Innate Pharma Advances Oncology Pipeline with Lacutamab, ANKET, and ADC Programs
Key Insights
Innate Pharma reported positive Phase 2 results for lacutamab in mycosis fungoides (search), engaging with the FDA for potential accelerated approval.
Sanofi's SAR443579/IPH6101 (search), an ANKET-based NK cell engager, progressed to Phase 2, with a new Phase 1/2 combination study initiated in AML.
IPH45, Innate's Nectin-4 (search) ADC, is advancing towards Phase 1 trials, demonstrating preclinical efficacy in enfortumab vedotin-refractory models.
Innate Pharma SA (Euronext Paris: IPH; Nasdaq: IPHA) has announced its first half 2024 business update, highlighting significant progress across its oncology pipeline. The company is advancing multiple programs, including lacutamab in T-cell lymphomas (search), ANKET-based NK cell engagers in hematological malignancies, and antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) targeting solid tumors. These advancements underscore Innate Pharma's commitment to developing innovative immunotherapies for cancer patients.
Lacutamab Shows Promise in Mycosis Fungoides
Lacutamab, a monoclonal antibody targeting KIR3DL2 (search), has demonstrated encouraging results in the Phase 2 TELLOMAK study for mycosis fungoides (search), a type of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL). Data presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2024 Annual Meeting showed a global objective response rate of 16.8% (Olsen 2011) and 22.4% (Olsen 2022), including 2 complete responses and 16 partial responses. Notably, responses were observed regardless of KIR3DL2 baseline expression. The FDA has granted orphan drug designation for lacutamab in CTCL, and Innate Pharma is in discussions with the agency regarding a potential registration strategy for accelerated approval.
ANKET Platform Advances with Sanofi Collaboration
Innate Pharma's ANKET (Antibody-based NK cell Engager Therapeutics) platform continues to yield promising drug candidates. SAR443579/IPH6101 (search), a trifunctional anti-CD123 NKp46-CD16 NK-cell engager developed in collaboration with Sanofi, has advanced to Phase 2 trials in relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (search) (AML), B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), or high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (HR-MDS). Updated data presented at the European Hematology Association (EHA) 2024 Congress demonstrated clinical benefit and durable responses in patients with R/R AML, with 5 complete remissions (4 CR / 1 CRi) achieved at 1 mg/kg, with durable CR (>10 months) observed in 3 patients. Furthermore, Sanofi initiated a new Phase 1 / Phase 2 study assessing SAR443579 / IPH6101 in combination with azacitidine and venetoclax in newly diagnosed AML patients.
IPH45 ADC Progresses Towards Phase 1
IPH45, Innate Pharma's proprietary exatecan-antibody drug conjugate (ADC) targeting Nectin-4 (search), is progressing towards a Phase 1 trial in H2 2024. Preclinical data presented at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2024 showed anti-tumor efficacy in vivo in Nectin-4 expressing tumors, including enfortumab vedotin (EV) refractory models. IPH45 demonstrated stronger activity than EV in multiple urothelial carcinoma (search) patient-derived xenografted (PDX) mice models, across Nectin-4 high and Nectin-4 low expression levels. Additionally, IPH45 exhibited anti-tumor activity in combination with anti-PD1 treatment in PD-1 resistant models in vivo and has a favorable safety profile in relevant animal toxicology models.
Monalizumab Update
AstraZeneca presented interim results from the randomized NeoCOAST-2 Phase 2 platform trial during the 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer (search) in September 2024. In this preliminary analysis on the first 60 of 72 patients randomized to Arm 2, monalizumab added to durvalumab plus platinum-based chemotherapy doublet induced a pathological complete response rate of 26.7% [95% CI; 16.1–39.7] and a major pathological response rate of 53.3% [95% CI; 40.0–66.3] which are numerically higher than the durvalumab plus platinum doublet approved regimen.
Financial Position
As of June 30, 2024, Innate Pharma reported cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments, and financial assets amounting to €102.1 million. This financial runway is anticipated to extend through the end of 2025.