4SC AG: Positive safety review of Phase Ib/II EMERGE study of domatinostat + avelumab in gastrointestinal cancer

The multi-center, single-arm, open-label study is a dose escalation study in the first part, conducted initially in 10 patients with previously treated advanced unresectable or metastatic microsatellite-stable oesophago-gastric adenocarcinoma (OGA) or colorectal cancer (CRC).

The study evaluates domatinostat in combination with the checkpoint inhibitor avelumab. The study is conducted in two parts, an initial part to evaluate the safety of domatinostat in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor and to determine a recommended Phase II dose, and a second "expansion" part – now initiated – in order to obtain a larger data-set through the addition of more patients at the defined dose. Prof. Cunningham commented, "This is a significant step forward for the EMERGE study and we now look forward to expanding the use of domatinostat and avelumab in up to an additional 29 patients with microsatellite stable colorectal cancer and 34 patients with microsatellite stable gastroesophageal cancer to see if we can also demonstrate benefit in a larger population".

About domatinostat

Domatinostat is an orally administered small molecule class I selective HDAC inhibitor. It strengthens the body’s own anti-tumor immune response, influences the tumor and tumor microenvironment, making the tumor more visible to the immune system and facilitating the infiltration of immune cells into the tumor.

Domatinostat has been investigated in a Phase I study in 24 heavily pretreated patients with several types of advanced hematologic cancers and was well tolerated. Positive signs of anti-tumor efficacy were also observed; with one complete remission (28 months) and one partial responder (8 months).

In addition to its therapeutic potential in cancer monotherapy, 4SC is evaluating domatinostat’s capacity as a partner in combination therapies, specifically in the immuno-oncology area. In this respect, 4SC initiated a Phase Ib/II study of domatinostat in combination with the anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab in patients with advanced-stage melanoma from which initial data was presented at ESMO 2019. A second Phase II study of domatinostat in combination with the anti-PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor avelumab in patients with advanced-stage microsatellite-stable gastrointestinal cancer is currently being conducted by Prof. David Cunningham at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust in London, UK. And in collaboration with the Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam, the DONIMI Study, a multicenter, investigator-sponsored phase 1b study, testing the combination of domatinostat, nivolumab, and ipilimumab, in high risk stage III melanoma in the neoadjuvant setting.

Forward-looking information

Information set forth in this press release contains forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. The forward-looking statements contained herein represent the judgement of 4SC as of the date of this press release. Such forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond 4SC’s control, and which could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in these forward-looking statements. 4SC expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any updates or revisions to any such statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.