Efineptakin Alfa Shows Promise in Treating Kaposi Sarcoma, a Rare Type of Cancer

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Efineptakin alfa, a long-acting immunoglobulin fusion protein, has shown promising results in treating patients with Kaposi sarcoma, a rare and aggressive type of cancer. According to preliminary findings from the phase 1 CITN-17 study, efineptakin alfa was tolerable and led to responses in patients with Kaposi sarcoma, including those with HIV-associated disease. The study, which was conducted in the US, enrolled patients with histologically confirmed Kaposi sarcoma who were more than 18 years of age and had an ECOG performance status of less than 2.

Among response-evaluable patients who received efineptakin alfa, the objective response rate was 42.9%, with three patients experiencing stable disease and one patient having progressive disease. Notably, all patients who responded to efineptakin alfa had HIV, and two of the three responders received dose level 2 of the agent. The safety data showed that there were no deaths reported among all patients who received efineptakin alfa, and the median number of treatments with efineptakin alfa was 3.5 doses.

The study employed a 3+3 design, with patients receiving efineptakin alfa at a dose of 480 µg/kg, 960 µg/kg, or 1200 µg/kg for 4 doses administered intramuscularly every 9 weeks. The primary end point was to examine the safety of efineptakin alfa over the 3 escalating dose levels and to identify a maximum tolerated dose. Secondary end points included the objective response rate in patients with Kaposi sarcoma and examining the kinetics of CD4- and CD8-positive T cells in the blood.

Kaposi sarcoma is a rare type of sarcoma that is often associated with HIV infection. It is characterized by the growth of cancerous cells in the skin, lymph nodes, and other organs. The disease can be aggressive and difficult to treat, with limited treatment options available. Efineptakin alfa, with its potential to enhance T-cell mediated antitumor activity, may offer a new hope for patients with this devastating disease. The study's findings suggest that efineptakin alfa may be a potentially effective option for treating Kaposi sarcoma, particularly in patients with HIV-associated disease.

In other news, a Ramsgate man is running the London Marathon dressed as a human bone to raise awareness of sarcoma and funds for charity Sarcoma UK. Elliott Cobb-Webb, 33, is transforming his grief into action after his father, Paul, died from aggressive sarcoma cancer just six months after diagnosis. Meanwhile, a woman who was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma, a type of bone cancer, at the age of 23, has spoken out about her experiences and how she has overcome the challenges of her diagnosis to become a mother. Chrissy Cruickshanks, 27, from Bristol, was diagnosed with the rare cancer in 2019 and underwent chemotherapy and surgery to treat the disease.