Turnstone begins Phase I/II NSCLC trial of viral therapy

Turnstone Biologics Inc. (Ottawa, Ontario) began the Phase I/II Sandpiper trial of its adenovirus expressing melanoma-associated antigen A3 (MAGEA3)/MG1 Maraba virus expressing MAGEA3 (MG1-MAGEA3) plus Keytruda pembrolizumab to treat metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) expressing MAGEA3. The open-label, Canadian trial is enrolling 55 previously treated patients. The primary endpoints are safety in the Phase I part and objective response rate (ORR) in the Phase II part.

Patients will receive the priming component of the product -- intramuscular adenovirus expressing MAGEA3 -- at 1x10¹⁰ plaque forming units on day 1 followed by the boosting component -- MG1 Maraba virus expressing MAGEA3 -- on days 15 and 18 at 1x10¹⁰ or 1x10¹¹ plaque forming units plus Keytruda...