Safety and activity of varlilumab, a novel and first-in-class agonist anti-CD27 antibody, for hematologic malignancies.

CD27, a costimulatory molecule on T cells, induces intracellular signals mediating cellular activation, proliferation, effector function, and cell survival on binding to its ligand, CD70. Varlilumab, a novel, first-in-class, agonist immunoglobulin G1 anti-CD27 antibody, mediates antitumor immunity and direct killing of CD27+ tumor cells in animal models. This first-in-human, dose-escalation, and expansion study evaluated varlilumab in patients with hematologic malignancies. Primary objectives were to assess safety and the maximum tolerated and optimal biologic doses of varlilumab. Secondary objectives were to evaluate pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, immunogenicity, and antitumor activity. In a 3 + 3 dose-escalation design, 30 patients with B-cell (n = 25) or T-cell (n = 5) malignancies received varlilumab (0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, or 10 mg/kg IV) as a single dose with a 28-day observation period, followed by weekly dosing (4 doses per cycle, up to 5 cycles, depending on tumor response). In an expansion cohort, 4 additional patients with Hodgkin lymphoma received varlilumab at 0.3 mg/kg every 3 weeks (4 doses per cycle, up to 5 cycles). No dose-limiting toxicities were observed. Treatment-related adverse events, generally grade 1 to 2, included fatigue, decreased appetite, anemia, diarrhea, and headache. Exposure was linear and dose-proportional across dose groups and resulted in increases in proinflammatory cytokines and soluble CD27. One patient with stage IV Hodgkin lymphoma experienced a complete response and remained in remission at \u3e33 months with no further anticancer therapy. These data support further investigation of varlilumab for hematologic malignancies, particularly in combination approaches targeting nonredundant immune regulating pathways. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01460134

The ethics of entrepreneurial philanthropy

A salient if under researched feature of the new age of global inequalities is the rise to prominence of entrepreneurial philanthropy, the pursuit of transformational social goals through philanthropic investment in projects animated by entrepreneurial principles. Super-wealthy entrepreneurs in this way extend their suzerainty from the domain of the economic to the domains of the social and political. We explore the ethics and ethical implications of entrepreneurialphilanthropy through systematic comparison with what we call customaryphilanthropy, which preferences support for established institutions and social practices. We analyse the ethical statements made at interview by 24 elite UK philanthropists, 12 customary and 12 entrepreneurial, to reveal the co-existence of two ethically charged narratives of elite philanthropic motivations, each instrumental in maintaining the established socio-economic order. We conclude that entrepreneurial philanthropy, as an ostensibly efficacious instrument of social justice, is ethically flawed by its unremitting impulse toward ideological purity

Nonhumans in participatory design

© 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. This article examines the role that nonhumans play in participatory design. Research and practice concerned with participatory design mostly focuses on human participants, however nonhumans also participate in the design process and can play a significant role in shaping the process. This article focuses on how nonhumans participate in the design process. An empirical case study is used to illustrate how humans and nonhumans assemble to form networks in order to effect a design. Nonhumans increase the level of participation in a design process. The case study reveals how nonhumans help to maintain, destroy or strengthen networks by substituting, mediating and communicating with humans and often, in doing so, making human actors more or less visible in the process. Nonhumans play a part in configuring the social. Revealing the presence and roles of nonhumans is an important means through which to increase the democracy within the design process

405 CDX1140–01, a phase 1 dose-escalation/expansion study of CDX-1140 alone (Part 1) and in combination with CDX-301 (Part 2) or pembrolizumab (Part 3)

Background CDX-1140 is an agonist anti-CD40 mAb selected to optimize systemic exposure and hence tumor microenvironment (TME) ingress. CDX-1140 activity may be enhanced by combining with CDX-301 (recombinant Flt3L), a dendritic cell growth factor, or with pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 mAb. Methods Patients with advanced solid or hematologic (Part 1 only) tumors are enrolled. Part 1 dose-escalation results have been presented (SITC 2019). In Part 2, CDX-1140 dose-escalation (0.09–1.5 mg/kg q4w) is in combination with CDX-301 (75 mcg/kg sc QD x 5 for 2 cycles). In Part 3, CDX-1140 dose-escalation (0.72–1.5 mg/kg q3w) is in combination with pembrolizumab 200 mg q3w. Part 1 and 2 expansion cohorts are dosed at the CDX-1140 MTD, 1.5 mg/kg q4w. Part 3 expansion cohorts are planned. Peripheral blood and tumor biomarkers analysis are ongoing. Results 92 patients have been treated (Part 1 n=57, Part 2 n=31, Part 3 n=4). Part 1 expansion cohorts in SCCHN (n=7) and RCC (n=5) are fully enrolled. Part 2 dose-escalation completed to the highest CDX-1140 dose and a SCCHN expansion cohort is ongoing. Part 3 dose-escalation recently initiated. Safety data is available for 23 and 10 patients at the MTD in Part 1 and 2, respectively. In general, the safety profiles were similar, with arthralgia (52% vs. 50%), pyrexia (44% vs 50%), fatigue (30% vs. 50%), chills (39% vs. 40%), vomiting (30% vs. 20%), nausea (26% vs 40%), myalgia (22% vs. 30%), increased ALT (22% vs. 20%), and increased AST (22% vs. 30%) being the most common drug related AEs at the MTD in Part 1 and 2, respectively. Most AEs were low grade. Across all cohorts, cytokine release syndrome (CRS) (G2 n=4, G3 n=2) occurred in 6 (Part 1 n=2; Part 2 n=4) and pneumonitis (G3) occurred in 5 (Part 1 n=4; Part 2 n=1) patients. Immune activation in the TME consistent with CD40 agonism and increases serum inflammatory cytokines were observed. Evidence of anti-tumor activity/clinical benefit include SD (n=13), tumor cavitation (n=2) and a uPR in solid tumors. A patient with follicular lymphoma has an ongoing durable complete metabolic response. Conclusions The CDX-1140 MTD dose of 1.5 mg/kg, a dose level expected to provide good systemic exposure and TME penetration, is generally well tolerated alone and with CDX-301. Transaminitis and CRS have generally been low grade and infrequent. A cohort combining CDX-1140 with chemotherapy will be initiated in patients with previously untreated metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Trial Registration NCT03329950 Ethics Approval The study was approved by the following: Providence St. Joseph Health IRB, approval number MOD2020001128; WIRB, approval number 1188814 (Hauke, Gabrail, Bordoni & Gordon); University of Pennsylvania IRB, approval number UPCC 18917; Mount Sinai School of Medicine IRB, approval number 18-00202; Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center IRB, approval number 18-225A; Houston Methodist IRB, approval number MOD00000836 http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jitc-2020-SITC2020.040

Safety, tolerability and efficacy of agonist anti-CD27 antibody (varlilumab) administered in combination with anti-PD-1 (nivolumab) in advanced solid tumors.

BACKGROUND: Phase 1/2 dose-escalation and expansion study evaluating varlilumab, a fully human agonist anti-CD27 mAb, with nivolumab in anti-PD-1/L1 naïve, refractory solid tumors. METHODS: Phase 1 evaluated the safety of varlilumab (0.1-10 mg/kg) with nivolumab (3 mg/kg) administered once every 2 weeks. Phase 2 evaluated varlilumab regimens (3 mg/kg once every 2 weeks, 3 mg/kg once every 12 weeks, and 0.3 mg/kg once every 4 weeks) with nivolumab 240 mg once every 2 weeks in tumor-specific cohorts. Primary objective was safety; key clinical endpoints included objective response rate (ORR) and overall survival rate at 12 months (OS12) (glioblastoma (GBM) only). Exploratory objectives included determination of effects on peripheral blood and intratumoral immune signatures. RESULTS: 175 patients were enrolled (36 in phase 1 and 139 in phase 2). Phase 1 dose-escalation proceeded to the highest varlilumab dose level without determining a maximum tolerated dose. In phase 2, ORR were ovarian 12.5%, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck 12.5%, colorectal cancer 5%, and renal cell carcinoma 0%; GBM OS12 was 40.9%. Increased tumor PD-L1 and intratumoral T cell infiltration were observed in ovarian cancer patients, with increases of ≥5% associated with better progression-free survival. The most common treatment related adverse events were fatigue (18%), pruritus (16%), and rash (15%). CONCLUSION: Varlilumab and nivolumab were well tolerated, without significant toxicity beyond that expected for each agent alone. Clinical activity was observed in patients that are typically refractory to anti-PD-1 therapy, however, overall was not greater than expected for nivolumab monotherapy. Treatment was associated with proinflammatory changes in the tumor microenvironment, particularly in ovarian cancer where the changes were associated with better clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02335918