Coherus Presents Promising Early Clinical Data from Phase 1 Dose Expansion Study of CHS-114 in Patients with Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma at AACR 2025
– CHS-114 demonstrates clinical efficacy and proof of mechanism in HNSCC in combination with toripalimab –
– Confirmed partial response in heavily pretreated PD-1 refractory patient supports expansion in HNSCC and gastric cancer in combination with toripalimab –
– A second-line Phase 1 dose optimization study in HNSCC and gastric cancer is ongoing; results expected in the first half of 2026–
– Coherus to host investor and analyst call with study investigator, Dr. Douglas Adkins, Washington University, today at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time–
REDWOOD CITY, Calif., April 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Coherus BioSciences, Inc. (“Coherus,” NASDAQ: CHRS), today announced data from its ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating CHS-114, a selective, cytolytic anti-CCR8 antibody, as monotherapy and in combination with toripalimab in patients with recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) evaluating two pharmacologically active doses of CHS-114 for dose optimization. These data are being presented at the 2025 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting, taking place April 25-30, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois.
The data showed a confirmed partial response in a heavily pretreated PD-1 refractory patient, a > 50% depletion in CCR8+ Treg, and an increase in CD8+ T cells, consistent with anti-tumor activity and demonstrating proof of mechanism. Importantly, the safety profile was consistent with advanced disease and the known safety profile of toripalimab. These data support continued evaluation of CHS-114 in combination with other therapies, including toripalimab. Results support advancement and ongoing enrolment in Part 3 of the study evaluating CHS-114 with toripalimab in HNSCC (n = 40).
CHS-114 is an afucosylated CCR8 monoclonal antibody and is the only known selective molecule designed to exclusively target human CCR8 with no off-target binding and preferentially kills CCR8+ Tregs within the tumor microenvironment while preserving CD8+ effector T cells and Tregs in normal tissue.
“The data to date demonstrate a robust depletion of Treg cells in tumors, with a manageable safety profile, and a patient with a meaningful clinical response, which is highly encouraging,” said Rosh Dias, M.D., Coherus’ Chief Medical Officer. “Furthermore, the profound increase in CD8+ T cells, making these tumors immunologically hot, is exciting as it supports CHS-114 being combined with several treatment modalities including T Cell Engagers. Head and neck cancer is an important strategic focus for Coherus, but CHS-114 has the potential, based on its mechanism of action, to treat many solid tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer and other large, underserved immuno-oncology indications, like colorectal cancer. We look forward to sharing further head and neck and gastric cancer data in the first half of next year.”
“One of the biggest challenges in oncology has been finding a treatment that depletes Treg cells and relieves immune suppression in the tumor without causing collateral autoimmune disease or affecting antitumor T cells,” said Douglas Adkins, M.D., Professor of Medicine, Director, Section of Head and Neck and Thyroid Medical Oncology, Division of Medical Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine. “These early clinical results are exactly what we’ve been hoping for and demonstrate CHS-114’s ability to remodel the tumor microenvironment in favor of anti-tumor activity. I am looking forward to exploring this treatment combination for solid tumor patients, even beyond head and neck.”
Results from Phase 1b dose expansion trial evaluating CHS-114 monotherapy and with toripalimab in HNSCC
This open-label Phase 1b clinical trial evaluated CHS-114 as a single-agent and in combination with toripalimab in 21 patients with advanced solid tumors including HNSCC. Patients received either CHS-114 alone or in combination with toripalimab (240 mg) q3w. The primary endpoint of the study was to determine dose limiting toxicities (DLTs) and treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs), with the goal of identifying two recommended doses for expansion. Key secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR) based on investigator review per RECIST v1.1 as well as pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PK/PD).
As of the data cutoff date of January 24, 2025:
CHS-114 monotherapy demonstrated Treg cell depletion (range of decrease: 52-97%), and significant increase in CD8+ T cells in the tumor, establishing proof of mechanism and confirming the doses are pharmacologically active.
CHS-114 with toripalimab had promising antitumor activity in HNSCC that warrants continued exploration.
CHS-114 administration leads to a substantial increase in CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment, providing a strong rationale for combining with toripalimab and other drugs such as T cell engagers and bispecifics.
A confirmed partial response was achieved in the high dose cohort of CHS-114 in combination with toripalimab in a heavily pre-treated PD-1 refractory patient (PD-L1 low), demonstrating CHS-114 in combination with toripalimab can potentially overcome PD-1 resistance.
CHS-114 with and without toripalimab had a manageable safety profile in HNSCC patients, with TEAEs consistent with advanced disease and the known safety profile of toripalimab.
Two CHS-114 doses were selected for dose optimization based on safety, peripheral CCR8+ Treg depletion, PK and biomarker data.
These results support continued evaluation of CHS-114 in combination with other drugs including toripalimab, with broad potential applications in many solid tumors with a high density of CCR8+ Treg cells. A second-line HNSCC dose optimization study of CHS-114 in combination with toripalimab in HNSCC and gastric cancer patients is ongoing, with anticipated results in the first half of 2026 The current study design is expected to address the regulatory requirements under Project Optimus1 and support the recommendation of a phase 2 dose by early 2026.
Conference Call Information for Investors and Analysts
Coherus Chief Development Officer, Dr. Theresa LaVallee, and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Rosh Dias, will host a presentation and discussion of new clinical data from the Phase 1 study with CHS-114 with and without anti-PD-1 antibody toripalimab with study investigator, Dr. Douglas Adkins of Washington University.
When: Monday, April 28, 2025, starting at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time
The Phase 1 study (NCT05635643) is a dose escalation, dose optimization, and expansion study evaluating CHS-114 as a monotherapy and in combination with toripalimab, a next-generation PD-1 inhibitor. Arm 1a (first-in-human dose escalation) enrolled 20 patients with advanced solid tumors including 2 patients with HNSCC and evaluated multiple dose levels (5-1200 mg) of CHS-114 monotherapy. Arm 1b evaluated two pharmacologically active doses of CHS-114 monotherapy in 12 HNSCC patients with paired tumor biopsies. Arm 2 evaluated two pharmacologically active doses of CHS-114 with toripalimab in 7 patients. Arm 3 is evaluating two pharmacologically active doses of CHS-114 with toripalimab in 40 patients with second-line HNSCC. Primary objectives are to optimize the CHS-114 dose(s) for expansion and evaluate the safety of CHS-114 with toripalimab. Secondary objectives were to evaluate the safety, PK, and antitumor activity of CHS-114 with and without toripalimab and assess biomarkers, including changes in regulatory T cells (Tregs) and CD8+ T cells in paired tumor biopsies and other immune biomarkers.
About CHS-114
CHS-114, an afucosylated, cytolytic CCR8 monoclonal antibody, is designed to selectively target human CCR8 and preferentially kill CCR8+ Tregs within the tumor microenvironment while preserving CD8+ effector T cells and Tregs in normal tissue. In preclinical studies, CHS-114 induced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and/or antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) to deplete tumoral CCR8+ Tregs. In addition, treatment with CHS-114 alone reduced tumor growth in murine models, and enhanced antitumor activity was observed in combination with anti-PD-1 treatment. CHS-114 is currently being evaluated in combination with toripalimab in two Phase 1b clinical trials in patients with advanced solid tumors, including head and neck cancer (NCT05635643) and gastric cancer (NCT06657144).
About Coherus BioSciences
Coherus is a fully integrated commercial-stage innovative oncology company with an approved next-generation PD-1 inhibitor, LOQTORZI® (toripalimab-tpzi), growing revenues and a promising pipeline that includes two mid-stage clinical candidates targeting liver, lung, head & neck, and other cancers. Our strategy is to grow sales of LOQTORZI in nasopharyngeal carcinoma and advance the development of new indications for LOQTORZI in combination with both our pipeline candidates as well as our partners’, driving sales multiples and synergies from proprietary combinations.
Coherus’ immuno-oncology pipeline includes multiple antibody immunotherapy candidates focused on enhancing the innate and adaptive immune responses to enable a robust antitumor response and enhance outcomes for patients with cancer. Casdozokitug is a novel IL-27 antagonistic antibody currently being evaluated in multiple Phase 1/2 and Phase 2 studies in patients with advanced solid tumors including in non-small cell lung cancer and in hepatocellular carcinoma. CHS-114 is a highly selective cytolytic anti-CCR8 antibody currently in Phase 1 studies in patients with advanced solid tumors, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and gastric cancer.
For more information about LOQTORZI, including the U.S. Prescribing Information and important safety information, please visit www.loqtorzi.com.
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