Frederic Triebel, MD, PhD, chief scientific officer and chief medical director, Immutep Ltd, discusses the rationale for a novel immunotherapy combination in patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma.

An ongoing study is looking at combining PD-1 inhibition, specifically pembrolizumab (Keytruda), with antigen-presenting cells in an attempt to block 2 checkpoints concurrently. Approximately 30% of patients with a “hot tumor” microenvironment will respond to anti-PD—L1 therapy, says Triebel. By bringing together 2 checkpoint inhibitors, investigators hope to broaden the utility of immunotherapy in melanoma.

In the trial, patients were given a low dose of the soluble LAG-3 protein, eftilagimod alpha (IMP321). No significant adverse events were reported in patients who received the 1 mg dose, or those who were escalated to receive 6 mg, and subsequently, 30 mg, says Triebel. Phase II trials are also underway in frontline and second-line lung cancer as well as in head and neck cancer, he concludes.

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Dr. Triebel on the Rationale for a Novel Immunotherapy Combination in Melanoma

Frederic Triebel, MD, PhD, chief scientific officer and chief medical director, Immutep Ltd, discusses a novel immunotherapy combination under investigation in patients with melanoma.

PD-1 inhibitors, such as nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy) have dramatically improved outcomes for patients with advanced or metastatic melanoma. While checkpoint inhibition likely represents the future of treatment in this space, there are still patients who are do not respond to immunotherapy. Triebel says there is a study looking at combining PD-1 inhibition with antigen-presenting cells.

By combining pembrolizumab (Keytruda) with antigen-presenting cells, researchers are attempting to block 2 checkpoints at the same time in patients with melanoma. The goal is to induce more activated T cells to return to the tumor and allow the body to naturally fight off the cancer with the immune system. This combination may allow for more patients to respond to anti-PD—1 therapy, Triebel concludes.

Frederic Triebel, MD, PhD, chief scientific officer and chief medical director, Immuntep Ltd, discusses a novel immunotherapy combination in melanoma.

Frederic Triebel, MD, PhD

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Dr. Triebel on the Rationale for a Novel Immunotherapy Combination in Melanoma

Dr. Triebel on Novel Immunotherapy Combination in Melanoma