AACR Quick Takes: Affimed impresses with NK cell/bispecific antibody combination

Another multimodality combination that impressed with early clinical data was AFM13 from Affimed N.V. (NASDAQ:AFMD), which led to a 100% ORR and a 62% complete response rate after a second treatment cycle in 13 CD30-positive Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients treated in a Phase I/II trial. At a 6.5 month follow up, seven of the eight patients who achieved a complete response remain in CR, including two who continue to respond after 10 months. The 13 patients treated at the recommended Phase II dose had received a median of seven prior lines.

AFM13 is a bispecific innate cell engager that binds CD16A on NK cells and macrophages and CD30 on lymphoma cells, precomplexed with cord blood-derived NK cells. The early data suggest Affimed’s strategy is delivering on its promise of improving efficacy of NK cells by directing them to the tumor, and visa versa, improving efficacy of innate cell-engaging bispecifics by delivering them with the immune cells they’re engaging. Based on the results, the trial’s protocol has been amended from two cycles of treatment to up to four. Affimed shares gained $0.12 to $4.55 on Monday...