JTX-2011 is a monoclonal antibody being developed by Jounce Therapeutics to treat solid tumors. It is intended to be used on its own or in combination with other cancer therapies.
How JTX-2011 works
JTX-2011 binds to and activates a protein found on the surface of certain T-cells, which are a type of immune cell that specializes in fighting infections. This protein is called an inducible T-cell co-stimulator, or ICOS. Preclinical studies have shown that the drug both stimulates immune cells involved in fighting tumors and reduces the numbers of immune cells that suppress the anti-tumor response within tumors.
JTX-2011 in clinical trials
JTX-2011 is currently being evaluated in a clinical trial (NCT02904226) called ICONIC (ICOS Agonist Antibody for Immunotherapy in Cancer Patients).
The Phase 1 portion of the trial was the first in-human study of JTX-2011 alone or in combination with a fixed dose of the cancer drug Opdivo (nivolumab) in people with advanced solid tumors. The aim is to determine the maximum tolerated dose and recommended Phase 2 dose of the drug, as well as to evaluate its preliminary effectiveness.
The patients included in the trial had advanced solid tumors, including endometrial, triple negative breast, melanoma, lung, pancreatic, and colorectal cancers. They had not responded to available therapies or their cancer had returned after standard treatment.
A recommended dose of JTX-2011 monotherapy was selected for Phase 2 based on safety and tolerability results.
The Phase 2 portion of the trial consists of two parts evaluating the preliminary effectiveness of JTX-2011. The first part will evaluate the drug as a monotherapy in patients with head and neck or squamous cell cancer (HNSCC), or non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and the second part will evaluate it in combination with Opdivo in patients with NSCLC, triple negative breast cancer, melanoma, and gastric cancer. Patient enrollment is ongoing for the monotherapy portion of the study.
Each of these types of tumors was identified by Jounce’s Translational Science Platform as having tumors displaying high percentages of the target protein of JTX-2011.
Additional information
The most common adverse events associated with the use of JTX-2011 were chills, decreased appetite, nausea, and fever.
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