Dr. Falchook on KTN3379 in Advanced Tumors

Gerald S. Falchook, MD, director, Drug Development, Sarah Cannon Research Institute, discusses a phase Ib study examining the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and antitumor activity of the anti-ERBB3 agent KTN3379 in adults with advanced tumors. The agent was studied alone and with targeted therapies.

The targeted agents that KTN3379 was combined with in this study included trastuzumab (Herceptin), cetuximab (Erbitux), erlotinib (Tarceva), and vemurafenib (Zelboraf). Each of the agents in these combinations were administered at full doses, Falchook explains.

KTN3379 is a monoclonal antibody designed to target receptors of EGFR, HER2, ERBB3, and ERBB4. It binds to a unique epitope with high affinity, which is associated with a longer half-life and slower clearance compared with other agents in its class. These characteristics can help engage the target for a longer amount of time, Falchook says.