Promising Advances in Lung Cancer Treatment with AFM24 and Atezolizumab

Introduction to AFM24 and Atezolizumab

Exciting new clinical data from Affimed N.V. suggests promising outcomes for lung cancer patients using a combination therapy of AFM24 and Atezolizumab. This novel approach has demonstrated durable responses in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), potentially offering new hope for those resistant to traditional treatments.

Study Overview and Groups

The AFM24-102 study includes two cohorts: those with EGFR wild-type (EGFRwt) and those with EGFR mutant (EGFRmut) NSCLC. The primary goal of this study is to test the efficacy of the combined therapy in patients who have undergone multiple previous treatments.

Encouraging Results in EGFRwt Patients

The study data, updated as of May 13, 2024, reveals that among the 17 patients in the EGFRwt cohort, 15 were evaluated for response. Remarkably, one patient experienced a complete response (CR), three patients had partial responses (PR), and eight exhibited stable disease (SD), achieving a disease control rate of 71%. Median progression-free survival was observed to be 5.9 months, with a median follow-up of 7.4 months.

Importantly, three patients continued to respond positively for over seven months, showing the potential long-term benefits of this combination therapy, especially in patients previously resistant to checkpoint inhibitors.

Initial Data from EGFRmut Patients

As of May 21, 2024, the study also includes 21 heavily pretreated patients with EGFRmut NSCLC, 13 of whom were response-evaluable. The results were promising, showing one complete response, three partial responses, and six instances of stable disease. The ongoing positive responses suggest that AFM24 combined with Atezolizumab can synergistically enhance treatment efficacy in this otherwise challenging patient group.

Safety Profile and Side Effects

The combination of AFM24 and Atezolizumab appears to have a manageable safety profile. The most common side effects included mild to moderate infusion reactions and temporary increases in liver enzymes, consistent with the known profiles of these therapeutic agents.

Expert Insights and Future Directions

Dr. Andreas Harstrick, Chief Medical and acting Chief Executive Officer of Affimed, expressed optimism regarding the study results. He highlighted the unique ability of AFM24 to engage the immune system differently from conventional treatments, providing durable outcomes even in patients who previously showed resistance.

The belief is that the combination of AFM24 and Atezolizumab could offer significant benefits by activating the immune system in a manner distinct from traditional PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. This is particularly vital for patients with tough-to-treat NSCLC who have exhausted other therapy options.

Recruitment and Future Updates

Enrollment is ongoing for both EGFRwt and EGFRmut cohorts, with the aim of including up to 40 and 25 patients respectively. Continued updates are anticipated in the second half of 2024, and these will provide further insights into the efficacy and safety of the combination therapy.

Conclusion

The longer follow-up data and initial positive responses in different patient cohorts underscore the potential of AFM24 and Atezolizumab as a powerful combination therapy for lung cancer. This underscores the importance of continuing research in immuno-oncology to unveil innovative treatments that can make a real difference in patient outcomes.

Conference Call Information

Affimed will host a conference call to discuss these findings further on June 1, 2024. Details for accessing the call and webcast are available on the Affimed website.

About Affimed

Affimed is dedicated to developing immuno-oncology therapies that harness the body's innate ability to fight cancer. Their innovative ICE® technology aims to improve the efficacy and safety of treatments for various cancers, including NSCLC.