Evaluating Axatilimab as a treatment option for chronic graft-versus-host disease

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation represents the only curative option for many patients with high risk hematological malignancies but is associated with a number of severe complications. Of these, chronic graft versus host disease (cGVHD) is the leading cause of late non-relapse mortality and of much morbidity. For over 30 years, glucocorticoids have been the mainstay of first line therapy, yet approximately 50% patients are refractory or dependent and traditionally there have been few options for these patients. In recent years, newer treatments including ruxolitinib and belumosudil have shown success in the second and third line settings. However, further effective nontoxic treatments are a necessary to address this complex debilitating disease. Axatilimab is an antibody to colony stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1), a tyrosine kinase receptor. CSF1R signaling dependent macrophages and monocytes are key mediators of inflammation and fibrosis in chronic GVHD, and thus, this therapy offers a targeted approach. Here we summarize the key clinical studies that have been performed to date of this novel therapy.