New Narmafotinib Data Presented at International Conference
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
ABN 16 165 160 841
ASX RELEASE
20 January 2025
NEW DATA FOR NARMAFOTINIB PRESENTED AT INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
HIGHLIGHTS
•
Additional data analysis from our Phase 1b/2a ACCENT trial in pancreatic cancer has been
presented at the specialist scientific conference - the Keystone Meeting on the Tumour
Microenvironment
•
The data analysis further confirms the promising activity of narmafotinib at the 400 mg dose
•
New preclinical data shows that narmafotinib enhances the activity of a drug that is used
clinically to block the cancer-driving protein kRas in difficult-to-treat cancers, such as
pancreatic cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancer.
Melbourne, Australia: Amplia Therapeutics Limited (ASX: ATX), (“Amplia” or the “Company”) is
pleased to announce that a poster, presenting new preclinical data and updated data from the ongoing
ACCENT trial in pancreatic cancer, was presented overnight at prestigious Keystone meeting ‘Tumor
Microenvironment: Metastasis and the Host’ in Banff, Canada. The ACCENT trial is the company’s lead
clinical program, exploring the activity of our best-in-class FAK inhibitor narmafotinib, in combination
with standard-of-care chemotherapy, in advanced pancreatic cancer patients.
The poster describes preclinical data for narmafotinib in models of pancreatic cancer and presents
further analysis of data from the Phase 1b portion of the ACCENT trial. Data highlights from the
presentation include:
• Evidence from the ACCENT trial that there is a dose-dependent reduction in tumour size, as
the oral dose of drug increases from 100 mg to 200 mg to 400 mg
• Data showing that patients on the 400 mg dose of narmafotinib had an average treatment
duration of 8.3 months, significantly better than historical data for patients receiving
chemotherapy alone
• Demonstration that narmafotinib has anti-fibrotic effects in a mouse model of pancreatic
cancer and that narmafotinib has single-agent activity in this model
• Demonstration that narmafotinib enhances the activity of chemotherapy and appears to
inhibit resistance to the chemotherapy that develops over time in the mouse model
In addition, the poster shows preliminary data demonstrating the beneficial effects of narmafotinib
when combined with the approved drug adagrasib in mouse models of cancer. Adagrasib, marketed
as Krazati®, inhibits a mutated form of the cancer causing protein kRas, which is present in a subset of
pancreatic cancer patients as well as in patients with lung and colorectal cancer.
A copy of the poster is attached to this announcement.
Amplia’s CEO Dr Chris Burns commented: “We are delighted to present further data about our drug
narmafotinib and its activity in the ACCENT clinical trial. Demonstration of the drug’s activity in cancer
patients, as well as in defined animal models of cancer, helps to build a robust dataset that underpins
the commercial potential of the drug.”
Level 17, 350 Queen Street, Melbourne VIC 3000
Email info@ampliatx.com
www.ampliatx.com
This ASX announcement was approved and authorised for release by the Board of Amplia
Therapeutics.
About Narmafotinib
Narmafotinib (AMP945) is the company’s best-in-class inhibitor of the protein FAK, a protein overexpressed in pancreatic and other cancers, and a drug target gaining increasing attention for its role in
solid tumours. The drug, which is a highly potent and selective inhibitor of FAK, has shown promising
data in a range of preclinical cancer studies. The drug has successfully completed a healthy volunteer
study, and is currently in an open-label Phase 2a trial in pancreatic cancer where a combination of
narmafotinib and the chemotherapies gemcitabine and Abraxane® is being assessed for safety,
tolerability and efficacy.
About the ACCENT Trial
The ACCENT trial is entitled ‘A Phase 1b/2a, Multicentre, Open Label Study of the Pharmacokinetics,
Safety and Efficacy of AMP945 in Combination with Nab-paclitaxel and Gemcitabine in Pancreatic
Cancer Patients’.
The ACCENT trial explores the use of narmafotinib in combination with standard-of-care
chemotherapy of gemcitabine and Abraxane® in first-line patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
The trial is a single-arm open label study conducted in two stages. The first stage (Phase 1b), completed
in November 2023, identified a 400 mg oral daily dose of narmafotinib, given in the days preceding
regular chemotherapy infusion, as safe and well tolerated.
The second stage (Phase 2a), of the trial is designed to assess drug efficacy in combination with
gemcitabine and Abraxane. The primary endpoints are Objective Response Rate (ORR) and Duration
on Trial (DOT) with secondary endpoints being Progression Free Survival (PFS) and Overall Survival
(OS). Safety and tolerability will continue to be assessed.
More information about the ACCENT trial, including a list of participating sites can be found via the
ACCENT website, the Amplia Therapeutics website, and at ClinicalTrials.gov under the identifier
NCT05355298.
Investor Contact:
Dr Chris Burns
Chief Executive Officer
chris@ampliatx.com
Media Contact:
H^CK Director, Haley Chartres
haley@hck.digital
+61 423 139 163
About Amplia Therapeutics Limited
Amplia Therapeutics Limited is an Australian pharmaceutical company advancing a pipeline of Focal
Adhesion Kinase (FAK) inhibitors for cancer and fibrosis. FAK is an increasingly important target in the
field of cancer and Amplia has a particular development focus in fibrotic cancers such as pancreatic
and ovarian cancer. FAK also plays a significant role in a number of chronic diseases, such as idiopathic
pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). For more information visit www.ampliatx.com and follow Amplia on Twitter
(@ampliatx) and LinkedIn.
Focal Adhesion Kinase Inhibitor Narmafotinib Targets the Tumor and Microenvironment to Enhance
and Sustain Sensitivity to Chemotherapy
Sarah Kinkel1, Kendelle Murphy2, David Herrmann2, Paul Timpson2, Nicole Kruger1, Sumitra Ananda3, Marion Harris4, Lara Lipton5, Adnan Nagrial6, Nick Pavlakis7, Jason Lickliter1, Christopher J. Burns1, Terrie-Anne Cock1
1Amplia Therapeutics, Melbourne, Australia; 2 Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, Australia; 3Epworth Cancer Services Clinical Institute Melbourne, Australia; 4Monash Medical Centre Melbourne, Australia; 5Sunshine Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; 6Westmead Cancer Care Centre, Sydney, Australia; 7GenesisCare, Sydney, Australia.
Narmafotinib treatment reduced tumor
growth & proliferation
Ki67 Positive Cells (%)
Tumor volume (mm3)
600
400
200
✱✱✱
60
40
20
0
Vehicle
0.3
0.2
Vehicle
Narma
500
400
300
200
100
0.1
0
5
Vehicle
Narma
10
15
20
25
30
0.05
0.00
Vehicle
500
450
400
300
200
100
0
Narma
70
75
80
85
90
95
100
105
✱
growth increase
growth increase
ns
6
N=10
N=10
N=3
Vehicle
Narma
Mean ± SD; p-values determined using Welch’s t test
300
****
200
150
✱✱✱✱
100
****
50
****
N=8
N=1
N=6
2
4
6
8
10
Treatment Day
Vehicle
Adagrasib 2.5mg/kg QD
Dose-dependent increase in treatment duration
100mg 200mg
400mg
Dose-dependent reduction in tumor burden
11
10
9
8
(non-imaging confirmed progression)
7
6
100mg
200mg
400mg
5
4
➢ There were five confirmed partial responses (4 at 400 mg narmafotinib;
1 at 200 mg), indicating increased response with increasing dose.
100mg narmafotinib
2
(plus gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel)
40
-20
-40
-60
-80
0
-20
-40
-60
-100
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
Days since screening
-20
Partial
response
-40
-60
-100
-100
0
0
-80
-80
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
Days since screening
400
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
Days since screening
Note: investigator read provisional analysis
References
1. Lim ST, , et al. Mol Cell. 2008;29(1):9-22.
2. Sulzmaier FJ, , et al. Nat Rev Cancer. 2014;14(9):598-610.
3. Dawson JC, , et al. Nat Rev Cancer. 2021;21(5):313-324.
4. Zhang Z, , et al. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2022;10:1040311.
5. Siegel RL, , et al. Cancer statistics, 2023. CA Cancer J Clin 2023; 73, 17-48.
6. Zaghdoudi S, et al. EMBO Mol Med. 2020;12(11):e12010.
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
Days on study
20
Tumour burden
% change from baseline
0
(plus gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel)
40
20
Tumour burden
% change from baseline
20
Tumour burden
% change from baseline
400mg narmafotinib
200mg narmafotinib
(plus gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel)
40
Note: Two doseadjusted patients
(400mg→100mg &
400mg→200mg) were
included in safety and
overall response
analysis but are not
shown on graphs.
PD
PR
Withdrawn (due
to chemo toxcity)
3
1
Part A (Phase 1b): patients with advanced pancreatic cancer
were enrolled in a 3+3 design, with narmafotinib dose
escalation (100, 200 and 400 mg), and the primary objective of
determining recommended Phase 2 dose, and assessing safety
and tolerability of oral narmafotinib administered prior to IV
administration of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel.
Part B (Phase 2a) is a Simon’s two-stage design, with the
primary objectives of assessing safety, tolerability, and efficacy
of the combination using RECIST v1.1.
Mean time on
study for
patients
receiving
100mg, 200mg
or 400mg
narmafotinib is
indicated by
bold lines on
graph.
12
➢ All participants received oral narmafotinib once daily at the selected
dose on Day -8 to Day -2 (7 doses total) of a monotherapy run-in period,
prior to first treatment cycle.
➢ Each 28-day treatment cycle includes IV gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel
on Days 1, 8 and 15, and oral narmafotinib priming on Days 3 to 6, 10 to
13, and 24 to 27, inclusive.
7. Jiang H, et al. Nat Med. 2016;22(8):851-860.
8. Von Hoff DD, et al. N Engl J Med. 2013;369(18):1691-703
9. Wainberg , et al. Lancet. 2023 Oct 7;402(10409):1272-1281.
➢ 6 patients on 400 mg narmafotinib had mean treatment
duration of 8.3 months, with 4 of 6 patients on study for >6
months.
➢ Historical median duration of treatment for gemcitabine &
nab-paclitaxel is 3.9 - 4.1 months; median time to treatment
failure/duration of response is ~5 months8,9.
➢ Narmafotinib in combination SOC was generally welltolerated.
10. Zhang B, et al. Adv Sci (Weinh). 2021;8(16):e2100250.
* p < 0.05
** p < 0.01
12
14
AMP945 40mg/kg QD
Adagrasib 2.5mg/kg QD +
AMP945 40mg/kg QD
1400
1200
1000
✱
800
600
✱
400
200
0
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Treatment Day
Vehicle
Adagrasib 100mg/kg QD
AMP945 80mg/kg QD
Adagrasib 100mg/kg QD
+ AMP945 80mg/kg QD
Mean ± SEM; p-values determined using 2-way ANOVA with Sidak’s multiple comparison test (left panel)
or unpaired t test (right panel).
Preclinical KRAS G12C mutant cancer model: MIA PaCa-2 (pancreatic) and NCIH2122 (lung) subcutaneous xenograft model treated with vehicle, narmafotinib
alone, adagrasib alone or narmafotinib in combination with adagrasib.
4. Clinical dose-dependent benefit of narmafotinib in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane®) standard of care as
first-line therapy in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer: ACCENT trial (provisional analysis of Phase 1b)
The ACCENT trial (NCT05355298) is a Phase 1b/2a, open label
study of the pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy of
narmafotinib in combination with gemcitabine and nabpaclitaxel (Abraxane®) standard of care (SOC), as first-line
therapy in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. The trial
is a single-arm open-label study conducted in two stages.
KRAS insensitive
NCI-H2122 model
250
Mean ± SD; p-values
determined using
one-way ANOVA or
Welch’s t test.
Preclinical pancreatic cancer model: Patient-derived TKCC10lo cell line subcutaneous xenograft model
treated with vehicle, narmafotinib alone, gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel or narmafotinib in combination
with gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel.
Narma
KRAS sensitive MIA
PaCa-2 model
0
4
2
KRAS mutations are common oncogenic drivers; KRAS G12C
inhibition can hyperactivate FAK signaling, which can lead to
fibrosis and reducing the effectiveness of treatment10.
0
8
0
Vehicle
50
55
60
65
Days post injection
✱✱✱✱
10
SHG Intensity [AU]
0.10
45
✱✱✱✱
✱✱✱
550
40
✱✱✱✱
Reduced collagen crosslinking
✱✱✱✱
600
Biref Coverage (µm3)
Picrosirius Red Intensity [AU]
✱✱
0.15
35
Narma
Narmafotinib treatment reduced tumor
fibrosis
Reduced collagen deposition
90% of mice
treated with a
narmafotinib
combined
with
gemcitabine/
nab-paclitaxel
sustain
sensitivity to
chemotherapy
600
0.0
0
Narmafotinib + Gem/nab-PTX
Gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel (days 7 & 10)
✱✱
0.4
Narmafotinib
growth increase
80
Gem/nab-PTX
700
Reduced pFAK
pFAK DAB Intensity [AU]
✱
800
Vehicle
growth increase
Reduced
proliferation
Reduced tumor growth
Narmafotinib (day1:pm-day4:am)
5. Narmafotinib increases and sustains
tumor responsiveness to KRAS G12C
inhibitor adagrasib
Tumour volume change (%)
➢ FAK is a non-receptor tyrosine
kinase that acts through
numerous signaling pathways
to mediate communication
between cells and their
environment.
➢ FAK plays a crucial role in
normal cellular stress
response1.
➢ Aberrant FAK signaling has been implicated in the
progression of cancer, where it is involved in promoting
tumor growth, adhesion, angiogenesis, invasion, and
migration, as well as immunomodulation and remodeling of
the fibrotic tumor microenvironment2-4.
➢ FAK is frequently overexpressed in a variety of cancers,
including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma4, a highly
fibrotic and aggressive malignancy with a poor 5-year
survival rate5, in which high FAK expression correlates with
poor prognosis6,7.
3. Narmafotinib improves responsiveness to gemcitabine
and nab-paclitaxel; tumors showed enhanced sensitivity to
chemotherapy with sustained reduction in growth
Tumor Volume Change (%)
2. Narmafotinib treatment
directly affects the tumor and
microenvironment
Tumor Volume (mm3 )
1. Narmafotinib (AMP945) is a selective and
orally bioavailable inhibitor of Focal Adhesion
Kinase (FAK)
*** p < 0.001
**** p < 0.0001
6. Conclusions
➢ Narmafotinib reduces tumor growth and fibrosis in a patientderived pancreatic cancer xenograft model
➢ Narmafotinib enhances sensitivity to gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel
in preclinical models to sustain tumor growth reduction and
increase overall survival
➢ Preclinical analysis indicates that narmafotinib shows efficacy in
combination with KRAS G12C inhibitor adagrasib
➢ In the clinic (Phase 1b), narmafotinib combined with
gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel demonstrated promising activity in a
dose-dependent manner in response and duration of treatment
➢ Five confirmed partial responses (4 at 400 mg narmafotinib;
1 at 200 mg), indicating increased response with increasing
dose
➢ 400 mg of narmafotinib and gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel
mean duration of treatment was 8.3 months, outperforming historical SOC ~4 months
➢ Narmafotinib in combination SOC was generally welltolerated
Contact
Terrie-Anne Cock PhD
E: TerrieAnne@ampliatx.com
W: www.ampliatx.com
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