LYT-200, an antibody targeting galectin-9, a protein implicated in leukemia cell growth and immune suppression, has been granted orphan drug designation by the FDA for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This designation underscores the potential of LYT-200 as a novel and effective treatment option for patients with AML, a condition with poor long-term survival rates and a significant unmet need for more effective therapies.
LYT-200 is currently being evaluated in two ongoing phase 1 trials. The first trial (NCT04666688) investigates LYT-200 alone or in combination with chemotherapy or tislelizumab in patients with relapsed/refractory, locally advanced, or metastatic solid tumors. The second trial (NCT05829226) focuses on the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory AML or high-risk MDS. Initial data from the first phase 1 study presented at the 2023 ESMO Immuno-Oncology Congress indicated an acceptable safety and tolerability profile for LYT-200, both as a monotherapy and in combination with tislelizumab, along with preliminary antitumor activity in patients with relapsed/refractory head and neck cancer.
The studies aim to assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, and antitumor activity of LYT-200, with primary endpoints including treatment-emergent adverse events, dose-limiting toxicities, progression-free survival, and overall response rate. Secondary endpoints focus on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. The trials are part of a broader effort to explore the efficacy of LYT-200 in addressing the challenges of treating AML and other cancers, with an estimated completion date of September 2024 for the first study.
This development represents a significant step forward in the search for more effective treatments for AML, offering hope to patients with limited options. The orphan drug designation for LYT-200 in AML follows a previous designation for pancreatic cancer in November 2021, highlighting the potential of targeting galectin-9 in cancer therapy.
