A Safety and Efficacy Study of Pracinostat and Azacitidine in Patients With High Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Phase 2

Terminated

Conditions: Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Interventions: Drug: Pracinostat
Drug: Azacitidine

Registration Number: NCT03151304

Lead Sponsor: Helsinn Healthcare SA

Brief Summary: This is a Phase 2, two-stage study of the safety and efficacy of pracinostat in combination with azacitidine in patients with IPSS-R high and very high risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) who are previously untreated with hypomethylating agents (HMAs). Enrollment in this study will be limited to high/very high risk MDS because this group represents the highest unmet need, with median survival of less than 18 months.

Stage 1a will be conducted as an open-label single arm in up to 40 subjects to assess if this regimen with a lower pracinostat dose results in a discontinuation rate that meets a predefined threshold and in efficacy that justifies expansion of enrollment into Stage 1b.

A discontinuation rate of approximately ≤10% in Stage 1a, a rate comparable to that observed with azacitidine alone in study MEI-003 (NCT01873703), supports expansion into Stage 1b.

Stage 1b will be conducted as expansion of stage 1a. Approximately 20 additional subjects will be enrolled. Study drugs should be continued until disease progression or intolerable toxicity. It is important to note that the median time to achieving a response with azacitidine alone is 4 to 5 months. Furthermore, the median time to achieving a Complete Response (CR) in study MEI-003 (NCT01873703) was 4 cycles. Therefore, early (\<6 months) discontinuation of trial therapy for 'no response' should be avoided. The Medical Monitor should be contacted prior to discontinuing a subject from the study to discuss the rationale for discontinuation.

Detailed Description: Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: TERMINATED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 64

Inclusion Criteria

Female or male subjects ≥18 years-of-age.
Histologically or cytologically documented diagnosis of MDS according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification (Vardiman 2009, Arber 2016) with >5% and <20% bone marrow blasts by morphology and a peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count of <20,000/μL
- If WBC ≥20,000/μL, cytoreduction with hydroxyurea is permitted prior to enrollment.
- chronic myelomonocytic leukemia CMML-1 and CMML-2 subtypes
Classified as high or very high risk according to the Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS-R) risk category. CMML-1 and CMML-2 subtypes will be considered high-risk MDS and will not require IPSS-r scoring
Bone marrow biopsy (BMBx) and/or aspirate within 28 days prior to first study treatment.
Clinical indication for treatment with azacitidine.
Previously untreated with HMAs (prior therapy with transfusions, hematopoietic growth factors, or immunosuppressive therapy is allowed).

a. subjects who require the start of an HMA (e.g., azacitidine) due to progressing MDS may receive up to 1 cycle of azacitidine within 30 days prior to planned first dose (Cycle 1 Day 1)
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0, 1, or 2.
Adequate organ function as evidenced by:
- Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤2.5 × the upper limit of normal (ULN).
- Total bilirubin ≤1.5 × ULN or total bilirubin of ≤2 mg/dL, whichever is higher. Total bilirubin < 3 x ULN for patients with Gilbert-Meulengracht Syndrome
- Serum creatinine <1.5 mg/dL, or creatinine clearance>40 mL/min.
- QTcF interval ≤450 msec using the mean of triplicate electrocardiograms (ECGs).
Female subjects of childbearing potential and male subjects with female partners of childbearing potential are required to use two forms of acceptable contraception, including one barrier method, during their participation in the study and for 30 days following last dose. Female subjects of childbearing potential must not be breastfeeding, or planning to breastfeed, and must have a negative pregnancy test ≤7 days before first study drug administration.

Male subjects must also refrain from donating sperm during their participation in the study.
Voluntary written informed consent before performance of any study-related procedure not part of normal medical care.
Have the willingness and ability to understand the nature of this study and to comply with the study and follow-up procedures.

Exclusion Criteria

Bone marrow blasts ≥20%, indicating a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
Received any of the following within the specified time frame prior to administration of study medication:
- Any investigational agent within 14 days or 5 half-lives prior to enrollment, whichever is longer.
- Hydroxyurea within 48 hours prior to first day of study treatment.
- Hematopoietic growth factors: erythropoietin, granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF), or thrombopoietin receptor agonists at least 7 days (14 days for Aranesp), prior to study enrollment.
- Major surgery within 28 days prior to first study treatment.
Subjects who have not recovered from side effects of previous therapy.
Cardiopulmonary function criteria:
- Current unstable arrhythmia requiring treatment.
- History of symptomatic congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association [NYHA] Class III or IV).
- History of myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism or cerebrovascular accident within 6 months of enrollment.
- Current unstable angina.
Prior treatment for MDS with histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors Zolinza (vorinostat), Belenodaq (belinostat), Farydak (panobinostat), Istodax (romidepsin/depsipetide), or investigational agent with significant action as an HDAC inhibitor.
Clinical evidence of central nervous system involvement.
Subjects with gastrointestinal (GI) tract disease causing the inability to take oral medication, malabsorption syndrome, a requirement for intravenous (IV) alimentation, prior surgical procedures affecting absorption, uncontrolled inflammatory GI disease (e.g., Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis).
Uncontrolled infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or chronic hepatitis B or C.
Life-threatening illness unrelated to cancer or any serious medical or psychiatric illness that could, in the Investigator's opinion, potentially interfere with participation in this study.
Presence of a malignant disease within the last 12 months, with the exception of adequately treated in-situ carcinomas, basal or squamous cell carcinoma, non-melanomatous skin cancer, or malignancies treated with curative intent and no evidence of active disease in prior 12 months and felt to be low risk for recurrence. Other malignancies may be considered after consultation with the Medical Monitor
An unwillingness or inability (including breastfeeding women, prohibited concomitant medications, uncontrolled infections, psychological, familial, sociological, or geographical conditions) to comply with study and/or follow-up procedures as outlined in the protocol
Known hypersensitivity to any components of pracinostat, azacitidine or mannitol
Current smoking or vaporizing of tobacco or cannabis-related products (use of patches, chewing tobacco, or nicotine gum is permitted). Subjects who stopped smoking at least 8 days prior to first pracinostat dosing can be, provided they refrain from smoking during the whole study.

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Stage 1a and 1b open-label pracinostat plus azacitidine	Azacitidine	open-label single arm pracinostat plus azacitidine. Pracinostat: 45 mg administered orally 3 days each week for 3 consecutive weeks, followed by 1 week of rest, in 28-day cycles. In later cycles (i.e., after Cycle 4), pracinostat dose reduction to 45 mg orally 3 days each week × 2 weeks (instead of 3 weeks) or dose interruption is allowed to manage toxicity such as fatigue, gastrointestinal toxicity, or myelosuppression. Azacitidine: 75 mg/m2 for 7 days of each 28-day cycle. Administration will occur by subcutaneous (SC) injection, or IV infusion if SC injections are not tolerated, on one of two schedules: * Schedule 1 - daily therapy on Days 1 through 7 * Schedule 2 - 5-2-2 schedule in which subjects receive azacitidine for 5 consecutive days (Days 1 through 5) with rest on Days 6 and 7, and resume azacitidine dosing the first two days of the next week (Days 8 and 9) of each 28-day cycle
Stage 1a and 1b open-label pracinostat plus azacitidine	Pracinostat	open-label single arm pracinostat plus azacitidine. Pracinostat: 45 mg administered orally 3 days each week for 3 consecutive weeks, followed by 1 week of rest, in 28-day cycles. In later cycles (i.e., after Cycle 4), pracinostat dose reduction to 45 mg orally 3 days each week × 2 weeks (instead of 3 weeks) or dose interruption is allowed to manage toxicity such as fatigue, gastrointestinal toxicity, or myelosuppression. Azacitidine: 75 mg/m2 for 7 days of each 28-day cycle. Administration will occur by subcutaneous (SC) injection, or IV infusion if SC injections are not tolerated, on one of two schedules: * Schedule 1 - daily therapy on Days 1 through 7 * Schedule 2 - 5-2-2 schedule in which subjects receive azacitidine for 5 consecutive days (Days 1 through 5) with rest on Days 6 and 7, and resume azacitidine dosing the first two days of the next week (Days 8 and 9) of each 28-day cycle

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Overall Response Rate (ORR)	36 months	Percentage of subjects with confirmed complete remission (CR), partial remission (PR) and marrow CR, as per modified International Working Group (IWG) criteria: CR: Bone marrow: ≤5% myeloblasts with normal maturation of all cell lines; Peripheral blood Hemoglobin (Hb) ≥11 g/dL; Platelets ≥100 × 10\^9/L; Neutrophils ≥1.0 × 10\^9/L; Blasts 0%. PR: All CR criteria if abnormal before treatment except: Bone marrow blasts decreased by ≥ 50% over pre-treatment but still \>5%; Cellularity and morphology not relevant Marrow CR: Bone marrow: ≤5% myeloblasts and decrease by ≥50% over pre-treatment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Duration of Response (DoR)	36 months	For subjects who have achieved CR, PR, Marrow CR, or HI, DoR is defined as the time from the initial determination of response to the time of disease progression or death on study, whichever occurs first.
Rate of Leukemic Transformation	24 months	Percentage of subjects with leukemic transformation at landmark time point of 24 months
Event-free Survival (EFS)	36 months	time from the first day of study drug administration (Day 1) to failure or death from any cause
Progression-free Survival (PFS)	36 months	time from the first day of study drug administration (Day 1) to disease recurrence or progression as defined by the IWG criteria, or death on study: Disease progression for subjects with: Less than 5% blasts: ≥50% increase in blasts to \>5% blasts 5%-10% blasts: ≥50% increase to \>10% blasts 10%-20% blasts: ≥50% increase to \>20% blasts 20%-30% blasts: ≥50% increase to \>30% blasts Any of the following: At least 50% decrement from maximum remission/response in granulocytes or platelets Reduction in Hb by ≥2 g/dL Transfusion dependence
Overall Survival (OS)	form day 1 to death on study, assessed up to 36 months	time from the first day of study drug administration (Day 1) to death on study
Complete Response (CR) Rate	36 months	Percentage of subjects with confirmed CR (i.e., 2 CRs at least 28 days apart) as per modified IWG criteria: CR: Bone marrow: ≤5% myeloblasts with normal maturation of all cell lines; Peripheral blood Hb ≥11 g/dL; Platelets ≥100 × 109/L; Neutrophils ≥1.0 × 109/L; Blasts 0%.
Clinical Benefit Rate	36 months	Percentage of subjects with confirmed CR, PR, Marrow CR, and HI with clinical benefit rate, defines as rate of CR + PR + HI + Marrow CR. All subjects who achieve hematologic CR, PR, marrow CR, or hematologic improvement on the erythrocytic lineage per modified IWG response criteria will be considered responders
Rate of Cytogenetic CR	36 months	Percentage of subjects with confirmed CR by cytogenetic assessment. Complete cytogenetic response is defined per modified IWG response criteria: Complete: Disappearance of the chromosomal abnormality without appearance of new ones Partial: At least 50% reduction of the chromosomal abnormality
Overall Hematologic Improvement (HI) Response Rate	36 months	Percentage of subjects demonstrating major hematologic improvement according to modified IWG: Erythroid response (pre-treatment, \<11 g/dL): Hb increase by ≥1.5 g/dL; Relevant reduction of units of RBC transfusions by an absolute number of at least 4 RBC transfusions/8 weeks compared with the pre-treatment transfusion number in the previous 8 weeks. Only RBC transfusions given for a Hb of ≤9.0 g/dL pre-treatment will count in the RBC transfusion response evaluation. Platelet response (pre-treatment, \<100 × 10\^9/L): Absolute increase of ≥30 × 10\^9/L for patients starting with \>20 × 10\^9/L platelets; Increase from \<20 × 10\^9/L to \>20 × 10\^9/L and by at least 100%. Neutrophil response (pre-treatment, \<1.0 × 10\^9/L): At least 100% increase and an absolute increase \>0.5 × 10\^9/L. Progression or relapse after HI: at least 1 of the following: * At least 50% decrement from maximum response levels in granulocytes or platelets * Reduction in Hb by≥1.5 g/dL * Transfusion dependence

Trial Locations

Locations (25): University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
🇺🇸
Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Scripps Cancer Center-Mercy
🇺🇸
San Diego, California, United States
Swedish Cancer Institute
🇺🇸
Seattle, Washington, United States
university of minnesota medical Center, Fairview
🇺🇸
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University
🇺🇸
Augusta, Georgia, United States
georgia cancer Center
🇺🇸
Augusta, Georgia, United States
Stony Brook University
🇺🇸
Stony Brook, New York, United States
UVA Health System Division of Hematology & Oncology
🇺🇸
Charlottesville, Virginia, United States
Oncology Hematology Care
🇺🇸
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Duke University Medical Center
🇺🇸
Durham, North Carolina, United States
City of Hope
🇺🇸
Duarte, California, United States
Southeastern Medical Oncology Center
🇺🇸
Goldsboro, North Carolina, United States
Mercy Medical Research Institute
🇺🇸
Springfield, Missouri, United States
Oklahoma Cancer Specialists and Research Institute
🇺🇸
Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
University of Rochester Medical Center
🇺🇸
Rochester, New York, United States
UT Southwestern Medical Center
🇺🇸
Dallas, Texas, United States
Michigan Center of Medical Research
🇺🇸
Farmington Hills, Michigan, United States
Michigan State University, Breslin Cancer Center
🇺🇸
Lansing, Michigan, United States
RCCA MD LLC (The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders)
🇺🇸
Bethesda, Maryland, United States
New Mexico Cancer care Alliance
🇺🇸
Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
Providence Portland Medical center
🇺🇸
Portland, Oregon, United States
Universityof Wisconsin Clinical Science Center
🇺🇸
Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Medical College of Wisconsin
🇺🇸
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Cancer Centers of Southwest Oklahoma
🇺🇸
Lawton, Oklahoma, United States
Pontchartrain cancer Center
🇺🇸
Covington, Louisiana, United States