RX-3117 in Combination With Abraxane® in Subjects With Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

This will be a Phase 1b/2a multicenter 2-stage study. Phase 1 will be conducted as a dose-finding, open-label study of oral RX-3117 administered in combination with Abraxane® to subjects with metastatic pancreatic cancer. The recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) and schedule of RX-3117, in combination with Abraxane®, will be determined based on the safety profile, dose modification, and pharmacokinetics (PK). Phase 1 will be conducted using a combination of the single agent maximum tolerated dose (MTD) for RX-3117 and the Abraxane dose as per the package insert for patients with pancreatic cancer in combination with gemcitabine.

After completion of the Phase 1 portion, a Phase 2a study will be conducted using a 2 stage, open-label design, of RX 3117 and Abraxane® in combination to treat subjects with metastatic pancreatic cancer as first line therapy. Approximately 10 subjects will participate in the Stage 1 at the dose identified in Phase 1 (RP2D). Subjects will be treated for up to 8 cycles of combined therapy. An interim analysis will be conducted after 10 evaluable subjects have been treated at the RP2D, have completed a minimum of 4 cycles of therapy, or have discontinued therapy due to progressive disease before completing 4 cycles. If an adequate number of Responders are observed out of the initial 10 evaluable subjects, then 40 additional subjects will be enrolled to participate in Stage 2. Subjects will be treated for up to 8 cycles of combined therapy.

Inclusion criteria

Disease Related

• Subject has confirmed histologic or cytologic evidence of metastatic pancreatic cancer and has no prior treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer.
• Subject has measurable disease using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v 1.1.
• Subject has a life expectancy of at least 3 months.
• Subject has an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 or 1.

Demographic

• Males or females ≥ 18 years of age
• Subject must be able to swallow capsules
• Subject must have adequate venous access for intravenous (IV) infusion

Laboratory

• Subject has hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL at Screening
• Subject has absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 x 109/L at Screening
• Subject has platelet count ≥ 100 x 109/L at Screening
• Subject has serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN) at Screening. Subjects with serum creatinine levels > 1.5 times the ULN must have a 24-hour urine creatinine clearance ≥ 60 mL/min
• Subject has serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times the ULN (except in subjects with Gilbert's Syndrome who must have serum bilirubin < 3.0 x ULN)
• Subject has aspartate aminotransferase (AST; SGOT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT; SGPT) ≤ 2.5 times the ULN (OR, AST and ALT ≤ 5 times the ULN in the presence of known liver metastases)
• Subject has alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 times the ULN (OR ≤ 5 times the ULN in the presence of known liver or bone metastases)
• Subject has normal coagulation parameters (prothrombin time [PT] and/or international normalized ratio [INR], and partial thromboplastin time [PTT] within normal limits [<1.2 x ULN])
• Subject has potassium concentration within normal range, or correctable with supplements.
• Oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry ≥ 92% at rest.
• For women of childbearing potential: Negative serum pregnancy test during screening and negative serum or urine pregnancy test at start of study therapy (Cycle1 Day 1).

Reproductive

• For female subjects of childbearing potential, willingness to abstain from heterosexual intercourse or use a protocol-recommended method of contraception from the screening visit throughout the study treatment period and for 30 days following the last dose of study drug.
• Female subjects of non-childbearing potential defined as having amenorrhea for at least 24 consecutive months, a documented hysterectomy, or a documented bilateral oophorectomy)
• For fertile male subjects having intercourse with females of childbearing potential, willingness to abstain from heterosexual intercourse or use a protocol-recommended method of contraception from the start of study therapy throughout the study treatment period and for 30 days following the last dose of study drug and to refrain from sperm donation from the start of study treatment throughout the study treatment period and for 30 days following the last dose of study drug.

Ethical

• In the judgment of the investigator, participation in the protocol offers an acceptable benefit-to-risk ratio when considering current disease status, medical condition, and the potential benefits and risks of alternative treatments for the subject's cancer.
• Before any study-specific procedure, the appropriate written informed consent must be obtained

Exclusion criteria

Disease Related

• Subject has primary brain tumors or clinical evidence of active brain metastasis
• Subject has undergone major surgery within 4 weeks of the start of study treatment. Laparoscopy and central venous catheter placement are not considered major surgery

Medications

• Subject has a history of systemic corticosteroid use within 7 days before Day 1 of Cycle 1

General

• Subject has an active infection requiring parenteral or oral antibiotics within 2 weeks before planned start of study therapy
• Subject has uncontrolled diabetes as assessed by the investigator
• Subject has a second malignancy other than curatively resected basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, in situ carcinoma of the cervix, or other cancers treated with curative intent and no known active disease within 3 years before planned start of study therapy
• Subject has an active infection of hepatitis B, hepatitis C or human immunodeficiency virus
• Female subjects who are pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breast feeding during the study
• Subject has a high cardiovascular risk, including, but not limited to, subjects with congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association [NYHA] Class III or IV), cardiac arrhythmia, unstable angina, coronary stenting or acute coronary syndromes within 6 months before planned start of study therapy or r myocardial infarction within one year before planned start of study therapy
• Criterion removed
• Subject has a history of prior allogeneic bone marrow progenitor cell or solid organ transplantation.
• Subject has known acute or chronic pancreatitis.
• Subject has persistent diarrhea, malabsorption, or known sub-acute bowel obstruction ≥ NCI CTCAE Grade 2, despite medical management.
• Subject has any disorder that may interfere with drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion (including gastrointestinal surgery and bariatric surgery)
• All acute toxic effects of any prior antitumor therapy resolved to Grade ≤ 1 before the start of study therapy (with the exception of alopecia [Grade 1 or 2 permitted], or neurotoxicity [Grade 1 or 2 permitted], or anemia [Grade 2 permitted])
• Subject has any other medical, psychiatric, or social condition, which in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude participation in the study, pose an undue medical hazard, interfere with the conduct of the study, or interfere with interpretation of the study results
• Subject has a history of interstitial lung disease, slowly progressive dyspnea and unproductive cough, sarcoidosis, silicosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary hypersensitivity pneumonitis or multiple allergies. Any lung disease that may interfere with the detection or management of suspected drug-related pulmonary toxicity.
• Subject is currently enrolled in any other clinical protocol or investigational trial that involves administration of experimental therapy and/or therapeutic devices, or investigational drug.
• Subject has a history of hypersensitivity to RX-3117, gemcitabine, azacytidine cytosine arabinoside, paclitaxel, nab-paclitaxel, or their excipients.
• Subject is unwilling or unable to comply with study requirements or planned unavailability for follow-up assessments.