Pharmacotherapeutic group: Antineoplastic agents, monoclonal antibodies and antibody drug conjugates, other monoclonal antibodies and antibody drug conjugates, ATC code: L01FX31.
Mechanism of action
Zolbetuximab is a chimeric (mouse/human IgG1) monoclonal antibody directed against the tight junction molecule CLDN18.2. Zolbetuximab depletes CLDN18.2-positive cells via antibody‑dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). Cytotoxic drugs were shown to increase CLDN18.2 expression on human cancer cells and to improve zolbetuximab-induced ADCC and CDC activities.
Clinical efficacy and safety
Gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma
In both the SPOTLIGHT and GLOW studies: CLDN18.2 positivity (defined as ≥75% of tumour cells demonstrating moderate to strong membranous CLDN18 staining) was determined by immunohistochemistry on gastric or GEJ tumour tissue specimens from all patients with the VENTANA CLDN18 (43-14A) RxDx Assay performed in a central laboratory.
SPOTLIGHT (8951-CL-0301)
The safety and efficacy of zolbetuximab in combination with mFOLFOX6 was evaluated in a phase 3, double-blind, randomised, multicentre study that enrolled 565 patients whose tumours were CLDN18.2 positive, HER2-negative, with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma.
Patients were randomised 1:1 to receive zolbetuximab in combination with mFOLFOX6 (n=283) or placebo in combination with mFOLFOX6 (n=282). Zolbetuximab was administered intravenously at a loading dose of 800 mg/m2 (Day 1 of cycle 1) followed by a maintenance dose of 600 mg/m2 every 3 weeks in combination with up to 12 treatments (4 cycles) of mFOLFOX6 (oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2, folinic acid (leucovorin or local equivalent) 400 mg/m2, fluorouracil 400 mg/m2 given as a bolus and fluorouracil 2400 mg/m2 given as a continuous infusion) administered on Days 1, 15 and 29 of a 42‑day cycle. After 12 treatments, patients were allowed to continue treatment with zolbetuximab, 5‑fluorouracil and folinic acid (leucovorin or local equivalent) at the discretion of the investigator, until progression of disease or unacceptable toxicity.
Treatment with zolbetuximab continued until RECIST v1.1-defined progression of disease as determined by an independent review committee (IRC) or a subsequent anticancer treatment was initiated. Tumour assessments were performed every 9 weeks up to and including week 54, then every 12 weeks thereafter.
The primary efficacy outcome was Progression Free Survival (PFS) as assessed per RECIST v1.1 by IRC. The key secondary efficacy outcome was Overall Survival (OS).
Table 5 summarises the primary analysis (final PFS, interim OS) baseline characteristics for the SPOTLIGHT study.
Table 5. Baseline characteristics in SPOTLIGHT (primary analysis)
| Category | Zolbetuximab with mFOLFOX6 n=283 | Placebo with mFOLFOX6 n=282 |
| Age (years) |
| Median age (range) | 62 (27 to 83) | 60 (20 to 86) |
| ≥18 to ≤64 (%) | 60 | 62 |
| ≥65 (%) | 40 | 38 |
| Race (%) |
| White | 54 | 53 |
| Asian | 37 | 38 |
| American Indian or Alaskan | 3 | 3 |
| Black or African American | 2 | 1 |
| Other | 4 | 5 |
| Gender (%) |
| Male | 62 | 62 |
| Female | 38 | 38 |
| ECOG performance status |
| 0 (%) | 45 | 41 |
| 1 (%) | 55 | 59 |
| Missing data (n) | 4 | 4 |
| Mean Body Surface area (m2), (range) | 1.7 (1.2 to 2.4) | 1.7 (1.1 to 2.5) |
| Median time from diagnosis (days), (range) | 56 (2 to 3010) | 56 (7 to 5366) |
| Tumour location |
| Distal (%) | 39 | 42 |
| Proximal (%) | 37 | 30 |
| Unknown (%) | 24 | 28 |
| Missing (n) | 3 | 1 |
| Tumour Types |
| Diffuse (%) | 29 | 42 |
| Intestinal (%) | 25 | 24 |
| Other (%) | 18 | 15 |
| Mixed (%) | 11 | 5 |
| Unknown (%) | 17 | 14 |
| Missing (n) | 1 | 4 |
Table 6, Figures 1 and 2 summarise the primary analysis efficacy results for the SPOTLIGHT study.
Table 6. Efficacy Results in SPOTLIGHT (primary analysis)
| Endpoint | Zolbetuximab with mFOLFOX6 n=283 | Placebo with mFOLFOX6 n=282 |
| Overall survival |
| Number (%) of patients with events | 149 (52.7) | 177 (62.8) |
| Median in months (95% CI)a | 18.2 (16.4, 22.9) | 15.5 (13.5, 16.5) |
| Hazard ratio (95% CI)b,c | 0.750 (0.601, 0.936) |
| 2-sided p-valueb,d | 0.0107 |
| 12-month OS (%) (95% CI) | 67.7 (61.5, 73.1) | 60.0 (53.6, 65.7) |
| 18-month OS (%) (95% CI) | 50.5 (43.5, 57.0) | 38.1 (31.5, 44.5) |
| 24-month OS (%) (95% CI) | 38.8 (31.6, 45.9) | 28.4 (22.1, 35.0) |
| Progression Free Survival |
| Number (%) of patients with events | 146 (51.6) | 167 (59.2) |
| Median in months (95% CI)a | 10.6 (8.9, 12.5) | 8.7 (8.2, 10.3) |
| Hazard ratio (95% CI)b,c | 0.751 (0.598, 0.942) |
| 2-sided p-valueb,d | 0.0132 |
| 12-month PFS (%) (95% CI) | 48.9 (41.9, 55.4) | 35.0 (28.5, 41.7) |
| 18-month PFS (%) (95% CI) | 30.9 (23.8, 38.3) | 20.8 (14.5, 28.0) |
| 24-month PFS (%) (95% CI) | 24.4 (17.4, 32.1) | 14.9 (8.8, 22.5) |
a. Based on Kaplan-Meier estimate.
b. Stratification factors were region, number of metastatic sites and prior gastrectomy.
c. Based on Cox proportional hazards model with treatment, region, number of organs with metastatic sites and prior gastrectomy as the explanatory variables.
d. Based on 2-sided log-rank test.
Figure 1. Kaplan Meier Plot of Overall Survival, SPOTLIGHT Study (primary analysis)
Figure 2. Kaplan Meier Plot of Progression Free Survival, SPOTLIGHT Study (primary analysis)
GLOW (8951-CL-0302)
The safety and efficacy of zolbetuximab in combination with CAPOX was evaluated in a phase 3, double-blind, randomised, multicentre study that enrolled 507 patients whose tumours were CLDN18.2 positive, HER2-negative, with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma.
Patients were randomised 1:1 to receive zolbetuximab in combination with CAPOX (n=254) or placebo in combination with CAPOX (n=253). Zolbetuximab was administered intravenously at a loading dose of 800 mg/m2 (Day 1 of cycle 1) followed by a maintenance dose of 600 mg/m2 every 3 weeks in combination with up to 8 treatments (8 cycles) of CAPOX administered on Day 1 (oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2) and on Days 1 to 14 (capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 twice daily) of a 21-day cycle. After 8 treatments of oxaliplatin, patients were allowed to continue treatment of zolbetuximab and capecitabine at the discretion of the investigator, until progression of disease or unacceptable toxicity.
Conduct of the GLOW study was as for the SPOTLIGHT study.
Table 7 summarises the primary analysis (final PFS, interim OS) baseline characteristics for the GLOW study.
Table 7. Baseline characteristics in GLOW (primary analysis)
| Category | Zolbetuximab with CAPOX n=254 | Placebo with CAPOX n=253 |
| Age (years) |
| Median age (range) | 61 (22 to 82) | 59 (21 to 83) |
| ≥18 to ≤64 (%) | 66 | 68 |
| ≥65 (%) | 34 | 32 |
| Race (%) |
| White | 37 | 36 |
| Asian | 63 | 64 |
| American Indian or Alaskan | 0 | 0 |
| Black or African American | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 |
| Gender (%) |
| Male | 63 | 62 |
| Female | 37 | 38 |
| ECOG performance status |
| 0 (%) | 43 | 43 |
| 1 (%) | 57 | 57 |
| Missing data (n) | 1 | 3 |
| Mean Body Surface area (m2), (range) | 1.7 (1.2 to 2.3) | 1.7 (1.1 to 2.3) |
| Median time from diagnosis (days), (range) | 44 (12 to 2396) | 44 (2 to 6010) |
| Tumour location |
| Distal (%) | 39 | 38 |
| Proximal (%) | 35 | 37 |
| Unknown (%) | 26 | 25 |
| Missing (n) | 0 | 0 |
| Tumour Types |
| Diffuse (%) | 34 | 40 |
| Intestinal (%) | 14 | 16 |
| Other (%) | 13 | 11 |
| Mixed (%) | 8 | 8 |
| Unknown (%) | 30 | 25 |
| Missing (n) | 1 | 0 |
Table 8, Figures 3 and 4 summarises the primary analysis efficacy results for the GLOW study.
Table 8. Efficacy Results in GLOW (primary analysis)
| Endpoint | Zolbetuximab with CAPOX n=254 | Placebo with CAPOX n=253 |
| Overall survival |
| Number (%) of patients with events | 144 (56.7) | 174 (68.8) |
| Median in months (95% CI)a | 14.4 (12.3, 16.5) | 12.2 (10.3, 13.7) |
| Hazard ratio (95% CI)b,c | 0.771 (0.615, 0.965) |
| 2-sided p-valueb,d | 0.0236 |
| 12-month OS (%) (95% CI) | 57.5 (50.7, 63.8) | 50.8 (44.1, 57.1) |
| 18-month OS (%) (95% CI) | 38.1 (31.0, 45.2) | 28.1 (22.0, 34.7) |
| 24-month OS (%) (95% CI) | 28.9 (21.8, 36.5) | 17.4 (11.6, 24.1) |
| Progression Free Survival |
| Number (%) of patients with events | 137 (53.9) | 172 (68.0) |
| Median in months (95% CI)a | 8.2 (7.5, 8.8) | 6.8 (6.1, 8.1) |
| Hazard ratio (95% CI)b,c | 0.687 (0.544, 0.866) |
| 2-sided p-valueb,d | 0.0014 |
| 12-month PFS (%) (95% CI) | 34.9 (27.8, 42.1) | 19.1 (13.5, 25.5) |
| 18-month PFS (%) (95% CI) | 23.9 (17.1, 31.4) | 10.6 (5.7, 17.3) |
| 24-month PFS (%) (95% CI) | 14.5 (6.2, 26.2) | 7.3 (3.0, 14.2) |
a. Based on Kaplan-Meier estimate.
b. Stratification factors were region, number of metastatic sites and prior gastrectomy.
c. Based on Cox proportional hazards model with treatment, region, number of organs with metastatic sites and prior gastrectomy as the explanatory variables.
d. Based on 2-sided log-rank test.
Figure 3. Kaplan Meier Plot of Overall Survival, GLOW Study (primary analysis)
Figure 4. Kaplan Meier Plot of Progression Free Survival, GLOW Study (primary analysis)