AbbVie to Acquire TeneoOne and Its Lead Multiple Myeloma Drug

On June 24th, AbbVie decided to acquire TeneoOne, a subsidiary of Teneobio, to lay hands on the latter’s new multiple myeloma drug, TNB-383B. Earlier in 2019, the two companies had signed a strategic collaboration to develop and commercialize the candidate. TNB-383B is a bispecific antibody that targets both BCMA and T-cell receptor associated CD3 antigen. The therapy directs the body’s immune system to attack multiple myeloma cells that express BCMA.

Clinical Evaluations

Interim analysis of an ongoing Phase I trial of TNB-383B returned encouraging results showing an objective response rate (ORR) of 79 percent, very good partial response (VGPR) or better of 63 percent, and complete response (CR) of 29 percent at doses ≥40 mg in the dose-escalation cohorts with a median follow-up time of 6.1 months (n=24). The median duration of response (DOR) has not been reached.

In terms of safety, the most common adverse events observed after treatment were cytokine release syndrome (CRS), fatigue, and neutropenia. Among patients who received the recommended dose (60 mg administered intravenously every three weeks) in Phase 2 trials, the incidence of CRS was 67%, usually on the day or the next day of the first dose.

“Since the beginning of this partnership, we have been encouraged by the potential of TNB-383B as a promising new therapy for multiple myeloma, and our analysis of the Phase 1 data to date has allowed us to make this decision with confidence,” said Michael Severino, M.D., vice chairman and president, AbbVie.

“While other BCMA and CD3 bispecific therapies require weekly administration, the recommended Phase 2 dose of TNB-383B will investigate infrequent dosing of every 3 weeks for intravenous administration, which is an important treatment factor for people living with multiple myeloma.”

Multiple Myeloma Market

Multiple myeloma is considered the second most common blood cancer, behind acute lymphoblastic leukemia. There are approximately 160,000 newly diagnosed cases worldwide each year, accounting for more than 10% of all blood cancers. The global multiple myeloma market was worth $8.3 billion in 2020, with predictions to grow at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 11.2%, reaching $17.5 billion by 2027.

The currently approved drugs include:

1. Immunomodulators: Revlimid (lenalidomide) and Pomalyst (pomalidomide)
2. Proteasome inhibitors: Velcade (bortezomib), Kyprolis (carfilzomib), Ninlaro (ixazomib)
3. Cells surface protein (CD38 / SLAMF7) targeting drugs: Darzalex (daratumumab), Empliciti (elotuzumab), Sarclisa (isatuximab)
4. Apoptosis inducer (BCL-2 inhibitor): Venclexta (venetoclax)
5. Selective inhibitors of nuclear export (SINE / XPO1 inhibitor): Xpovio (selinexor)
6. B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) targeting drug / CAR-T: Abecma (idecabtagene vicleucel / ide-cel), Blenrep (belantamab mafodotin)
7. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor: Farydak (panobinostat)

Celgene’s Revlimid is currently the best-selling drug for multiple myeloma treatment. Newer drugs, including Darzalex, are used in combination with existing treatment standards such as Revlimid and Velcade.

Manufacturers currently investing in the R&D and manufacturing of these drugs include AbbVie, Amgen, Autolus Therapeutics, Bluebird Bio, BMS, Celgene, GSK, ImmunoGen, Johnson & Johnson (Janssen), Karyopharm Therapeutics, Merck, Nanjing Legend, Oncopeptides AB, Ono Pharmaceutical, Poseida Therapeutics, Roche (Genentech), Sanofi, Takeda Pharmaceuticals, etc.

Related Article: BMS, bluebird’s Multiple Myeloma Drug Becomes First BCMA Targeting CAR-T Therapy to Snag FDA Okay

Author

Rajaneesh K. Gopinath