Here, we report on a phase IIa study to determine the intubation rate, survival, viral clearance, and development of endogenous Abs in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia treated with convalescent ...plasma (CCP) containing high levels of neutralizing anti-SARS-CoV-2 Abs. Radiographic and laboratory evaluation confirmed all 51 treated patients had COVID-19 pneumonia. Fresh or frozen CCP from donors with high titers of neutralizing Abs was administered. The nonmechanically ventilated patients (n = 36) had an intubation rate of 13.9% and a 30-day survival rate of 88.9%, and the overall survival rate for a comparative group based on network data was 72.5% (1625/2241). Patients had negative nasopharyngeal swab rates of 43.8% and 73.0% on days 10 and 30, respectively. Patients mechanically ventilated had a day-30 mortality rate of 46.7%; the mortality rate for a comparative group based on network data was 71.0% (369/520). All evaluable patients were found to have neutralizing Abs on day 3 (n = 47), and all but 1 patient had Abs on days 30 and 60. The only adverse event was a mild rash. In this study on patients with COVID-19 disease, we show therapeutic use of CCP was safe and conferred transfer of Abs, while preserving endogenous immune response.
Background: Despite advances in novel myeloma treatments and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT), allogeneic HSCT (alloSCT) remains the only curative option for patients (pts) ...with multiple myeloma (MM). Questions remain as to the timing of alloSCT, toxicity risks and optimal conditioning regimen. The addition of bortezomib (Vel) to fludarabine (Flu) and melphalan (Mel) for conditioning prior to alloSCT is based on the demonstrated safety of Vel in combination with melphalan prior to ASCT, the synergistic effect of Vel with Mel, and the ability of Vel to selectively eliminate allo-reactive T-cells.
Methods: We present a prospective Phase II study using Flu/Mel/Vel (FMV) as a conditioning regimen for alloSCT. The primary endpoint is overall survival (OS), and secondary endpoints include progression free survival (PFS), incidence of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and transplant related mortality (TRM). For related donors, the conditioning regimen was Flu 30 mg/m2 days -5, -4, -3, -2, Vel 1.6 mg/m2 days -4, -1, Mel 140 mg/m2 day -2. For unrelated donors, rabbit ATG 4 mg/kg was given in divided doses days -3, -2, -1. GVHD prophylaxis consisted of methotrexate and tacrolimus. We compared pts receiving FMV to historical controls of pts receiving FM at the same dose and schedule without Vel. We also compared pts receiving FMV to all pts with MM treated with alloSCT including all regimens and donor types.
The response criteria from the IMWG and M-Smart criteria were used to determine response and risk, respectively. Chi-square tests of association and Wilcoxon rank sum tests were performed to test for differences across groups. OS/PFS probabilities were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier product limit estimator with log rank-tests. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models examined factors associated with OS/PFS.
Results: Of the 54 pts who received FMV, 35 (65%) were male and the median age was 56 years. Twenty-seven pts had an HLA matched sibling donor and 27 had an unrelated donor. At the time of alloSCT, 5 pts were in a CR, 27 in a VGPR, 13 in a PR, 9 had < PR. Twenty eight pts (52%) had high risk disease. Twenty-nine pts (53%) received alloSCT as salvage, defined as relapsed or refractory to ASCT, and 25 pts (46%) as consolidation after ASCT. OS was 42% at 10 years. While 32 pts developed aGVHD, only 2 had ≥ Grade 3. Of the 31 pts who developed cGVHD, 23 were graded as extensive. TRM was 5% at day 100, and 15% over 10 years.
Pts in the control groups had similar baseline characteristics to the FMV group. The only significant difference was 47 pts (72%) who received FM were transplanted as salvage, and 18 (28%) as consolidation after ASCT (p=0.035). The total number of pts who did not receive FMV (non FMV) was 121, with 66 pts receiving FM. Compared to pts who received FMV, there was no difference in OS for pts who received FM or the non FMV group, 35% (p=0.55) and 48% (p=0.855) respectively. There was no difference in pts who developed aGVHD, however 9 pts (13%) had ≥ grade 3 aGVHD in the FM group (p=0.004) and 15 (12%) in the non FMV group (p=0.006). The cumulative incidence of cGVHD was similar with 51% for pts receiving FM and 60% for FMV pts (p=0.32). TRM was similar to pts who had received FMV; 18% for FM and 17% for non FMV. There were no differences between the 3 groups across disease risk, donor type, or disease status at the time of alloSCT. Multivariate analysis of the 3 groups, shows achieving a CR after alloSCT (p=0.0006) or having cGVHD (p=0.0004) predicts for improved OS, while severe aGVHD (p=0.0002) predicts for decreased OS.
Discussion: While FMV was associated with a lower incidence of severe aGVHD, the addition of bortezomib to the FM backbone did not improve PFS or OS. Day 100 TRM was low for all regimens, and the addition of Vel did not impact overall TRM. For all 175 pts, those who achieve a CR after alloSCT had a significantly improved OS. This prompts the question of whether strategies should be employed post alloSCT to maximize response to a CR, and the role of achieving MRD negativity after alloSCT also needs to be elucidated.
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Siegel:BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Merck: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Biran:Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Skarbnik:Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Gilead Sciences: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau.
The use of ASCT is highly established as consolidation or salvage for multiple myeloma (MM) and post salvage therapy in non-Hodgkin Lymphomas (NHL), particularly diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) ...with chemosensitive disease, as well as upfront consolidation in PTCL given poor outcomes after standard therapy (Philip et al., NEJM 1995, Kewalramani et al., Br J Haematol 2006, Gisselbrecht et al., J Clin Oncol 2010, Kumar et al., Leukemia 2012). Although a significant number of pts experience long-term disease-free survival following ASCT, those with high-risk disease (i.e.high-risk cytogenetics in MM, primary refractory DLBCL) are likely to present early relapses, particularly in the first 18 months post-ASCT, illustrating the need for better disease control strategies following ASCT. The rapidly rising impact of checkpoint inhibitors in oncology provides an opportunity for its usage as post-ASCT consolidation, especially given the favorable immunologic milieu found in the immediate post-ASCT setting (i.e. decreased T-regs, increased effector T-cells) and minimal expected tumor burden at that time. Here, we report preliminary safety and efficacy data of a Phase I trial evaluating I and N as post-ASCT consolidation.
Pts with the following malignancies were eligible, if they presented at least stable disease after most recent line of therapy: DLBCL: primary refractory or relapsed, PTCL: de novo stage III/IV or relapsed, MM: transplant-naïve with high-risk cytogenetics or relapse within 3 years of upfront ASCT.
Pts were enrolled prior to ASCT, starting in July 2016. Total accrual goal is 42 patients. All pts with DLBCL/PTCL received BEAM (carmustine 300 mg/m2 day -6, etoposide 200 mg/m2 and cytarabine 200 mg/m2 days -5 to -2, melphalan 140 mg/m2 day -1) as conditioning regimen for ASCT, all pts with MM received melphalan 200 mg/m2 on day -1.
For pts who achieved appropriate hematologic recovery (ANC >800/mm3 and platelets > 20,000/mm3), I/N were started between days 14 and 28 post ASCT. The infusion schedule was:
• I: 1 mg/kg; 6 doses Weeks 1, 4, 7, 10, 16, 22
• N: 3 mg/kg; 12 doses Weeks 1, 4, 7, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26
At this time, 25 patients have been enrolled and received at least one dose of I/N. Additional pts are in screening and results will be updated.
Median follow-up from time of first I/N infusion is 24 weeks (range 2-49). Adverse events (AEs) were documented starting week 1, day 1 of I/N infusion. AEs deemed at least possibly related to I and/or N were termed immune-related (irAEs) with 80% of pts developing irAEs of any grade (table 1). Treatment-related AEs of any grade that led to discontinuation of I/N occurred in 6 pts (24% total: colitis 12%, pneumonitis 4%, adrenal crisis 4% and hepatotoxicity 4%). One death attributable to I/N occurred (due to recurrent pneumonitis complicated by parainfluenza). Therapy with systemic steroids for management of irAEs was required for 19 pts (76%). 70% of irAEs improved within one week and 65% resolved within 2 weeks of initiation of steroids. Median time on treatment with I/N for development of irAEs was 9 weeks (range 2-25). For pts who discontinued treatment due to toxicity, the median time on I/N was 5 weeks (range 3-14). Incidence of irAEs was similar across disease groups.
With a median follow-up of 24 weeks, OS is 92% and PFS is 88% for the entire cohort. 100% of the pts with relapsed MM after first ASCT (50% of whom had less than CR to 1st ASCT) are now in stringent complete remission (sCR). 100% of pts with primary refractory DLBCL are in CR (table 2).
The toxicity profile of consolidation with I/N following ASCT was within expectations. Although there has been a significant number of irAEs (80%) given the mechanism of action of these drugs, this rate is not higher than what has been previously reported with I/N combination in other disease settings (Larkin et al., NEJM 2015, Postow et al., NEJM 2015) and all patients except 1 had resolution of irAEs with the use of systemic steroids . With a median follow-up of 6 months, 84% of pts across disease groups are in complete remission. Interestingly, 5 of 6 patients who had early discontinuation due to AEs, presented sustained remission. Correlative studies evaluating blood immunophenotype are being reported in a separate abstract.
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Skarbnik:Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Other: Ad board, Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Speakers Bureau. Goy:Seattle Genetics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Acerta: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics / J&J: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Siegel:Merck: Consultancy; Celgene, Takeda, Amgen Inc, Novartis and BMS: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Biran:Takeda: Speakers Bureau; Celgene, Amgen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Richter:Janssen: Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Feldman:Kite Pharma: Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics: Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Speakers Bureau; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy; AbbVie: Speakers Bureau. Leslie:seattle genetics: Speakers Bureau; KITE pharma: Speakers Bureau; celgene: Speakers Bureau. McKiernan:Novartis: Speakers Bureau. McNeill:pharmacyclics: Speakers Bureau; celgene: Speakers Bureau; seattle genetics: Speakers Bureau. Pecora:Caladrius Biosciences: Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; COTA: Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Patents & Royalties.
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