A phase II study of BTI-322, a monoclonal anti-CD2 antibody, for treatment of steroid-resistant acute graft-versus-host disease

BTI-322, a rat monoclonal IgG2b directed against the CD2 antigen on T cells and natural killer (NK) cells, blocks primary and memory alloantigen proliferative responses in vitro. We have evaluated the pharmacokinetics and safety of BTI-322 during treatment of 20 transplant recipients with steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Treatment consisted of BTI-322 by intravenous (IV) bolus or 30-minute infusion at approximately 0.1 mg/kg/d for 10 days in addition to continuing high-dose steroids and tacrolimus or cyclosporine. Pharmacokinetic sampling was performed in 10 patients; the t1/2 +/- SE was 9.1 +/- 1.3 hours, the Cmax was 2,549 +/- 291 ng/mL, the Vd was 3.97 +/- 0.95 L, and the Vd/kg was 0. 05 +/- 0.01 L/kg. Ten patients experienced transient dyspnea sometimes accompanied by nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and tachycardia shortly after the initial bolus dose of drug, but serious drug-related adverse events were not seen during the remainder of the infusions. At the end of treatment (day 11), there were six patients with complete responses and five with a reduction in grade of GVHD for a total response rate of 55% (95% confidence interval [CI], 32% to 77%). Antibodies targeting CD2 may be active in the treatment of acute GVHD, and evaluation of a humanized form of BTI-322 is warranted.