Dr. Brahmer on the Examination of Nemvaleukin Alfa in Solid Tumors
Source: Onc Live, July 2022
Julie R. Brahmer, MD, MSc, director, Thoracic Oncology Program, professor of Oncology, Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Johns Hopkins University Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses the examination of nemvaleukin alfa (ALKS 4230; nemvaleukin) in solid tumors.
The phase 1/2 ARTISTRY-1 trial (NCT02799095) examined the safety and tolerability of nemvaleukin alfa to determine the recommended phase 2 dose and assess the agent’s antitumor activity as a single agent and in combination with pembrolizumab (Keytruda).
Nemvaleukin alfa is an engineered cytokine with a stable fusion protein that is not meant to degrade IL2, Brahmer says. By getting the drug into the tumor microenvironment, it can assist with mitigating toxicities observed with high-dose IL2 and avoid the expansion of T-regulatory cells, Brahmer explains. Additionally, by accessing the tumor microenvironment, nemvaleukin alfa can increase NK cells and CD8-positive T-cells, Brahmer adds.