26 December 2023 | Tuesday | News
Image Source | Public Domain
Company to discontinue its three Phase 3 posoleucel studies following separate, pre-planned DSMB futility analyses concluding the studies were unlikely to meet their primary endpoints; no safety concerns identified
Company to prioritize capital preservation and review strategic options
AlloVir, Inc. (Nasdaq: ALVR), an allogeneic T cell immunotherapy company, provided an update on its three Phase 3 clinical trials with posoleucel, an investigational off-the-shelf multi-virus-specific T cell therapy, which targets six viral pathogens in immunocompromised individuals: adenovirus (AdV), BK virus (BKV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) and JC virus (JCV). The company will discontinue its three global Phase 3 posoleucel studies – for prevention of clinically significant infections or diseases by multiple viruses, treatment of virus-associated hemorrhagic cystitis (vHC), and treatment of adenovirus (AdV) – following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (allo-HCT). The company made the determination following three pre-planned analyses by three independent Data Safety Monitoring Boards (DSMBs) each of which recommended stopping its respective trial for futility after a review of the data suggested that each study was unlikely to meet its primary endpoint. There were no observed safety concerns raised by any of the DSMBs.
AlloVir is in the process of notifying regulatory agencies and clinical trial investigators involved in these trials of the findings.
"While we are disappointed by the unexpected outcome of these trials, we are encouraged by the apparent safety profile of posoleucel,” said Diana Brainard, MD, Chief Executive Officer of AlloVir. “In light of the DSMB recommendations, we will discontinue the prevention, vHC and AdV Phase 3 trials. We will continue to analyze the data from these studies to understand any variables that may have impacted outcomes or any apparent subpopulation benefits. We thank the patients, investigators and staff who participated in the trials.”
Dr. Brainard continued, “We established pre-planned futility analyses across these three Phase 3 trials, as each assessed a potentially highly innovative treatment for patients suffering with severe and complex medical conditions lacking significant prior clinical development, and we also expected the trials would require substantial additional capital to bring them to completion. With these current results, we will immediately shift our focus to preserve our substantial remaining capital, review our pipeline and assess strategic options.”
AlloVir will review strategic alternatives for the Company and its portfolio of virus-specific T cell therapies. Such alternatives may include a merger, sale, divestiture of assets, licensing, or other strategic transaction. As of September 30, 2023, AlloVir had cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments of $213.3 million.
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