IKS03
IKS03 is currently in Phase 1 clinical trials for B-cell lymphomas.
IKS03 has been designed to deliver high anti-cancer activity with good patient tolerability. The ADC benefits from tumor-selective release and activation of ultra-potent PBD payloads for an enhanced TI.
Preclinical studies have demonstrated class leading efficacy across a wide range of B-cell cancer models and improved safety over in-clinic comparators. Phase 1 recruitment is ongoing at sites in Australia, Europe, the United States and Canada
IKS03 development status
Differentiation by design
IKS03 is comprised of an anti-CD19 antibody, engineered for site-specific conjugation of PBD prodrug payloads.
A beta-glucuronide linker is used for tumor-selective payload release, whilst a second beta-glucuronide moiety improves hydrophilicity and plasma stability of the PBD prodrug.
Payload release and ADC activation requires processing by beta-glucuronidase, an enzyme overexpressed in cancer cell lysosomes, active only at acidic pH and with expression in normal tissues.
CD19 is an attractive target for B-cell malignancies
CD19 is a B-cell specific antigen which is broadly expressed in most B-cell malignancies
In normal cells, CD19 expression is limited to cells in the B-cell lineage. No significant on-target toxicity risks are therefore expected for an ADC approach.
CD19 has a wider and more consistent range of expression in B-cell cancers than other common targets such as CD20, CD79b, ROR1 and CD30 - providing enhanced therapeutic options compared with others.
Class leading profile
In preclinical studies, IKS03 is associated with class-leading TI.
Compared with the in-clinic comparator Zynlonta, (loncastuximab tesirine), IKS03 is significantly more active at lower doses after single-dose administration, with an HNSTD (in NHPs) that is approximately twofold higher.
IKS03’s advanced ADC design improves upon the high efficacy of DNA crosslinkers whilst not being associated with delayed toxicity, thus significantly increasing therapeutic index.
In addition, IKS03 is efficacious in high-grade 'triple hit', refractory and MYC-amplified lymphoma PDX models in vivo.
IKS03 has Best in class TI for CD19-targeting therapies
| Drug | Payload |
MED (mouse CR) |
Preclinical Therapeutic Index* |
| Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine) | PBD | 0.6 - 1.0 mg/kg | < 1 |
| IKS03 | proPBD | ≤ 0.3 mg/kg | > 5 |
| Polivy | MMAE | 2.5 mg/kg | < 1.2 |
*TI = monkey HNSTD/mouse CR: IKS03 is well tolerated at 1.5mg/kg in monkeys
IKS03 is highly active in B-cell lymphoma models, including those in which Polivy is inactive or shows early relapse
Regressions are observed with single doses of 0.1-0.3 mg/kg in ABC-DLBCL, GCB-DLBCL and MCL xenograft models
Clinical trial overview
Part I is a dose escalation 3+3 design study, with a primary objective of safety (MTD).
Part II is a dose expansion study in specified indications, with a primary objective of Objective Response Rate (ORR)
The study is being conducted in investigative sites in Italy, Spain, Australia and the US
Site Locations
United States
Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21201
Australia
Westmead, New South Wales, Australia, 2145
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia: Royal Adelaide Hospital
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Linear Clinical Research
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital/Linear Clinical Research, Hospital Ave, Nedlands, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
Royal Hobart Hospital, 48 Liverpool St, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
Canada
Montréal, Quebec, Canada, H3T 1E2; Jewish General Hospital
Italy
Milano:
La Fondazione e l'Istituto di Candiolo
Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Ospedale San Raffaele
Istituto Europeo Clinico Humanitas
Istituto Europeo di Oncologia
Spain
Badalona, Institut Catala d’Oncologia
Madrid, Hospital Universitario Quironsalud
Salamanca, Hospital Clinico Universitario de Salamanca
Valencia, Hospital Universitari i Politecnic La Fe
Pipeline prioritization strategy
Iksuda only progresses ADC programs which meet our design criteria to clinical assessment. For programs directed to known ADC targets, with in-clinic and/ or on-market ADCs available, raising TI to a clinically meaningful degree is prerequisite in our decision-making.
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