Non-responders to checkpoint inhibitors generally have low tumor T cell infiltration and could benefit from immunotherapy that activates dendritic cells, with priming of tumor-reactive T cells as a result. Such therapies may be augmented by providing tumor antigen in the form of cancer vaccines. Our aim was to study the effects of mitazalimab (ADC-1013; JNJ-64457107), a human anti-CD40 agonist IgG1 antibody, on activation of antigen-presenting cells, and how this influences the priming and anti-tumor potential of antigen-specific T cells, in mice transgenic for human CD40. Mitazalimab activated splenic CD11c⁺ MHCII⁺ dendritic cells and CD19⁺ MHCII⁺ B cells within 6 h, with a return to baseline within 1 week. This was associated with a dose-dependent release of proinflammatory cytokines in the blood, including IP-10, MIP-1α and TNF-α. Mitazalimab administered at different dose regimens with ovalbumin protein showed that repeated dosing expanded ovalbumin peptide (SIINFEKL)-specific CD8⁺ T cells and increased the frequency of activated ICOS⁺ T cells and CD44^hi CD62L^- effector memory T cells in the spleen. Mitazalimab prolonged survival of mice bearing MB49 bladder carcinoma tumors and increased the frequency of activated granzyme B⁺ CD8⁺ T cells in the tumor. In the ovalbumin-transfected tumor E.G7-OVA lymphoma, mitazalimab administered with either ovalbumin protein or SIINFEKL peptide prolonged the survival of E.G7-OVA tumor-bearing mice, as prophylactic and therapeutic treatment. Thus, mitazalimab activates antigen-presenting cells, which improves expansion and activation of antigen-specific T cells and enhances the anti-tumor efficacy of a model cancer vaccine.

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