The recent approval of BMS's Yervoy (ipilumumab) and a succession of related programs advancing through clinical trials has generated increased interest in the development of antibody-based immunomodulators for cancer. Immunomodulatory Therapeutic Antibodies for Cancer will provide updates of clinical stage programs, and examine how these novel therapeutics influence trial design and the selection of clinical endpoints. Strategies for immune modulation that are most appropriate for targeting with antibodies will be considered, along with where combination regimens and new therapeutic formats can be effectively applied.

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2013

1:40 pm Chairperson's Opening Remarks

Solomon Langermann, Ph.D., CSO, Amplimmune

Immune Checkpoint Blockades 

2:30 Preliminary Clinical Efficacy and Safety of MK-3475 (Anti-PD-1 Monoclonal Antibody) in Patients with Advanced Melanoma

Omid Hamid, M.D., Director, Melanoma Center, Angeles Clinic and Research Institute

The programmed death-1 (PD-1) pathway has emerged as an important tumor-evasion mechanism. When PD-1 and PDL-1 join together, the T cell's ability to target the tumor cell is disarmed. Targeting either PD-1 or PDL-1 can stimulate the immune system and enhance T cells' ability to lyse tumor cells.  Similar to, but distinct from cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) this pathway hold promise for many solid tumors.

3:00 Sponsored Presentations (Opportunities Available: Contact Suzanne Carroll at 781-972-5452 or scarroll@healthtech.com for more information)

3:30 Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall with Poster Viewing

4:15 Development of Immunomodulatory PD-1 Antibodies in Renal Cell Carcinoma

Lauren Harshman, M.D., Assistant Professor, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Targeting the immunosuppressive PD-1 pathway is an area of intense investigation. RCC tumor cells may innately express the ligand of PD-1 or they may acquire it from adaptive immunity. Expression has been associated with worse outcomes. Attempts at countering this host immune system evasion technique are underway with a variety of monoclonal antibodies against PD-1 and its ligands.

4:45 Anti-PD-1 Antibody Therapy for B-Cell Lymphoma

Sattva S. Neelapu, M.D., Associate Professor, Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

In a phase II trial, the combination of pidilizumab, a humanized anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody, and rituximab was active and non-toxic in patients with relapsed follicular lymphoma. Activation of T and NK cells was observed in both peripheral blood and tumor microenvironment after pidilizumab therapy and predictors of clinical outcome based on the molecular features of tumor-infiltrating immune cells at baseline were identified.

5:15 AMP-224, A Fusion Protein with Potential to Modulate the PD-1 Pathway

Solomon Langermann, Ph.D., CSO, Amplimmune

AMP-224 is the first recombinant B7-DC-Fc fusion protein tested in patients that binds to and modulates the PD-1 axis through a unique MOA. The MOA hypothesis for AMP-224 is depletion of PD-1 high expressing T-cells representing exhausted effector cells. The pharmacodynamic readouts obtained to date demonstrate that AMP-224 is biologically active in its target patient population. Data from the trial has been used to establish hypotheses regarding the characteristics of patients most likely to respond clinically to AMP-224 treatment.

5:45 Close of Sessions

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