Disappointing first look at clinical data for HPK1 inhibitors

Hopes that HPK1 could be the next immuno-oncology target with monotherapy efficacy took a hit after the first interim clinical data for two early-stage programs presented at SITC showed single-digit percentage response rates.

An abstract describing preliminary monotherapy data from a Phase Ia dose-escalation trial of HPK1 inhibitor NDI-101150 from Nimbus Therapeutics LLC stated that 22 patients had been studied at four dose levels, and reported a complete response for one patient with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), in the lowest dose group. A separate press release from Nimbus, and statement to BioCentury, indicated that only 13 of the treated patients were evaluable for efficacy, meaning the compound produced an early objective response rate (ORR) of 8%. Two additional patients had stable disease “with evidence of tumor shrinkage.”...