Cellectar Presents Data From Phase 1 Study 

Cellectar Biosciences, Inc. recently announced Mr. Jarrod Longcor, chief business officer of Cellectar presented data from Cohort 6 of its Phase 1 dose escalation study of CLR 131 in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM), in a late breaker poster at the 17th International Myeloma Workshop being held in Boston, MA, from September 12-15, 2019.

The poster, titled CLR 131 Demonstrates High Rate of Activity in a Phase 1, Dose Escalation Study in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma (RRMM) highlights data from 4 subjects in Cohort 6 who received a fractionated dose of 37.5 mCi/m². Subjects in this cohort achieved a 50% overall response rate, with two subjects achieving a partial response and two subjects achieving minimal responses (39% and 48% reduction in M protein). CLR 131 was deemed safe and tolerated in all subjects with cytopenias being the only reported treatment emergent adverse events of grade 3 or higher. The majority (75%) of the subjects had high risk cytogenetics where median bone marrow plasma cell involvement was 25%. Patients’ median age was 72.5 and averaged 5 prior systemic therapies, with one patient being dual class refractory, one being quad-refractory, and two being penta-refractory.

The Phase 1 study employs the International Myeloma Working Group (IMWG) criteria for measuring responses. The IMWG defines a partial response as a 50% reduction in the marker of disease and a minimal response as a 25% to 49.9% reduction.

“Cohort 6’s overall response rate of 50% with 100% disease control in highly chemo-refractory elderly patients highlights CLR 131’s potential as a first-in-class targeted radiotherapeutic for relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. We saw an encouraging dose response compared to prior cohorts and CLR 131 continues to demonstrate a favorable safety profile,” said James Caruso, President and CEO of Cellectar. “We have progressed to a higher 40 mCi/m² fractionated dose Cohort 7, with data expected in Q4 2019. Additionally, based on the positive results from Cohort 6, we are now allowed to use the 37.5 mCi/m² dosing level in our ongoing Phase 2 (CLOVER-1) study evaluating CLR 131 in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-cell malignancies and expect data from the Phase 2 trial in Q4 2019.”

The Phase 1 multicenter, open-label, dose-escalation study is designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of CLR 131 administered as a 30-minute IV infusion, either as a single bolus dose or as two fractionated doses, in patients with R/R MM. All doses to date have been deemed safe and well tolerated by an independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC). Based on the data and the recommendation of the DMC, the Company has initiated a Cohort 7 where patients will receive 40mCi/m² fractionated dose of CLR 131.

Based upon the encouraging activity from the 37.5 mCi/m² fractionated dose of CLR 131 in Cohort 6, the company is evaluating this dose level in a larger population in its Phase 2 (CLOVER-1) trial as well.

CLR 131 is a small-molecule, cancer-targeting radiotherapeutic Phospholipid Drug Conjugate™ (PDC) designed to deliver cytotoxic radiation directly and selectively to cancer cells and cancer stem cells. CLR 131 is the company’s lead therapeutic PDC product candidate and is currently being evaluated in both Phase 2 and Phase 1 clinical studies. The FDA granted orphan drug designation for CLR 131 for the treatment of multiple myeloma as well as orphan drug and rare pediatric disease designations for CLR 131 for the treatment of neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma and osteosarcoma. In addition to the ongoing Phase 1 dose-escalation study and the Phase 2 (CLOVER-1) trial, the company recently initiated a Phase 1 open-label, dose-escalating study in pediatric solid tumors and lymphoma to evaluate the safety and tolerability of a single intravenous administration of CLR 131 in up to 30 children and adolescents with cancers including neuroblastoma, sarcomas, lymphomas (including Hodgkin’s lymphoma) and malignant brain tumors.

Cellectar Biosciences is focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of drugs for the treatment of cancer. The company is developing proprietary drugs independently and through research and development (R&D) collaborations. The company’s core objective is to leverage its proprietary Phospholipid Drug Conjugate (PDC) delivery platform to develop PDCs that specifically target cancer cells, delivering improved efficacy and better safety as a result of fewer off-target effects. The company’s PDC platform possesses the potential for the discovery and development of the next-generation of cancer-targeting treatments, and it plans to develop PDCs independently and through research and development collaborations.

The company’s lead PDC therapeutic, CLR 131, is currently in three clinical studies – a Phase 2 study, and two Phase 1 studies. The Phase 2 clinical study (CLOVER-1) is in relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-cell malignancies, including multiple myeloma (MM), chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL), lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LPL), marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The company is also conducting a Phase 1 dose escalation study in patients with R/R multiple myeloma (MM) and a Phase 1 study in pediatric solid tumors and lymphoma. The company’s product pipeline also includes one preclinical PDC chemotherapeutic program (CLR 1900) and several partnered PDC assets. For more information, please visit www.cellectar.com.