Leronlimab

Leronlimab (codenamed PRO 140) is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeted against the CCR5 receptor found on T lymphocytes of the human immune system. It is being investigated as a potential therapy in the treatment of COVID-19,[1][2] triple negative breast cancer,[3] and HIV infection.[4] The United States Food and Drug Administration has designated PRO 140 for fast-track approval.[5] In February 2008, the drug entered Phase 2 clinical trials and a phase 3 trial was begun in 2015.[6][7] In February 2018, Cytodyn Inc reported that the primary endpoint had been achieved in the PRO 140 pivotal combination therapy trial in HIV infection.[8] In 2020 CytoDyn submitted a fast-track biologics license application for treatment of CCR5-tropic HIV-1 Infection.[9]

Leronlimab
Monoclonal antibody
TypeWhole antibody
SourceHumanized
TargetCCR5
Clinical data
Other namesPRO 140
ATC code
  • none
Identifiers
CAS Number
DrugBank
ChemSpider
  • none
UNII
KEGG
ChEMBL
NIAID ChemDB
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Development

PRO 140 is being developed by Cytodyn Inc. In May 2007, results from the phase I clinical trial of the drug demonstrated "potent, rapid, prolonged, dose-dependent, highly significant antiviral activity" for PRO 140. Participants in the highest-dosing group received 5 milligrams per kilogram and showed an average viral load decrease of -1.83 log10. On average, reductions of greater than -1 log10 per milliliter were maintained for between two and three weeks, from only a single dose of the drug.[10] The largest individual HIV RNA reductions ranged up to -2.5 log10 among patients receiving both the 2 and 5 mg/kg doses.[11]

In February 2018, Cytodyn Inc reported that the primary endpoint was achieved in the PRO 140 pivotal combination therapy trial in HIV infection and will continue for an additional 24 weeks (end of August 2018) with PRO 140 weekly subcutaneous injections and optimized ART.[12] The report discloses that a single 350mg subcutaneous injection of PRO 140 resulted in a HIV-1 RNA viral load reduction greater than 0.5log or 68% within one week compared with those who received a placebo. The primary efficacy endpoint results were presented at ASM Microbe 2018. In the pivotal trial of Leronlimab in combination with standard anti-retroviral therapies in HIV-infected treatment-experienced patients, 81% of patients completing trial achieved HIV viral load suppression of < 50 cp/mL. Recent approved drugs for this population range from 43% after 24 weeks to 45% after 48 weeks with viral load suppression of < 50 cp/mL. In March 2019 CytoDyn filed with the US FDA the first part of the BLA for leronlimab (PRO140) as a combination therapy with HAART in HIV. In December 2019, the company affirmed plans to complete the BLA in January 2020 with potential FDA approval in 2Q'20. CytoDyn is also conducting an investigative monotherapy trial of leronlimab (PRO140) for HIV. If successful, once per week self-administered leronlimab would represent a paradigm shift in treatment of HIV.[13][14]

CytoDyn is also currently investigating the use of Leronlimab (PRO140) in various solid tumors. On February 18, 2019, CytoDyn announced it will begin 8 pre-clinical studies on melanoma, pancreatic, breast, prostate, colon, lung, liver, and stomach cancer. On November 23, 2018, CytoDyn received FDA approval of its IND submission and allowed to initiate a Phase 1b/2 clinical trial for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) patients. In May 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Fast Track Designation for Leronlimab (PRO 140) for use in combination with carboplatin for the treatment of patients with CCR5-positive mTNBC. In July 2019, CytoDyn announced the dosing of first mTNBC patient under compassionate use. Simultaneously, the phase 1b/2 trial for treatment-naïve mTNBC patients is active and anticipates top line data in 2020. If successful, the data from treatment-naïve mTNBC patients could serve as the basis for potentially seeking accelerated US FDA approval.[15] On November 11, 2019, CytoDyn reported that the first TNBC patient injected under its naïve protocol (not previously treated for triple-negative breast cancer) demonstrated significantly reduced levels of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and decreased tumor size at two-week and five-week observation intervals compared to baseline observations. CTCs are a potential surrogate endpoint in oncology trials, with reduced levels suggesting long-term clinical benefit.[16] Recent published studies demonstrated Leronlimab reduced the number and size of new human breast cancer metastasis in a mouse model and reduced the size of established metastasis thereby extending survival.[17]

In May 2019, CytoDyn also initiated a pre-clinical study of Leronlimab (PRO 140) to prevent nonalcoholic steatohepatitis with The Cleveland Clinic. In November, the company reported positive results.

On December 15, 2020, CytoDyn reached full enrollment in its Phase 3 registrational trial for patients with severe-to-critical COVID-19. The results showed a reduction in the primary end point of mortality of 24 percent after 28 days compared to the current standard of care. While not statistically significant, it is widely believed that only allowing two doses on day zero and day seven rather than the four doses that the company requested prevented the trial from meeting its primary end point. The half life of leronlimab is about 10 days meaning that the effect of the drug would have been much less at day 28.

Statistical analysis of the critically ill population (hospitalized patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) or ECMO), revealed that when leronlimab was added to standard of care (“SoC”), leronlimab decreased mortality at 14 days by 82% (p=.0233, N=62). Patients who received leronlimab were over five times more likely to be alive at day 14 than those who received SoC only. Length in hospital stay also decreased by 5.5 days in the critically ill population (N=62, p=.005). It is clear from these results that leronlimab saves lives and saves money.

Former President of the Philippines, Joseph Estrada, was administered leronlimab under Compassionate Special Permit (CSP), among other medication, as a therapeutic for COVID-19. Mr. Estrada has been released from the hospital following his bout with a bacterial lung infection. CytoDyn continues to ship vials of leronlimab to the Philippines, while its distribution partner, Chiral Pharma Corporation, works closely with the Philippine FDA to consider expanding the CSP.

Mechanism of action

PRO 140 is a lab-made antibody that functions as an entry inhibitor.[18][19] PRO 140 binds to the CCR5 receptor on the CD4 cells, and interferes with HIV's ability to enter the cell. PRO 140, a humanized form of a PA14 antibody, is a chemokine-receptor CCR5 monoclonal antibody and can inhibit CCR5 tropic HIV-1 at concentrations that do not antagonize the natural activity of CCR5 in vitro. HIV-1 entry is mediated by the HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins gp120 and gp41. The gp120 will bind CD4 and the CCR5co receptor molecule, and this triggers gp41-mediated fusion of the viral and cellular membranes. CCR5 is needed for the entry of the virus and the infection of healthy cells. PRO 140, the anti-CCR5 monoclonal antibody, can stop HIV from entering the cell and stop viral replication. It prevents the virus-cell binding at a distinct site in the CCR5 co-receptor without interfering with its natural activity. Unlike other entry inhibitors, PRO 140 is a monoclonal antibody. The mechanism of inhibition is competitive rather than allosteric.[20] As such, it must be injected to be effective. However, once inside the body, PRO 140 binds to CCR5 for >60 days,[21] which may allow for dosing as infrequently as every other week.[22][23] Compared to highly-active antiretroviral therapy, which has been shown to have treatment-related toxicities for HIV-infected patients, PRO140 has no multi-drug resistance or toxicities.[20]

Research

COVID-19

Leronlimab, a monoclonal antibody investigational drug under development by CytoDyn, Inc. (CytoDyn), is one of the potential medicines that has been studied to determine whether it is safe and effective in treating patients with COVID-19, including those with severe outcomes from COVID-19.[24] With the conclusion of both the CD10 and CD12 clinical trials, it has become clear that the data currently available do not support the clinical benefit of leronlimab for the treatment of COVID-19.[24]

See also

References

  1. Clinical trial number NCT04343651 for "Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Leronlimab for Mild to Moderate COVID-19" at ClinicalTrials.gov
  2. "Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Leronlimab for Patients With Severe or Critical Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)". ClinicalTrials.gov. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  3. Clinical trial number NCT03838367 for "Leronlimab (PRO 140) Combined With Carboplatin in Patients With CCR5+ mTNBC " at ClinicalTrials.gov
  4. "CytoDyn Announces Acquisition of PRO 140". CytoDyn Inc. October 17, 2012. Archived from the original on September 25, 2013. Retrieved December 18, 2012.
  5. Lawler B (2 May 2007). "Progenics' Intriguing Study Results". The Motley Fool.
  6. "Phase 2 clinical trials started on PRO 140". AIDS Patient Care and STDs. 22 (2): 159–160. February 2008. doi:10.1089/apc.2008.9960. PMID 18273941.
  7. "Cytodyn Initiates First Clinical Site for Phase 3 Trial of PRO 140 :: CytoDyn Inc. (CYDY)". www.cytodyn.com (Press release). Retrieved 2015-08-22.
  8. "CytoDyn Reports Primary Endpoint Achieved in PRO 140 Pivotal Combination Therapy Trial in HIV Infection :: CytoDyn Inc. (CYDY)". www.cytodyn.com (Press release). Retrieved 2018-04-19.
  9. "CytoDyn Receives BLA Acknowledgment Letter From the FDA". CytoDyn Inc. (Press release). Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  10. Thaczuk D (21 September 2007). "ICAAC: Phase 1 study provides 'proof of concept' for PRO 140, a monoclonal CCR5 antibody". AIDSmap.com.
  11. Highleyman L (28 September 2007). "Monoclonal Antibody CCR5 Inhibitor PRO 140 Produces Long-lasting HIV Suppression in Single-dose Study". HIVandHepatitis.com.
  12. "CytoDyn Reports Primary Endpoint Achieved in PRO 140 Pivotal Combination Therapy Trial in HIV Infection :: CytoDyn Inc. (CYDY)". www.cytodyn.com. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
  13. "CytoDyn to Present Primary Efficacy Endpoint Results from its PRO 140 Pivotal Trial in Late-Breaking Session at ASM Microbe 2018 :: CytoDyn Inc. (CYDY)". www.cytodyn.com. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
  14. Dhody K, Kazempour K, Pourhassan N, Maddon PJ (2018). Primary Efficacy Results of PRO 140 SC in a Pivotal Phase 2b/3 Study in Heavily Treatment-Experienced HIV-1 Patients. Proceedings of the ASM Microbe. pp. 7–11. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
  15. Clinical trial number NCT03838367 for "Study of Leronlimab (PRO 140) Combined With Carboplatin in Patients With CCR5+ mTNBC" at ClinicalTrials.gov
  16. First Patient in CytoDyn's Triple-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer Trial Shows Significant Reduction in Circulating Tumor Cells (CTC) and Reduced Tumor Size
  17. Jiao X, Wang M, Zhang Z, Li Z, Ni D, Ashton AW, et al. (January 2021). "Leronlimab, a humanized monoclonal antibody to CCR5, blocks breast cancer cellular metastasis and enhances cell death induced by DNA damaging chemotherapy". Breast Cancer Research. 23 (1): 11. doi:10.1186/s13058-021-01391-1. PMC 7825185. PMID 33485378.
  18. Biswas P, Tambussi G, Lazzarin A (May 2007). "Access denied? The status of co-receptor inhibition to counter HIV entry". Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. 8 (7): 923–933. doi:10.1517/14656566.8.7.923. PMID 17472538. S2CID 32675897.
  19. Pugach P, Ketas TJ, Michael E, Moore JP (August 2008). "Neutralizing antibody and anti-retroviral drug sensitivities of HIV-1 isolates resistant to small molecule CCR5 inhibitors". Virology. 377 (2): 401–407. doi:10.1016/j.virol.2008.04.032. PMC 2528836. PMID 18519143.
  20. Li L, Tian JH, Yang K, Zhang P, Jia WQ (July 2014). "Humanized PA14 (a monoclonal CCR5 antibody) for treatment of people with HIV infection". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2014 (7): CD008439. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD008439.pub3. PMC 7173721. PMID 25063928.
  21. "Progenics Pharmaceuticals' HIV Drug, PRO 140, Receives FDA Fast-Track Designation". Press release. Progenics Pharmaceuticals. 22 February 2006. Archived from the original on 2011-10-02.
  22. "PRO 140". Progenics Pharmaceuticals. Archived from the original on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2007-12-29.
  23. Horn T (21 September 2007). "Single-Dose PRO 140 Has Lasting Effects". POZ.com.
  24. "Statement on Leronlimab". U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 17 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
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