SOT201 is a novel targeted IL-15Rbg agonist to alleviate PD-1-mediated immune cell suppression and potentiate anti-tumor efficacy

Abstract SOT201 is a novel immunocytokine consisting of a monoclonal humanized, Fc silenced antibody against PD-1 fused to a covalent RLI-15 complex of a human IL-15 mutein linked to the high-affinity binding site of the IL-15Rα, the sushi+ domain. SOT201 is developed for immunotherapeutic treatment of various types of cancers. The activity of SOT201 is based on spatiotemporal reinvigorating of anti-tumor immune responses by disrupting co-inhibitory T-cell signaling by blocking PD-1 and synergistically activating adaptive as well as innate immunity by IL-15-mediated signaling via the IL-2/IL-15βγ receptor on T cells, NK, NKT, and γδ T cells. SOT201 showed a superior potentiation of T cell stimulation over pembrolizumab in mixed lymphocyte reaction in vitro. Studies in cynomolgus monkeys showed that decreased affinity of IL-15 mutein in SOT201 for its IL-15Rβγ is well optimized to ensure favorable pharmacokinetic properties while inducing strong CD8+ T cell and NK cell activation and expansion. Synergistic action on CD8+ T cell activation of both anti-PD-1 and RLI-15 moieties was confirmed using mouse surrogate SOT201 molecules in vivo. Strong anti-tumor efficacy after SOT201 treatment was achieved in a human PD-1 transgenic mouse model implanted with the MC38-hPD-L1 cell line. These data represent a promising therapeutic candidate molecule leveraging the synergistic concerted action of anti-PD-1 blockage and simultaneous immune cell activation directed preferentially to the high PD-1+ T cell tumor environment. The therapeutic potential of SOT201 is currently being prepared for evaluation in a Phase I clinical study in metastatic advanced cancer patients as well as for PD-1 resistant/refractory patients as our clinical stage IL-2/IL-15Rβγ agonist SOT101 already showed a clinical benefit in these patients in its ongoing Phase I study. Citation Format: Irena Adkins, Zuzana Antosova, Klara Danova, Kamila Hladikova, Katerina Augustynkova, Katerina Sajnerova, Nada Podzimkova, Pavel Marasek, Guy de Martynoff, David Bechard, Ulrich Moebius, Radek Spisek. SOT201 is a novel targeted IL-15Rbg agonist to alleviate PD-1-mediated immune cell suppression and potentiate anti-tumor efficacy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 3510.