Bempegaldesleukin Plus Nivolumab in Untreated Advanced Melanoma: The Open-Label, Phase III PIVOT IO 001 Trial Results

Adi Diab, Helen Gogas, Shahneen Sandhu, Georgina V. Long, Paolo A. Ascierto, James Larkin, Mario Sznol, Fabio Franke, Tudor E. Ciuleanu, Caio Pereira, Eva Muñoz Couselo, Fernanda Bronzon Damian, Michael Schenker, Aldo Perfetti, Celeste Lebbe, Gaëlle Quéreux, Friedegund Meier, Brendan D. Curti, Carlos Rojas, Yull ArriagaHaisu Yang, Ming Zhou, Shruthi Ravimohan, Paul Statkevich, Mary A. Tagliaferri, Nikhil I. Khushalani

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

PURPOSEDespite marked advances in the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma, the need for novel therapies remains. Bempegaldesleukin (BEMPEG), a pegylated interleukin-2 (IL-2) cytokine prodrug, demonstrated efficacy in the phase II PIVOT-02 trial. PIVOT IO 001 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03635983) is a phase III, randomized, open-label study that builds on the PIVOT-02 results in first-line melanoma.METHODSPatients with previously untreated, unresectable, or metastatic melanoma were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive BEMPEG plus nivolumab (NIVO) or NIVO monotherapy. Primary end points were objective response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS) by blinded independent central review and overall survival (OS). Secondary and exploratory end points included additional efficacy measures, safety, and pharmacokinetics (PKs) and pharmacodynamics analyses.RESULTSIn 783 patients (n = 391, BEMPEG plus NIVO; n = 392, NIVO monotherapy), the median follow-up was 11.6 months in the intent-to-treat population. The ORR with BEMPEG plus NIVO was 27.7% versus 36.0% with NIVO (two-sided P =.0311). The median PFS with BEMPEG plus NIVO was 4.17 months (95% CI, 3.52 to 5.55) versus 4.99 months (95% CI, 4.14 to 7.82) with NIVO (hazard ratio [HR], 1.09; 97% CI, 0.88 to 1.35; P =.3988). The median OS was 29.67 months (95% CI, 22.14 to not reached [NR]) with BEMPEG plus NIVO versus 28.88 months (95% CI, 21.32 to NR) with NIVO (HR, 0.94; 99.929% CI, 0.59 to 1.48; P =.6361). Grade 3-4 treatment-related adverse events (AEs) and serious AE rates were higher with the combination (21.7% and 10.1%, respectively) versus NIVO (11.5% and 5.5%, respectively). BEMPEG PK exposure and absolute lymphocyte count changes after BEMPEG plus NIVO were comparable between PIVOT IO 001 and PIVOT-02.CONCLUSIONThe PIVOT IO 001 study did not meet its primary end points of ORR, PFS, and OS. Increased toxicity was observed with BEMPEG plus NIVO versus NIVO.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4756-4767
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Clinical Oncology
Volume41
Issue number30
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 20 2023

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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