ArQule, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARQL) today is presenting preliminary results from the Company's Phase 1 dose escalation study for ARQ 531, an orally bioavailable, potent and reversible inhibitor of both wild type and C481S-mutant Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) in patients with relapsed or refractory hematologic malignancies at the 23rd Congress of European Hematological Association (EHA) in Stockholm, Sweden.
"Preliminary data from our Phase 1 dose escalation trial highlights the potential of ARQ 531 to become a new therapeutic option for patients with B-cell malignancies," commented ArQule Chief Medical Officer and Head of Research and Development, Brian Schwartz, M.D. "There is a significant unmet need for patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies, in particular those with C481S-mediated resistance to irreversible BTK inhibitors such as ibrutinib. We are especially encouraged by the early signs of anti-tumor activity observed in the first three cohorts."
The reported data from the ongoing Phase 1, open label, single arm dose escalation 3+3 study are from the first three cohorts at dose levels of 5 (n=3), 10 (n=4) and 15 mg (n=4) in patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), small lymphocytic leukemia (SLL), Waldenstrom's macroglobinemia and B-cell Non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
ARQ 531 demonstrated preliminary anti-tumor activity at all dose levels, resulting in an observed tumor reduction of 35% at 5mg, 33% at 10mg, and 29% at 15mg doses. The 29% tumor reduction in the 15mg cohort was achieved after 8 weeks of treatment in a patient with the BTK C481S-mutation, after 5 prior systemic regimens including ibrutinib and venetoclax, with treatment still ongoing. Overall treatment duration ranged from 1 to 46 weeks with 4 of 11 patients treated still ongoing.
ARQ 531 was well tolerated at all three dose levels, supporting continued dose escalation. No dose limiting toxicities or ARQ 531-related Grade 3 or greater adverse events were observed, and the maximum tolerated dose has not been reached.
The half-life of ARQ 531 was between 22-27 hours suggesting the potential for sustained target inhibition and supporting a once daily dosing regimen with preliminary pharmacokinetics showing increases in exposure that are approximately dose proportional.
The poster, A Phase 1 Dose Escalation Study of ARQ 531 in Selected Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Hematologic Malignancies, is available on ArQule's website, www.arqule.com, under "Publications and Presentations": https://www.arqule.com/publications-presentations/.
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