Inhibition of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) Reverses Anemia In Patients with Advanced Non Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): Results of a Phase II, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

ALD518 is a humanized, desialyated anti-IL-6 antibody being developed for the treatment of cancer-related anemia, cachexia and fatigue. The primary objective of the study was to determine the efficacy and safety of ALD518 in patients with advanced NSCLC. Secondary objectives examined hematologic parameters.

124 patients with NSCLC, ECOG 0–3, weight loss in the preceding 3 months of >5% body weight, hemoglobin (Hb) >7g/dL, and C-reactive protein (CRP) >10mg/L were dosed. Patients were randomized to 1 of 4 groups (n~30/group). Placebo or ALD518 80mg, 160mg, or 320mg was administered intravenously every 8 weeks. Pts were followed up for 24 weeks. Data included hematologic parameters, clinical chemistry, CRP, D-dimer, lean body mass and adverse events (AEs). Quality of life data included the FACIT-F, FACT-L, and FAACT questionnaires. Data presented in this abstract relates to the safety and hematology results.

29 pts completed the study treatments and evaluations, 38 failed to complete every visit, 52 died of progressive disease, and 5 withdrew because of adverse events. There were no dose limiting toxicities (DLTs), infusion reactions, or anti-idiotypic antibody responses to ALD518 observed in the study. 84 pts had serious AEs of which 1 was deemed to be possibly related to administration of ALD518 (rectal hemorrhage). The majority of the serious adverse events were due to progression of the NSCLC. Six patients had a CTC grade 4 change in laboratory safety data during the study. Four patients experienced a grade 4 hypercalcemia: 1 (3.6%), 2 (6.1%), and 1 (3.2%) in the ALD518 80mg, 160mg and placebo groups, respectively, and there was 1 patient with grade 4 GGT elevation (placebo) and 1 patient with grade 4 hypokalemia (ALD518 160mg). There were no treatment related differences in vitals sign or 12-lead ECG data.

The mean (±SD) values for Hb, hematocrit (Hct), mean corpuscular Hb (MCH) and platelet counts are listed below:

38/93 pts treated with ALD518 and 10/31 given placebo had a pre-dose Hb =< 11g/dL. 24 of these pts on ALD518 and 7 of these pts on placebo remained in the study at week 4. 14/24 pts on ALD518 and 0/7 on placebo had raised their Hb from =< 11g/dL to >= 12g/dL.

ALD518 increased Hb, Hct, MCH in NSCLC pts and raised Hb to >= 12g/dL in 58% of pts with a Hb =< 11g/dL at baseline. There was also a modest fall in platelet count observed in patients treated with ALD518 but no patients had a CTC grade 4 thrombocytopenia and only one patient (ALD518 160mg group) had a grade 3 thrombocytopenia at one time point. There were no major safety signals related to the administration of ALD518. Further study of ALD518 as a novel non-erythropoietic stimulating agent for cancer-related anemia is warranted.

Schuster:Alder Biopharmaceuticals Inc: Honoraria. Rigas: Alder Biopharmaceuticals inc: Honoraria. Smith:Alder Biopharmaceuticals Inc: Employment.