#United States #cancer therapy #Boston #Elevation Oncology #EO-3021

Preclinical Proof-of-Concept for EO-3021

Elevation Oncology, Inc. has made headline news with the release of compelling preclinical data supporting the combined use of EO-3021, a Claudin 18.2 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), with VEGFR2 or PD-1 inhibitors. These revelations were showcased at the European Society for Medical Oncology Immuno-Oncology Annual Congress 2024 (ESMO-IO), held from December 11 to 13, 2024, in Geneva, Switzerland.

Background on EO-3021

EO-3021 represents a breakthrough in the oncology field as it targets Claudin 18.2, frequently overexpressed in gastric cancers. This innovative therapy has garnered attention for its potential effectiveness and unique safety profile with minimal payload-associated toxicity. The recent data indicate EO-3021's promising performance in combating cancers of the gastric and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) where current treatment options are limited.

Synergistic Effects Observed

The presented preclinical results reveal that combining EO-3021 with the VEGFR2 inhibitor, DC101, results in superior tumor growth inhibition (TGI) compared to either treatment alone. Specifically, the combination demonstrated an impressive TGI of 88.2%, versus 20.1% for EO-3021 alone, and 59.2% for the VEGFR2 inhibitor independently. Likewise, when combining EO-3021 with a PD-1 inhibitor, the TGI reached 79.9%, surpassing the individual treatments, which only showed 33.8% for EO-3021 alone and just 25.0% for the PD-1 inhibitor. This data signifies the potential for a more effective therapeutic approach using EO-3021 in tandem with other innovative therapies.

Future Directions

Elevation Oncology is enthusiastic about the next steps involving EO-3021, particularly with plans to initiate dosing within the combined portion of its ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial in the last quarter of 2024. This phase will include evaluations of the combinations with ramucirumab, a VEGFR2 inhibitor, and dostarlimab, a PD-1 inhibitor. These trials are particularly focused on patients with advanced gastric/GEJ cancer in different settings—second-line and frontline respectively.

In terms of previous clinical data, the monotherapy arm of EO-3021 displayed an objective response rate of 42.8% among patients with noticeable Claudin 18.2 expression levels. This data suggests that EO-3021 does not just promise efficacy but does so with a distinct safety profile, emphasizing minimal hematological toxicity or hepatotoxicity, and an absence of peripheral neuropathy—key factors for patient quality of life during treatment.

Implications for Patients

As Elevation Oncology forges ahead with its clinical trials, the hope is that EO-3021 will offer new treatment possibilities for patients suffering from gastric and GEJ cancers. Given its promising initial results and combination potential, EO-3021 could pave the way for improved outcomes in a patient population that has traditionally faced limited therapeutic options. As such, these developments mark a significant step forward in oncology, potentially changing the landscape of treatment for such cancers.

Conclusion

In summary, the recent preclinical findings for EO-3021 presented at ESMO 2024 highlight an important advancement in cancer therapy. By leveraging the synergistic effects of combining EO-3021 with established inhibitors, Elevation Oncology is poised to make a significant impact in the treatment of gastric and GEJ cancers, fostering hope for better patient outcomes in the near future.