FDA Grants Fast Track Designation to Cue Biopharma

Cue Biopharma, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on injectable biologics designed to selectively target tumor-specific T cells directly within a patient’s body, announced on Oct. 4, 2022 that FDA has granted Fast Track designation to CUE-101 for the treatment of patients with human papilloma virus (HPV16+) recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) as a monotherapy and in combination with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab).

Fast Track is a process designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drug candidates to treat serious conditions and fulfill an unmet medical need. Therapeutic candidates with Fast Track designation may be eligible for accelerated approval and priority review if supported by clinical data.

CUE-101 is currently being evaluated in a Phase Ib trial as a monotherapy for the treatment of second line and beyond patients with HPV16+ R/M HNSCC and as a first-line treatment in a Phase I dose escalation and expansion trial in combination with pembrolizumab for the same patient population.

“We are very pleased to have received Fast Track designation from the FDA for CUE-101. This designation not only underscores the large unmet need for patients with R/M head and neck cancer who currently rely on available non-targeted therapies, but also highlights the potential of CUE-101 to provide a significant clinical benefit,” said Matteo Levisetti, senior vice-president, clinical development of Cue Biopharma, in a company press release. “To date in its Phase Ib clinical trials, CUE-101 has demonstrated a favorable tolerability profile and single-agent anti-tumor activity in monotherapy as well as encouraging anti-tumor clinical activity in combination with pembrolizumab, supporting the potential to improve overall survival for these patients. We look forward to providing periodic updates and remain committed to advancing the development of CUE-101 to provide patients with a potentially more effective and better tolerated treatment option. We anticipate initiating a registrational trial for CUE-101 monotherapy by mid-2023.”

Source: Cue Biopharma