PRO-MERIT (Prostate Cancer Messenger RNA Immunotherapy) (PRO-MERIT)

First-in-human, Dose Titration and Expansion Trial to Evaluate Safety, Immunogenicity and Preliminary Efficacy of W_pro1 (BNT112) Monotherapy and in Combination With Cemiplimab in Patients With Prostate Cancer

Open-label, multicenter, dose titration and four-arm expansion trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability, immunogenicity, and preliminary efficacy of BNT112 cancer vaccine (BNT112) monotherapy or in combination with cemiplimab in patients with metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC: Part 1 and Part 2 Arms 1A and 1B) and in patients with high-risk, localized prostate cancer (LPC).

As of February 2023, the trial will be only recruiting LPC patients and no longer mCRPC patients.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Prostate Cancer
• Intervention / Treatment: Biological: BNT112; Drug: Cemiplimab

Detailed Description

• BNT112 consists of messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA [or RNA]) targeting 5 antigens expressed in de novo and metastatic prostate cancer that are separately complexed with liposomes to form serum-stable RNA lipoplexes (RNA-LPX).
• The RNA molecules are immune-pharmacologically optimized for high stability, translational efficiency and presentation on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II molecules. The vaccine is intended for intravenous (IV) bolus injection.
• The RNA-LPX cancer vaccine induces activation of both the adaptive immune system (vaccine antigen-specific CD8+/CD4+ T cell) as well as the innate immune system (TLR7 agonism of single-stranded RNA). The physiology of efficient induction, expansion and differentiation of antigen-specific T cells is associated with programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) upregulation on these T cells. Thus, the cancer vaccine is expected to have a synergistic mechanism of action with anti-PD-1.
• In summary, the mechanism of action of BNT112 both in monotherapy and in combination with anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint inhibitor cemiplimab, together with carefully selected and refined clinical setting presents a unique opportunity for patients with different stages of prostate cancer.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 75
• Phase: Phase 2; Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: BioNTech clinical trials patient information; Phone Number: +49 6131 9084; Email: patients@biontech.de

Study Locations

• Germany
  • Bonn, Germany, 53105
    • Universitätsklinikum Bonn
  • Frankfurt, Germany, 60590
    • Klinikum der Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität
  • Münster, Germany, 48149
    • Universitatsklinikum Munster
  • Nürtingen, Germany, 72622
    • Studienpraxis Urologie
  • Planegg, Germany, 82152
    • Urologische Klinik Planegg
  • Tübingen, Germany, 72076
    • Universitätsklinikum Tübingen
• Hungary
  • Budapest, Hungary, 1062
    • Magyar Honvédség Egészségügyi Központ (MH EK Honvédkórház)
  • Budapest, Hungary, 1083
    • Semmelweis Egyetem, Belgyógyászati Klinika
  • Debrecen, Hungary, 4032
    • Onkologiai Klinika
  • Nyíregyháza, Hungary, 4400
    • Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg Megyei Korhazak es Egyetemi Oktatokorhaz
  • Tatabánya, Hungary, 2800
    • Szent Borbala Korhaz
• United Kingdom
  • Cambridge, United Kingdom, CB2 0RE
    • Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre
  • Cardiff, United Kingdom, CF14 2TL
    • Velindre Cancer Centre (VCC)
  • Glasgow, United Kingdom, G12 0YN
    • University of Glasgow, Beatson WoS Cancer Centre
  • London, United Kingdom, NW1 2PG
    • University College London Hospitals
  • London, United Kingdom, SW3 6JJ
    • The Royal Marsden Hospital
  • Southampton, United Kingdom, SO16 6YD
    • University Hospital Southampton - Southampton General Hospital
• United States
  • Arizona
    • Tucson, Arizona, United States, 85724
      • The University of Arizona Cancer Center
  • Florida
    • Miami, Florida, United States, 33136
      • University of Miami Hospital & Clinics /Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
  • Pennsylvania
    • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15215
      • University of Pittsburgh Cancer Inst.
  • Texas
    • San Antonio, Texas, United States, 78229
      • Urology San Antonio P.A.
  • Virginia
    • Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, 22908
      • University of Virginia Cancer Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion criteria:

• Patients must be male and aged ≥18 years.
• Patients must have histologically confirmed prostate adenocarcinoma.
• Patients must have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) score of 0 or 1.

Specific key inclusion criteria for mCRPC patients (Part 1 and Part 2 Arms 1A and 1B) - Recruitment of mCRPC patients now completed:

• Patients must have histologically confirmed mCRPC and have progressed after at least 2 but no more than 3 lines of life-prolonging systemic therapy (e.g., abiraterone or enzalutamide, docetaxel, cabazitaxel) or cannot tolerate or have refused any of these therapies. These lines of therapy include life-prolonging therapies administered in the metastatic hormone-sensitive setting.
• Prior surgical or chemical castration with a serum testosterone <1.7 nmol/L (50 ng/dL). If the method of castration is luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue (LHRHa), there must be a plan to maintain effective LHRHa therapy for the duration of the trial.
• Patients must have documented mCRPC progression within 6 months prior to screening (assuming no subsequent change in treatments), as determined by the investigator.
• Patients must agree to provide an archival pre-treatment formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor sample if available.

Specific key inclusion criteria for newly diagnosed LPC patients (Part 2 Arms 2 and 3):

• Treatment-naïve patients with LPC (i.e., N0, M0). According to risk levels of the European Association of Urology Guidelines on Prostate Cancer (2018), and in line with the U.S. National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN 2020), patients must have at least 1 of the following:

  1. PSA >20 ng/mL or
  2. Gleason Score >7 or
  3. Localized stage ≥cT2c, N0, M0 according to tumor, node, metastasis classification.
• Patients who intend to have and are suitable for a radical prostatectomy.
• Patients must agree to provide tumor sample(s) from pre-treatment diagnostic biopsy and planned post-treatment surgery.

Main exclusion criteria for all patients:

Medical conditions

• Patients with uncontrolled intercurrent illness.
• Patients with a known history or current malignancy other than the inclusion diagnosis. Note: Exceptions are patients with malignancies with a negligible risk of metastasis or death, that have been adequately treated, such as non-invasive basal cell or non-invasive squamous cell skin carcinoma, non-invasive, superficial bladder cancer, and any cancer with a complete response (CR) that lasted more than 2 years may be included.
• Patients who have had major surgery (e.g., requiring general anesthesia) within 4 weeks before screening, or have not fully recovered from surgery, or have a surgery planned during the time of trial participation, except for the radical prostatectomy planned for patients in Part 2 Arms 2 and 3.

• Patients who have a known history of any of the following:

  1. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 1 or 2
  2. Hepatitis B (carrier or active infection)
  3. Hepatitis C (unless considered cured 5 years post curative anti-viral therapy)

• Patients who have received or currently receive the following therapy/treatment:

  1. Chronic systemic immunosuppressive corticosteroid treatment (prednisone >5 mg daily orally [PO] or IV, or equivalent) during the trial. Note: Replacement therapy (e.g., physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency) is not considered a form of systemic treatment and is permitted.
  2. Prior treatment with other immune modulating agents that was (a) within fewer than 4 weeks (28 days) or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) prior to the first dose of cemiplimab, or (b) associated with immune-mediated AEs that were Grade ≥1 within 90 days prior to the first dose of cemiplimab, or (c) associated with toxicity that resulted in discontinuation of the immune-modulating agent.
  3. Prior treatment with other immune modulating agents for any non-cancer disease within 4 weeks or 5 half-lives of the agent (whichever is longer) before the first dose of IMP.
  4. Prior treatment with live-attenuated vaccines within 4 weeks before the first dose of IMP and during treatment with IMP.
  5. Prior treatment with an investigational drug (including investigational vaccines) within 4 weeks or 5 half-lives of the agent (whichever is longer) before the planned first dose of IMP.
  6. Therapeutic PO or IV antibiotics within 14 days prior to enrollment. Note: Patients receiving prophylactic antibiotics (e.g., for prevention of a urinary tract infection or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) may be enrolled.
  7. Concurrent use of herbal products that may decrease PSA levels (e.g., saw palmetto).

Specific key exclusion criteria for mCRPC Patients (Part 1 and Part 2 Arms 1A and 1B) - Recruitment of mCRPC patients now completed:

Excluded medical conditions

• Patients with toxicities from previous anti-cancer therapies that have not resolved to baseline levels or to Grade ≤1 according to National Cancer Institute (NCI) CTCAE v5.0 with the exception of alopecia, anorexia, vitiligo, fatigue, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and peripheral neuropathy. Anorexia, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and peripheral neuropathy must have recovered to Grade ≤2.

• Patients with clinically active brain metastases.

  1. Patients with a history of symptomatic metastatic brain or meningeal tumors may be included, if the end of definitive therapy is >3 months before the first dose of BNT112 and the patients have no clinical or radiological evidence of tumor growth.
  2. Patients with brain metastases must not be undergoing acute or chronic corticosteroid therapy or steroid taper.
  3. Patients with central nervous system symptoms should undergo a computed tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain to exclude new or progressive brain metastases. Spinal cord metastasis is acceptable. However, patients with spinal cord compression should be excluded.

Excluded prior or concomitant anti-cancer therapies

• Patients who have received or currently receive the following anti-cancer therapy/agent:

  1. Prior radiation therapy with curative intent within 14 days before the first dose of IMP. Note: Palliative radiotherapy is allowed.
  2. Prior treatment with an anti-cancer agent (within 4 weeks or for systemic therapies after at least 5 half-lives of the drug [whichever is longer] before the first dose of IMP). Note: Prior treatment with bone resorptive therapy, such as bisphosphonates (e.g., pamidronate, zoledronic acid, etc.) and denosumab, is allowed assuming that the patients have been on stable doses for ≥4 weeks prior to first dose of trial treatment.
  3. Prior treatment with anti-cancer immunomodulating agents, such as blockers of programmed death receptor-1 PD-1, programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1), tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 9 (TNRSF9, 4-1BB, CD137), OX-40, therapeutic vaccines, cytokine treatments, or any investigational agent within 4 weeks or 5 half-lives (whichever is longer) before the first dose of IMP.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Sequential Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

6

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Part 2 Arm 2 (LPC) - expansion cohort; BNT112 in combination with cemiplimab	Biological: BNT112; Intravenous bolus injection; Drug: Cemiplimab; Intravenous infusion
Experimental: Part 2 Arm 3 (LPC) - expansion cohort; BNT112 monotherapy	Biological: BNT112; Intravenous bolus injection
Experimental: Part 1 (mCRPC) - dose titration; BNT112 monotherapy Enrollment into this arm is completed.	Biological: BNT112; Intravenous bolus injection
Experimental: Part 2 Arm 1A (mCRPC) - expansion cohort; BNT112 in combination with cemiplimab Enrollment into this arm is completed.	Biological: BNT112; Intravenous bolus injection; Drug: Cemiplimab; Intravenous infusion
Experimental: Part 2 Arm 1B [1] (mCRPC) - expansion cohort; BNT112 monotherapy Enrollment into this arm is completed.	Biological: BNT112; Intravenous bolus injection
Experimental: Part 2 Arm 1B [2] (mCRPC) - expansion cohort; Following progression after BNT112 monotherapy, patients in Arm 1b have the option to be treated with cemiplimab monotherapy Enrollment into this arm is completed.	Drug: Cemiplimab; Intravenous infusion

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Occurrence of dose limiting toxicities (DLTs)		up to 24 months
Occurrence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs)	Occurrence of TEAEs reported by relationship, grade, and seriousness according to National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5.0 (NCI CTCAE v5.0).	up to 24 months
Objective response rate (ORR) - Part 2 Arms 1A and 1B	ORR, defined as the number of patients with a complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) per Prostate Cancer Working Group 3 (PCWG3).	up to 24 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels	PSA decline of 0 to 25%, >25% to 50%, and >50% compared to baseline, as well as PSA decline ≥ 50% according to PCWG3.	up to 24 months
Change in PSA doubling time (PSADT)	PSADT during treatment and end of treatment (EoT) compared to baseline.	up to 24 months
ORR - Part 1	ORR, defined as the number of patients with a CR or PR per PCWG3.	up to 24 months
Tumor response post-treatment compared to baseline	Evaluate preliminary anti-tumor activity of BNT112 monotherapy or in combination with cemiplimab in patients with newly diagnosed LPC.	up to 24 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: BioNTech SE
• Investigators: Study Director: BioNTech Responsible Person, BioNTech SE

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): December 19, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 23, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): January 23, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 21, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 8, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): May 11, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 18, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 14, 2024
• Last Verified: March 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Prostate cancer; mCRPC; Cancer vaccine; RNA; Cemiplimab; PRO-MERIT; W_pro1; BioNTech SE; LPC; BNT112
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms; Urogenital Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Genital Neoplasms, Male; Prostatic Diseases; Urogenital Diseases; Male Urogenital Diseases; Genital Diseases, Male; Genital Diseases; Prostatic Neoplasms; Antineoplastic Agents; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; Cemiplimab
• Other Study ID Numbers: RN5609C00; 2018-004321-86 (EudraCT Number)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No