Elevation Oncology Presents EO-3021 Preclinical Proof-of-Concept Data and Highlights a Clinical Case Study in Claudin 18.2-Expressing Cancers at AACR By Investing.com

Elevation Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: ELEV), an innovative oncology company focused on the discovery and development of selective cancer therapies to treat patients across a range of solid tumors with significant unmet medical needs, today is presenting preclinical proof-of-concept data and highlighting a clinical case study in Claudin 18.2-expressing cancers for the company’s lead candidate, EO-3021. The data are being featured in an oral presentation as part of the New Drugs on the Horizon special session at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2023, being held April 14-19, 2023, in Orlando, Florida.

EO-3021 is a potential best-in-class antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that has been designed to selectively deliver a cytotoxic payload directly to Claudin 18.2-expressing cancer cells to minimize toxicities and maximize anti-tumor activity. EO-3021 is a fully human monoclonal antibody (mAb) that targets Claudin 18.2 and is site-specifically conjugated to the cytotoxic agent monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), via a cleavable linker with a drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR) of 2.

“This is the first time that preclinical data are being presented for EO-3021, supporting its potential to effectively target cancer cells expressing Claudin 18.2,” said David Dornan, Ph.D., Chief Scientific Officer of Elevation Oncology. “We are also very encouraged by the results of the clinical case study involving a patient with metastatic gastric cancer who achieved a confirmed partial response on treatment with EO-3021 in an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial being conducted in China by our partner, CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Limited. We look forward to initiating a Phase 1 clinical trial of EO-3021 in the US in the second half of 2023.”

Key Findings

• EO-3021 is an ADC comprised of a fully human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) mAb that targets Claudin 18.2 and is site-specifically conjugated to the MMAE payload via a cleavable linker with a DAR of 2.
• EO-3021 retains antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC).
• EO-3021 reduction in cell viability requires Claudin 18.2 expression in vitro with no effects seen on Claudin 18.2-negative cells.
• EO-3021 demonstrated anti-tumor activity in preclinical xenograft models of pancreatic and gastric cancers expressing varying levels of Claudin 18.2.
  • A single dose of EO-3021 demonstrated tumor regression across low, medium, and high Claudin 18.2-expressing models, with a lower minimal efficacious dose in models with medium and high levels of Claudin 18.2 relative to models with low levels of Claudin 18.2.
  • EO-3021 outperformed standard of care chemotherapy in gastric and pancreatic cancer preclinical xenograft models.
• A patient with metastatic gastric cancer in an ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial of SYSA1801 (EO-3021) in China (NCT05009966) conducted by CSPC Pharmaceutical Group Limited (01093) was also highlighted.
  • Patient was treated with dose level 2, or 1.0 mg/kg EO-3021, intravenously, every three weeks for 12 cycles (treatment ongoing).
  • The best overall response, as evaluated per RECIST v1.1, was a confirmed partial response (66.7% maximal tumor reduction).
  • Duration of response was approximately 11 months and ongoing.

The full presentation can be accessed under the resources and publications page of the Elevation Oncology website following the completion of the live presentation at AACR.