Immunocore presents initial multiple ascending dose data for HIV functional cure candidate in an oral presentation at CROI 2025
Immunocore presents initial multiple ascending dose data for HIV functional cure candidate in an oral presentation at CROI 2025
IMC-M113V was well tolerated, with no dose-limiting toxicities
Signals of dose-dependent reduction in active reservoir, and viral control after complete antiretroviral treatment interruption in some PLWH
Enrollment in MAD portion of the trial continues with higher doses being evaluated
(OXFORDSHIRE, England & CONSHOHOCKEN, Penn. & GAITHERSBURG, Md., US, 10 March 2025) Immunocore Holdings plc (Nasdaq: IMCR) (“Immunocore” or the “Company”), a commercial-stage biotechnology company pioneering and delivering transformative immunomodulating medicines to radically improve outcomes for patients with cancer, infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases, has today shared initial data from the multiple ascending dose (MAD) portion of its Phase 1/2 STRIVE trial of IMC-M113V, its functional cure candidate for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
The data, presented in an oral session at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) 2025, in San Francisco, shows that IMC-M113V – the first T cell receptor bispecific therapy to target HIV in the clinic – is well tolerated and shows signals of dose-dependent viral control after antiretroviral treatment (ART) is interrupted. The MAD portion of the trial continues and is evaluating higher doses, to be followed by expansion cohorts at one or more doses.
“I am encouraged by the safety profile and initial signals of anti-viral activity of IMC-M113V in the Phase 1/2 trial. It is uncommon to be able to interrupt ART for 12 weeks or longer, with the vast majority of people showing viral rebound by 4 weeks,” said Dr. Beatriz Mothe, Associate Investigator, HIV Unit, Infectious Diseases Department, IrsiCaixa, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Barcelona. “I look forward to further data from the trial at higher doses, as part of wider efforts to find solutions that could enable people with HIV to remain healthy without lifelong antiretroviral treatment.”
Initial MAD data
The MAD portion of the Phase 1/2 dose escalation trial, reported at CROI, included 16 people living with HIV (PLWH) who were stable on ART. Enrollment excluded individuals who had started ART less than 12 weeks after acquiring HIV. While continuing ART, three sequential cohorts evaluated weekly IV infusions of IMC-M113V up to doses of 60 mcg (n=5), 120 mcg (n=5), and 300 mcg (n=6) administered over 12 weeks, followed by analytical treatment interruption (ATI) for up to 12 weeks, after which participants resumed their prior ART regimen.
All doses were well tolerated and no serious adverse events (AEs) or dose limiting toxicities were observed. Mild (Grade 1) cytokine release syndrome, consisting of fever alone that resolved within 4 hours, was observed in five of the six PLWH in the 300 mcg cohort when receiving their first 300 mcg dose. There were no discontinuations due to AEs. One person withdrew prior to completing the dose schedule in the 300 mcg cohort for reasons unrelated to IMC-M113V.
Dose-dependent increases in serum cytokines were observed, consistent with the mechanism of action, with the highest levels of T cell-derived cytokines at 300 mcg.
In the 15 evaluable PLWH, delayed viral rebound and/or viremia control at any point during ATI was observed in 0 of 5 PLWH at 60 mcg, 1 of 5 at 120 mcg, and 2 of 5 at 300 mcg. The 3 PLWH with evidence of viral control had a viral load of approximately 200 c/mL at week 8. The historical rate for this observation is 5%1. Furthermore, 2 of these 3 PLWH remained off ART for the entire 12 week ATI period that was pre-specified in the protocol.
In the 3 PLWH with evidence of viral control, the pattern consisted of initial viral rebound followed by viral reduction to approximately 200 c/mL, including 1 PLWH at 300 mcg who had initial viremia to >104 c/mL before subsequent decrease to
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