Preliminary results of a phase I/IIa study of BMS-986156 (glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor–related gene [GITR] agonist), alone and in combination with nivolumab in pts with advanced solid tumors.

Abstract
104 Background: BMS-986156 is a fully human IgG1 agonist mAb that binds GITR and promotes T effector cell activation and possible reduction/inactivation of T regulatory cells. Preclinical data show enhanced antitumor T-cell activity with anti-GITR + anti–programmed death-1 (PD-1). Here we describe preliminary dose escalation data from a phase I/IIa study of BMS-986156 ± nivolumab (anti–PD-1 mAb) in pts with advanced solid tumors (NCT02598960). Methods: During dose escalation, pts received BMS-986156 (10–800 mg) or BMS-986156 (30–800 mg) + nivolumab (240 mg) every 2 weeks. Objectives included safety (primary), immunogenicity, pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and efficacy. Results: As of Dec 12, 2016, 66 pts were treated with BMS-986156 (n = 29) or BMS-986156 + nivolumab (n = 37).No dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were reported during dose escalation. The most common treatment-related adverse events reported with BMS-986156/BMS-986156 + nivolumab included pyrexia (21%/30%), chills (10%/16%), and fatigue (14%/14%); events were G1/2 in all pts except for 4 pts (6%) treated with the combination (G3 lipase [n = 1], G3 lung infection [n = 1], G3 fatigue [n = 1], and G3 aspartate aminotransferase with G4 creatine phosphokinase [n = 1; leading to discontinuation of treatment]). Preliminary data indicate that the incidence of immunogenicity to BMS-986156 was low when BMS-986156 ± nivolumab was administered. Preliminary data also indicate that BMS-986156 ± nivolumab exhibits linear PK with dose proportionality after a single dose, and BMS-986156 ± nivolumab is biologically active in PD analyses in peripheral blood. Initial antitumor activity has been observed in several pts treated with the combination; these data will be reported. Conclusions: This is the first report of clinical data with an anti-GITR mAb ± a PD-1 inhibitor.BMS-986156 ± nivolumab was well tolerated, with no DLTs and low immunogenicity. Antitumor activity was observed with BMS-986156 + nivolumab at doses predicted to be biologically active. Further evaluation of this combination in pts with advanced solid tumors is ongoing. Clinical trial information: NCT02598960.