KRAS-Targeted Vaccine Combined With Balstilimab and Botensilimab for Patients With Stage IV MMR-p Colorectal Cancer and Pancreatic Ductal Cancer

Pooled Mutant KRAS-Targeted Long Peptide Vaccine Combined With Balstilimab and Botensilimab for Patients With Stage IV MMR-p Colorectal Cancer and Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Phase 1b study evaluating the efficacy and immune response to a synthetic long peptide mutant KRAS vaccine (SPL mKRASvax) combined with Balstilimab and Botensilimab for unresectable or metastatic mismatch repair-proficient (MMR-p) colorectal cancer (mCRC) or unresectable or metastatic MMR-p pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients with measurable disease following first-line chemotherapy.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Colorectal Cancer; Pancreatic Cancer
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: KRAS Vaccine with Poly-ICLC adjuvant; Drug: Balstilimab; Drug: Botensilimab

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 54
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Colleen Apostol, RN; Phone Number: 410-614-3644; Email: GIClinicalTrials@jhmi.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Maryland
    • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21231
      • Recruiting
      • Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
      • Contact: Colleen Apostol, RN; Phone Number: 410-614-3644; Email: GIClinicalTrials@jhmi.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥18 years.
• Have histologically or cytologically - proven cancer of the pancreas or colon.
• Have tumor lesions amenable to repeated biopsy, and patient's acceptance to have a tumor biopsy of an accessible lesion at baseline and on treatment if the lesion can be biopsied with acceptable clinical risk (as judged by the investigator).
• Measurable disease as per RECIST 1.1.
• Have sufficient and accessible tissue for next generation sequencing (NGS) and immune-phenotyping.
• Have one of the KRAS mutations included in the vaccine at the time of vaccination expressed in tumor.
• Cohort A: Have received 4-6 months of FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine+nab-paclitaxel for the 1st line treatment of metastatic unresectable PDAC.
• Cohort B: Have received 4-6 months of 1st line SOC chemotherapy per NCCN guidelines (FOLFIRINOX, FOLFOX, FOLFIRI +/- targeted therapy with VEGFi or EGFRi) of metastatic CRC.
• Cohort C: Have received no more than 3 lines of systemic chemotherapy, including prior KRAS inhibitor.
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0.
• Life expectancy of greater than 3 months.
• Patients must have adequate organ and marrow function defined by study-specified laboratory tests prior to initial study drug.
• Woman of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test and follow contraceptive guidelines as defined per protocol.
• Men must use acceptable form of birth control while on study.
• Ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Is a candidate for definitive surgical resection.
• Known history or evidence of brain metastases and/or leptomeningeal spread.
• Prior treatment with immunotherapy agents (including, anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, anti-PD-L2, anti-CTLA4, etc.).
• Receiving active immunosuppressive agents or chronic use of systemic corticosteroids within 14 days of vaccine treatment.
• Has active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 5 years, or a documented history of clinically severe autoimmune disease, or a syndrome that requires systemic steroids or immunosuppressive agents.
• Known history or concurrent interstitial lung disease.
• Has a pulse oximetry < 95% on room air.
• Requires the use of home oxygen.
• Infection with HIV or hepatitis B or C.
• Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, uncontrolled infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina, cardiac arrhythmia, metastatic cancer, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
• Has been diagnosed with another cancer or myeloproliferative disorder in the past 5 years except for superficial bladder cancer, non-melanoma skin cancers, DCIS, a low-grade prostate cancer, or a cancer not expected to impact life expectancy and not requiring therapy.
• Has had surgery within 28 days of dosing of investigational agent, excluding minor procedures (dental work, skin biopsy, etc.), celiac plexus block, and biliary stent placement.
• Has received any non-oncology live vaccine therapy used for prevention of infectious diseases within 28 days of study treatment.
• If at the time of signing informed consent, a regular user (including "recreational use") of any illicit drugs or other substance abuse (including alcohol) that could potentially interfere with adherence to study procedures or requirements.
• Any other sound medical, psychiatric, and/or social reason as determined by the Investigator.
• Unwilling or unable to follow the study schedule for any reason.
• Are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Any radiological or clinical pleural effusions or ascites.
• History of malignant small bowel obstruction.
• On parenteral nutrition.
• Known or suspected hypersensitivity to Hiltonol.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: SLP mKRASvax (Up to 1.8mg peptide + 0.5 mg Poly-ICLC (Hiltonol), Botensilimab and Balstilimab

Drug: KRAS Vaccine with Poly-ICLC adjuvant; SLP mKRASvax with Poly-ICLC adjuvant will be administered on days 1, 8, 15 and 22 in Cycle 1 (Prime Phase) and on day 1 in cycle 4 and every other cycle and beyond (Boost Phase). Up to 5 subcutaneous injections will be administered in the upper thighs, arms and/or back. Drug: 0.3 mg per peptide vaccine + 0.5mg Poly-ICLC; Other Names: Hiltonol® (Poly-ICLC); Drug: Balstilimab; 240 mg will be administered as a 30 minute IV. Infusion (-10/+25 minutes) on day 1 and day 15 during Cycle 1 in Prime Phase and on day 1 and day 15 of every cycle in the Boost Phase beginning on Cycle 2 (for a maximum of 2 years from initial vaccination). Drug: 240 mg IV; Other Names: AGEN2034; Drug: Botensilimab; 75 mg will be administered as a 30 minute IV. Infusion (-10/+25 minutes) on Cycle 1 day 1 in Prime Phase and on Cycle 2 day 15 in the Boost Phase. Drug: 75 mg IV; Other Names: AGEN1181

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of participants experiencing study drug-related toxicities	Number of participants experiencing study drug-related adverse events Grade 3 or higher as defined by CTCAE v5.0	3 years
Cohort A: Progression-free Survival (PFS) for maintenance mPDAC cohort	PFS is defined as the number of mPDAC patients free of progression at 4 months since the initiation of therapy - disease progression (progressive disease [PD] or relapse from complete response [CR] as assessed using RECIST 1.1 criteria) or death due to any cause. Per RECIST 1.1 criteria, CR = disappearance of all target lesions, Partial Response (PR) is =>30percent decrease in sum of diameters of target lesions, Progressive Disease (PD) is >20percent increase in sum of diameters of target lesions, Stable Disease (SD) is <30percent decrease or <20percent increase in sum of diameters of target lesions.	4 months
Cohort B: Objective Response Rate (ORR) for maintenance mCRC cohort	ORR is defined as the number of mCRC patients who are administered at least 1 dose of SLP mKRASvax achieving a complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST 1.1) at any time during the study. CR = disappearance of all target lesions, PR is =>30percent decrease in sum of diameters of target lesions, progressive disease (PD) is >20percent increase in sum of diameters of target lesions, stable disease (SD) is <30percent decrease or <20percent increase in sum of diameters of target lesions.	3 years
Cohort C: Objective Response Rate (ORR) for KRAS-inhibitor exposed mPDAC cohort	ORR is defined as the number of mCRC patients who are administered at least 1 dose of SLP mKRASvax achieving a complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST 1.1) at any time during the study. CR = disappearance of all target lesions, PR is =>30percent decrease in sum of diameters of target lesions, progressive disease (PD) is >20percent increase in sum of diameters of target lesions, stable disease (SD) is <30percent decrease or <20percent increase in sum of diameters of target lesions.	3 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Progression-free Survival (PFS) per RECIST 1.1	PFS is defined as the time from cycle 1, day 1 of KRAS vaccine and balstilimab and botensilimab until first documented local disease progression (progressive disease [PD] or relapse from complete response [CR] as assessed using RECIST 1.1 criteria) or death due to any cause. Per RECIST 1.1 criteria, CR = disappearance of all target lesions, Partial Response (PR) is =>30% decrease in sum of diameters of target lesions, Progressive Disease (PD) is >20% increase in sum of diameters of target lesions, Stable Disease (SD) is <30% decrease or <20% increase in sum of diameters of target lesions.	3 years
Objective Response Rate (ORR) per RECIST 1.1	ORR is defined as the number of mPDAC patients who are administered at least 1 dose of SLP mKRASvax and balstilimab +/- botensilimab achieving a complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST 1.1) at any time during the study. CR = disappearance of all target lesions, PR is =>30% decrease in sum of diameters of target lesions, progressive disease (PD) is >20% increase in sum of diameters of target lesions, stable disease (SD) is <30% decrease or <20% increase in sum of diameters of target lesions. Estimation based on the Kaplan-Meier curve.	3 years
Disease Control Rate (DCR)	DCR is defined as the number of patients who are administered ≥ 1 dose of SLP mKRASvax achieving a complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) and stable disease (SD) based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST 1.1) at 2 months post first vaccination. CR = disappearance of all target lesions, PR is =>30% decrease in sum of diameters of target lesions, progressive disease (PD) is >20% increase in sum of diameters of target lesions, stable disease (SD) is <30% decrease or <20% increase in sum of diameters of target lesions.	2 months
Disease Control Rate (DCR)	DCR is defined as the number of patients who are administered ≥ 1 dose of SLP mKRASvax achieving a complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) and stable disease (SD) based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST 1.1) at 6 months post first vaccination. CR = disappearance of all target lesions, PR is =>30% decrease in sum of diameters of target lesions, progressive disease (PD) is >20% increase in sum of diameters of target lesions, stable disease (SD) is <30% decrease or <20% increase in sum of diameters of target lesions.	6 months
Disease Control Rate (DCR)	DCR is defined as the number of patients who are administered ≥ 1 dose of SLP mKRASvax achieving a complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) and stable disease (SD) based on the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST 1.1) at 12 months post first vaccination. CR = disappearance of all target lesions, PR is =>30% decrease in sum of diameters of target lesions, progressive disease (PD) is >20% increase in sum of diameters of target lesions, stable disease (SD) is <30% decrease or <20% increase in sum of diameters of target lesions.	12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
• Collaborators: National Cancer Institute (NCI); United States Department of Defense; Agenus Inc.; Private Philanthropic Funds
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Nilofer Azad, MD, SKCCC Johns Hopkins Medical Institution

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 4, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2029
• Study Completion (Estimated): November 1, 2030

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: May 8, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 8, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): May 13, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 31, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 29, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Cancer Vaccines; Immunotherapy; Colon Cancer; Metastatic pancreatic cancer; Balstilimab; Metastatic colon cancer; Botensilimab; Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC); Hiltonol; Anti-PD-1 (anti-check point inhibitor); PD-L1 (check point inhibitor); mKRAS peptide vaccines; SLP mKRASvax (peptide vaccine + Poly-ICLC (Hiltonol))
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Endocrine System Diseases; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Intestinal Diseases; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms; Digestive System Neoplasms; Digestive System Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Intestinal Neoplasms; Rectal Diseases; Endocrine Gland Neoplasms; Pancreatic Diseases; Colonic Diseases; Colorectal Neoplasms; Colonic Neoplasms; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Anti-Infective Agents; Immunologic Factors; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Gastrointestinal Agents; Antiviral Agents; Interferon Inducers; Laxatives; balstilimab; poly ICLC
• Other Study ID Numbers: J2456; IRB00427416 (Other Identifier: Johns Hopkins Medicine IRB); 1R01CA296410-01 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract); HT94252410948 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Department of Defense)

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