An anti-PMEL antibody−drug conjugate with a Gq/11 inhibitor payload in GNAQ/GNA11-mutant melanomas: a phase 1 trial

Abstract Metastatic uveal melanoma (mUM) is an aggressive cancer with limited treatment options; 85−90% of tumors harbor activating GNAQ and GNA11 mutations. Uveal melanoma cells also express PMEL (also known as PMEL17 or gp100), a melanocyte lineage antigen. DYP688, a novel biology-matched antibody−drug conjugate, binds surface PMEL and delivers the potent Gα q /Gα 11 (G q/11 ) inhibitor SDZ475 as payload by internalization. This dose-escalating first-in-human phase 1 study of DYP688 in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma and other GNAQ / GNA 11 -mutant melanomas assessed safety as the primary endpoint and pharmacokinetics and preliminary antitumor activity as secondary endpoints. Sixty-six patients received varying DYP688 doses and schedules. Grade 3 treatment-related adverse events occurred in five patients (7.6%), including one dose-limiting toxicity of grade 3 hypotension. Objective responses were seen in 13 out of 66 patients (19.7%) and tumor reduction in 47 out of 66 patients (71.2%). Median progression-free survival was 7.2 (95% CI: 5.3–7.8) months. In summary, DYP688 was well tolerated and showed preliminary efficacy, supporting this novel therapeutic approach. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05415072 .