardiac-evaluable patients (N = 36) and 63% of renal-evaluable patients (N = 35) met respective criteria for organ response; no patients experienced disease progression. The median time to initial response was 2 months (cardiac) and 4 months (renal). After 9 months of treatment, 82% of patients with measurable peripheral neuropathy at baseline (N = 11) achieved a peripheral neuropathy response based on the NIS-LL score. Conclusions: Our interim results demonstrated that monthly NEOD001 infusions were safe and well tolerated and that organ response rates compared favorably with traditional chemotherapy. These updated results from the escalation phase and these new results from the expansion phase, including results from patients with peripheral nerve involvement, support the design of ongoing late-stage clinical studies. Antibody therapy may allow for effective treatment of patients with AL amyloidosis. Reference: 1. Gertz MA, Landau H, Comenzo RL, et al. First-in-human phase 1/2 study of NEOD001 in patients with light chain amyloidosis and persistent organ dysfunction. J Clin Oncol. 2016;34(10):1097-1103. Disclosures Gertz: Prothena Therapeutics: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Research to Practice: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Med Learning Group: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Honoraria; NCI Frederick: Honoraria; Sandoz Inc: Honoraria; GSK: Honoraria; Ionis: Research Funding; Annexon Biosciences: Research Funding. Comenzo:Karyopharm: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Prothena: Consultancy, Research Funding. Landau:Janssen: Consultancy; Spectrum Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Prothena: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Onyx/Amgen: Research Funding. Sanchorawala:Celgene: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Prothena: Research Funding. Weiss:Prothena: Other: Travel, accommodations, Research Funding; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy; Millennium: Consultancy, Other: Travel, accommodations; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel, accommodations, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy. Zonder:BMS: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Prothena: Consultancy; Array Biopharma: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy. Walling:Stealth: Consultancy; BioMarin: Equity Ownership; Apex: Consultancy; Pharm-Olam: Consultancy; NuMedii: Consultancy; Amgen: Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties; Crown Bioscience: Consultancy; KaloBios: Consultancy; Exelixis: Consultancy; Newgen: Consultancy; Mateon (was Oxigene): Consultancy; Corcept: Consultancy; Prothena: Consultancy; Aduro: Consultancy; Codexis: Consultancy; Upsher Smith: Consultancy, Patents & Royalties. Kinney:Prothena: Employment, Equity Ownership, Other: Leadership. Koller:Prothena: Employment, Equity Ownership, Other: Travel, accommodations. Schenk:Prothena: Employment, Equity Ownership, Other: Leadership. Guthrie:Prothena: Employment, Equity Ownership, Other: Leadership. Liu:Prothena: Employment, Equity Ownership; Weston Brain Institute: Honoraria. Liedtke:Prothena: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding.

Description: Introduction:In amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis, the most common form of systemic amyloidosis, misfolded light chain (LC) or a fragment of an LC produced by clonal plasma cells accumulates in tissue, resulting in the dysfunction of vital organs and systems (eg, heart, kidneys, nervous system). Current therapies used to treat AL amyloidosis limit LC production but do not directly target deposits underlying multiorgan failure. Approximately 75% of patients do not achieve organ responses and have persistent organ dysfunction. Amyloid-directed therapies may stabilize and potentially reverse organ damage by specifically targeting existing LC aggregates. NEOD001, a monoclonal antibody, targets misfolded LC and is thought to neutralize circulating LC aggregates and to clear insoluble deposits. We have previously reported that monthly infusions of NEOD001 were safe and well tolerated. In addition, NEOD001 was associated with renal and cardiac responses. Here we analyzed the association between organ response and depth and time since last plasma cell-directed (PCD) treatment in the entire cohort of 69 patients enrolled in both the dose-escalation and the expansion phases of the phase 1/2 study. Methods: Inclusion criteria for this trial were that patients complete ≥1 PCD treatment before enrollment, attain partial hematologic response (HR) or better to any previous therapy, and have persistent organ dysfunction. NEOD001 was administered intravenously every 28 days. During the dose-escalation phase, 27 patients received NEOD001 at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, or 24 mg/kg in a 3+3 study design. An additional 42 patients with renal, cardiac, or nerve involvement were enrolled and treated (24 mg/kg) in the expansion phase. We assessed cardiac and renal responses based on consensus criteria and neuropathy responses using the Neuropathy Impairment Score-Lower Limb (NIS-LL). For this analysis, we focused on the relationship between organ response after treatment with NEOD001 to the time since last or best HR and the depth of best and last HR. Results: A total of 69 patients were enrolled, 27 in the dose-escalation and 42 in the expansion cohorts. The entire population included 36 cardiac-evaluable patients, 35 renal-evaluable patients, and 11 patients evaluated for peripheral neuropathy; 39% were women, and the median age was 60 years. Time since diagnosis was 2.8 (0.4-12.8; median, range) years, and 45% of patients had undergone ≥3 previous PCD regimens. Of the patients evaluable for organ response, best response rates indicating organ response were observed in 53% of cardiac-evaluable patients (n = 19/36) and 63% of renal-evaluable patients (n = 22/35). NIS-LL scores indicated that 82% (n = 9/11) of patients met criteria for a peripheral neuropathy response to NEOD001. Cardiac and renal response rates for NEOD001-treated patients could not be attributed to previous PCD treatment regimens. For example, 37% of the NEOD001 cardiac responders and 35% of nonresponders received cyclophosphamide-bortezomib-dexamethasone. Similarly, for NEOD001 renal responders vs nonresponders, 27% vs 25% were treated with autologous stem cell transplantation and 27% vs 31% were treated with bortezomib-dexamethasone. There was no relationship between NEOD001 cardiac, renal, or peripheral nerve organ response and time since last chemotherapy, time since last or best HR, or depth of last or best HR. Finally, an equivalent percentage of evaluable patients experienced renal or cardiac response regardless of whether they had received their most recent PCD treatment ≤6 months or 〉6 months before NEOD001 initiation. The median time since last PCD treatment to the start of NEOD001 intervention for all patients was 6.5 (range, 0.6-85.8) months and the median time to first cardiac response after NEOD001 treatment for all cardiac responders was 2 months. NEOD001 treatment was safe and well tolerated. Conclusions: Patients treated with monthly NEOD001 infusions had high organ response rates that were independent of time since previous chemotherapy, depth of hematologic response, or predominant type of PCD treatment. Ongoing studies of NEOD001 include VITAL (phase 3 in patients with newly diagnosed AL amyloidosis) and PRONTO (phase 2b in previously treated AL amyloidosis patients with persistent cardiac dysfunction). Disclosures Liedtke: Gilead: Research Funding; Prothena: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Comenzo:Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Prothena: Consultancy, Research Funding. Landau:Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Prothena: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Onyx/Amgen: Research Funding; Spectrum Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Consultancy. Sanchorawala:Prothena: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Weiss:Prothena: Other: Travel, accommodations, Research Funding; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy; Millennium: Consultancy, Other: Travel, accommodations; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel, accommodations, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy. Zonder:Prothena: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy; Array Biopharma: Consultancy. Walling:Corcept: Consultancy; Stealth: Consultancy; Codexis: Consultancy; Exelixis: Consultancy; Newgen: Consultancy; Mateon (was Oxigene): Consultancy; Apex: Consultancy; Aduro: Consultancy; Prothena: Consultancy; Upsher Smith: Consultancy, Patents & Royalties; KaloBios: Consultancy; NuMedii: Consultancy; Pharm-Olam: Consultancy; Crown Bioscience: Consultancy; BioMarin: Equity Ownership; Amgen: Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties. Kinney:Prothena: Employment, Equity Ownership, Other: Leadership. Koller:Prothena: Employment, Equity Ownership, Other: Travel, accommodations. Schenk:Prothena: Employment, Equity Ownership, Other: Leadership. Guthrie:Prothena: Employment, Equity Ownership, Other: Leadership. Liu:Prothena: Employment, Equity Ownership; Weston Brain Institute: Honoraria. Gertz:Annexon Biosciences: Research Funding; Ionis: Research Funding; Prothena Therapeutics: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Research to Practice: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Med Learning Group: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Honoraria; NCI Frederick: Honoraria; Sandoz Inc: Honoraria; GSK: Honoraria.

Description: Background: Amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis is caused by the deposition of misfolded light chain (LC) proteins, which may cause organ failure and death. Current treatments, which target the plasma cells that produce LC, induce organ responses in only 30% to 40% of patients. There is a substantial need for a safe and effective amyloid-directed therapy to improve recovery of organ function. NEOD001, a monoclonal antibody that targets misfolded LC, is hypothesized to neutralize circulating LC aggregates and to clear insoluble organ deposits. In an ongoing phase 1/2 study (NCT02613182; Gertz M et al. J Clin Oncol. 2016;34(10):1097-1103) in 27 patients with AL amyloidosis and persistent organ dysfunction, monthly NEOD001 infusions were well tolerated and produced no infusion-related hypersensitivity reactions. In a best response analysis of subjects who fulfilled eligibility criteria at baseline, 57% met cardiac and 60% met renal response criteria. Supported by these positive results, the current study (VITAL; NCT02312206) is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial of NEOD001 in patients with cardiac AL amyloidosis. Here we present the study design for this trial in progress. Patients and Methods: Eligible patients (estimated enrollment, 236) with a diagnosis of AL amyloidosis (newly diagnosed, treatment naive) and cardiac dysfunction (N-terminal probrain natriuretic peptide [NT-proBNP] ≥650 and 12 mm, or cardiac biopsy-detected amyloidosis) and with estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥30 mL/min/1.73 m2 will be randomly assigned (1:1) to receive NEOD001 (24 mg/kg q28d) plus standard of care (SOC) chemotherapy or placebo plus SOC therapy. Subjects will be stratified according to Mayo Clinic stage, renal stage, and 6-minute walk test (6MWT) distance. The primary end point is a composite, evidence-based measure consisting of all-cause mortality or cardiac hospitalization. Key secondary end points include cardiac response measured by NT-proBNP (as defined by Comenzo RL et al. Leukemia. 2012;26(11):2317-2325) and change in 6MWT distance, Short Form-36 Health Survey response, Neuropathy Impairment Score-Lower Limb and renal response (as defined by Palladini G et al. Blood. 2014;124(15):2325-2332). Disclosures Liedtke: Gilead: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Prothena: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Merlini:Takeda and Janssen-Cilag: Honoraria. Landau:Janssen: Consultancy; Spectrum Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Onyx/Amgen: Research Funding; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Prothena: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Comenzo:Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Prothena: Consultancy, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding. Sanchorawala:Prothena: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Weiss:Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel, accommodations, Research Funding; Millennium: Consultancy, Other: Travel, accommodations; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy; Prothena: Other: Travel, accommodations, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy. Zonder:Array Biopharma: Consultancy; Prothena: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy. Walling:Stealth: Consultancy; KaloBios: Consultancy; Exelixis: Consultancy; Newgen: Consultancy; Mateon (was Oxigene): Consultancy; Apex: Consultancy; Corcept: Consultancy; Aduro: Consultancy; Prothena: Consultancy; BioMarin: Equity Ownership; Amgen: Equity Ownership, Patents & Royalties; NuMedii: Consultancy; Pharm-Olam: Consultancy; Crown Bioscience: Consultancy; Codexis: Consultancy; Upsher Smith: Consultancy, Patents & Royalties. Kinney:Prothena: Employment, Equity Ownership, Other: Leadership. Koller:Prothena: Employment, Equity Ownership, Other: Travel, accommodations. Gertz:Ionis: Research Funding; Prothena Therapeutics: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Annexon Biosciences: Research Funding; Research to Practice: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Med Learning Group: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Honoraria; NCI Frederick: Honoraria; Sandoz Inc: Honoraria; GSK: Honoraria.