Dr. Chmielowski on the Potential Role of RP1 in Melanoma after Anti–PD-1 Failure
Source: Onc Live, January 2023
Bartosz Chmielowski, MD, health sciences clinical professor of medicine, the Division of Hematology-Oncology, Sarcoma and Connective Tissue Medical Oncology, the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Health, discusses the potential role of vusolimogene oderparepvec (RP1) in the treatment of patients with melanoma who failed prior treatment with an anti–PD-1 therapy.
RP1 is an oncolytic vaccine based on a proprietary new strain of herpes simplex virus (HSV), and it is being investigated in combination with nivolumab (Opdivo) in the ongoing phase 2 IGNYTE trial (NCT03767348) in 3 tumor-specific cohorts, including 1 featuring patients with anti–PD-1–failed cutaneous melanoma. Among the first 75 patients enrolled in this cohort, the overall response rate was 36%, including a complete response rate of 20%.
Additionally, data from the trial demonstrated systemic activity with the combination of RP1 and nivolumab in both injected and un-injected lesions, including in un-injected visceral disease. Notably, responses were observed in patients who did not achieve a response to prior anti–PD-1 therapy.