Potential of IMNN-001 in epithelial ovarian cancer: assessment of clinical findings.

Abstract

Introduction: IMNN-001 is designed for local and durable delivery of a pluripotent anti-tumor cytokine, IL-12, using an expression plasmid and a synthetic lipopolymer delivery system. IMNN-001, delivered intraperitoneally in combination with chemotherapy, is currently in a Phase 3 trial for the front-line treatment of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

Areas covered: This report details IMNN-001 preclinical and clinical development, demonstrating local and durable production of IL-12, minimal systemic exposure and manageable safety profile, as well as its antitumoral effects in a total of six completed trials in ovarian cancer. In the OVATION-2 Phase 2 randomized trial, neo- and adjuvant chemotherapy combined with IMNN-001 produced a numerical 13 month increase in overall survival, with even greater benefit in tumors that lacked DNA homologous repair activity. In translational studies, IMNN-001-induced changes in the tumor microenvironment are consistent with the observed induction of IL-12 and IFN-γ levels at the tumor site and support the hypothesis that IMNN-001 treatment alters the tumor microenvironment in favor of broad immune stimulation and inhibition of immunosuppressive mechanisms.

Expert opinion: IMNN-001 gene therapy could add clinically meaningful IL-12-driven immunotherapy to newly diagnosed ovarian cancer patients. IMNN-001 holds promise for synergistic combinations with immunotherapies requiring intrinsic immune activity.