Sponsor: Apollomics Inc. (industry)
Phase: 2
Start date: Sept. 27, 2017
Planned enrollment: 497
Vebreltinib (APL-101; formerly CBT-101, PLB1001 or bozitinib) is an oral, brain-penetrant, selective MET tyrosine-kinase inhibitor being studied in tumors driven by MET exon 14 skipping, MET amplification, or PTPRZ1–MET fusion. Although still investigational in the United States and many other jurisdictions, it has received Chinese approvals for MET exon 14–skipping non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), PTPRZ1–MET fusion-positive glioma after prior treatment, and MET-amplified NSCLC. (english.nmpa.gov.cn)
Vebreltinib is an ATP-competitive, type Ib inhibitor of the MET receptor tyrosine kinase. By inhibiting MET phosphorylation and downstream signaling, it is intended to suppress tumors dependent on abnormal MET activation. Preclinical and early clinical studies indicate that the drug crosses the blood–brain barrier, supporting its development for MET-altered gliomas. (sciencedirect.com)
In the phase II MET exon 14 NSCLC cohort, 98.1% of patients experienced a treatment-related adverse event and 48.1% had a grade 3–4 event. Common treatment-related events included peripheral edema (82.7%), QT prolongation (30.8%), increased creatinine (28.8%), hypoalbuminemia (26.9%) and hypoproteinemia (25.0%). Frequent grade 3–4 events included peripheral edema and liver-function abnormalities; no grade 5 treatment-related events were reported. Longer-term data suggested a lower overall frequency of severe toxicity and no new safety signal. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
In the randomized glioma trial, grade 3–4 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 7% of vebreltinib recipients versus 12.2% with chemotherapy, with no treatment-related deaths. In the clear-cell sarcoma study, severe rash was an important concern when vebreltinib was combined with immunotherapy. (ascopubs.org)
Last updated: Sep 2026
Goal: Assess the antitumor activity, safety, and tolerability of APL-101 in MET-altered cancers, including its use with an EGFR inhibitor after acquired MET-amplification–mediated resistance in NSCLC.
Patients: Adults with measurable, unresectable or metastatic NSCLC or other solid tumors selected by MET exon 14 skipping, amplification, fusion, or wild-type MET with HGF/MET overexpression; a separate cohort includes primary CNS tumors with MET alterations. Eligibility generally requires ECOG performance status 0–1, or KPS ≥70 for primary CNS tumors. Cohorts differ by prior treatment and MET-inhibitor exposure; enrollment in the previously MET-inhibitor–treated NSCLC cohort is complete.
Design: Multicenter, nonrandomized phase 2 study with biomarker-defined cohorts and no control arm. The phase 1 lead-in has been completed.
Treatments: Most cohorts receive oral APL-101 (vebreltinib) alone. Patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC and acquired MET amplification after an initial response to first-line EGFR inhibition receive APL-101 added to their EGFR inhibitor. Vebreltinib is a selective, ATP-competitive MET tyrosine-kinase inhibitor intended to block signaling from aberrantly activated MET; it can penetrate the central nervous system. In separate studies, objective response rates were 75% in MET exon 14–skipping NSCLC and 48.8% in MET-amplified NSCLC; these are not results from this trial.
Outcomes: The primary outcome is independently reviewed objective response rate using RECIST v1.1, RANO for CNS tumors, or other tumor-appropriate criteria. Secondary outcomes include duration of response, investigator-assessed response, clinical benefit rate, time to progression, and progression-free and overall survival; safety and tolerability are also assessed.
Burden on patient: Estimated moderate burden. Oral treatment avoids infusion visits, but participation requires biomarker confirmation using existing tissue, a new biopsy if safe and feasible, or an approved liquid biopsy. Repeated imaging, laboratory and safety assessments, and clinic travel are expected; the supplied protocol does not specify their frequency or whether intensive pharmacokinetic blood sampling continues in phase 2.
Last updated: Sep 2026
Major Inclusion Criteria:
1. Men and women 18 years of age or older.
2. 9 cohorts will be enrolled:
* Cohort A1 / Exon 14 NSCLC MET inhibitor naive in first line: Histologically or cytologically confirmed NSCLC with Exon 14 skipping mutations; all histologies; unresectable or metastatic disease (Stage 3b/4); treatment-naive subjects in first line; not received any MET inhibitor and no known MET kinase inhibitor resistance mutations
* Cohort A2 / Exon 14 NSCLC - MET inhibitor naïve: Histologically or cytologically confirmed NSCLC with Exon 14 skipping mutations; all histologies; unresectable or metastatic disease (Stage 3b/4); pretreated subjects refractory to or intolerant of standard therapies with no more than three lines of prior therapy in the unresectable or metastatic setting; not received any MET inhibitor and no known MET kinase inhibitor resistance mutations
* Cohort B / Exon 14 NSCLC MET inhibitor experienced: ENROLLMENT COMPLETED
* Cohort C / MET amplification basket tumor types excluding primary CNS tumors: Any solid tumor type regardless of histology excluding primary CNS tumors, with MET amplification; unresectable or metastatic disease, refractory to or intolerant of standard therapies, or refused standard therapies, or if therapy was unavailable or unfeasible, with no more than 3 prior lines of therapy in the unresectable or metastatic setting; not received any MET inhibitor and no known MET kinase inhibitor resistance mutations
* Cohort C1 / MET amplification and wild-type EGFR NSCLC: NSCLC regardless of histology, harboring MET amplification and wild-type EGFR; unresectable or metastatic disease, previously untreated or treated with no more than 3 prior lines of therapy in the unresectable or metastatic setting; not received any MET inhibitor and no known MET kinase inhibitor resistance mutations
* Cohort C2 / EGFR positive NSCLC with acquired MET amplification (APL-101 Add-on Therapy): Unresectable or metastatic NSCLC regardless of histology, harboring EGFR activating mutations with acquired MET-Amplification as resistance mechanism to the EGFR-I; developed resistance to first-line EGFR-inhibitor therapy after an initial response (documented PR for at least 12 weeks); radiological documentation of disease progression per RECIST on first-line EGFR inhibitor therapy; currently on an EGFR-inhibitor therapy and agrees to receive APL-101 as an add-on therapy during the study; no history of interstitial lung disease (ILD)/pneumonitis, Grade ≥3 liver toxicity or QT prolongation with EGFR-I therapy; not received any MET inhibitor and no known MET kinase inhibitor resistance mutations
* Cohort D / MET fusion basket tumor types excluding primary CNS tumors: any solid tumor type regardless of histology excluding primary CNS tumors; unresectable or metastatic disease, refractory to or intolerant of standard therapies, or refused standard therapies, or if therapy was unavailable or unfeasible, with no more than 3 prior lines of therapy in the unresectable or metastatic setting; not received any MET inhibitor and no known MET kinase inhibitor resistance mutations
* Cohort E / Primary CNS tumors with MET alterations: subjects with primary CNS tumors who meet inclusion criteria of MET dysregulations defined as single or co-occurred MET fusion including PTPRZ1-MET (ZM) fusion, MET Exon 14 skipping mutations, or MET amplification; refractory to or intolerant of standard therapies, or refused standard therapies, or if therapy was unavailable or unfeasible, with no more than 3 prior lines of therapy in the unresectable or metastatic setting; not received any MET inhibitor and no known MET kinase inhibitor resistance mutations; neurological symptoms controlled on a stable/decreasing dose of steroids for at least 2 weeks before C1D1
* Cohort F / Basket tumor types harboring wild-type MET with over-expression of HGF and MET: any solid tumor type regardless of histology harboring wild-type MET with overexpression of HGF and MET; Unresectable or metastatic disease, refractory to or intolerant of standard therapies, or refused standard therapies, or if therapy was unavailable or unfeasible, with no more than 3 prior lines of therapy in the unresectable or metastatic setting; not received any MET inhibitor and no known MET kinase inhibitor resistance mutations
3. Treated or untreated asymptomatic parenchymal CNS disease or leptomeningeal disease is allowed.
4. Presence of ≥1 measurable lesion (scan done ≤28 days of C1D1) to serve as target lesion according to relevant criteria
5. ECOG performance status of 0-1. For subjects with primary CNS tumors, KPS score ≥70.
6. Acceptable organ function
7. For all prior anticancer treatment, a duration of 30 days or 5 half-lives of the agents used, whichever is shorter, must have elapsed, and any encountered toxicity must have resolved to levels meeting all the other eligibility criteria prior to the first dose of study treatment. Palliative radiotherapy to non-target lesions should be completed within 2 weeks prior to APL-101 administration.
8. Adequate cardiac function
9. Women of child-bearing potential must have a negative serum or Beta-hCG at screening or evidence of surgical sterility or evidence of post-menopausal status
10. No planned major surgery within 4 weeks of first dose of APL-101
11. Expected survival (life expectancy) ≥ 3 months from C1D1
12. Provision of sample; e.g. archival or a fresh tumor biopsy sample (if safe and feasible) either from the primary or a metastatic site) or liquid biopsy sample (if tumor tissue is insufficient or lacking, and approved by the sponsor) is required for prospective central lab confirmation for study entry (subjects with previously confirmed molecular status by the Sponsor designated central lab or FDA approved NGS based MET testing may be exempted, subjected to Sponsor approval.
Major Exclusion Criteria:
1. Hypersensitivity to APL-101, excipients of the drug product, or other components of the study treatment regimen.
2. Known actionable mutation/gene rearrangement of EGFR (except for NSCLC subjects in Cohort C and C-2), ALK, ROS1, RET, NTRK, KRAS, and BRAF.
3. Use or intended use of any other investigational product, including herbal medications, through Study Treatment Termination.
4. Active uncontrolled systemic bacterial, viral, or fungal infection or clinically significant, active disease process, which in the opinion of the investigator makes the risk: benefit unfavorable for the participation of the trial.
5. Life-threatening illness, significant organ system dysfunction or comorbid conditions, or other reasons that, in the investigator's opinion, could compromise the subject's safety or the integrity of the study outcomes, or interfere with the absorption or metabolism of APL-101.
6. Unstable angina or myocardial infarction within 1 year prior to first dose of APL-101, symptomatic or unstable arrhythmia requiring medical therapy, history of congenital prolonged QT syndrome, prolonged QT interval corrected by Fridericia formula (QTcF) at screening, or concurrent treatment with a medication that is a known risk for prolonging the QT interval. Chronic controlled atrial fibrillation is not excluded.
7. Historical seropositive results consistent with active infection for hepatitis C virus (HCV) or hepatitis B virus (HBV) with high viral loads not actively managed with antiviral therapy and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive subjects who are not clinically stable or controlled on their medication (asymptomatic subjects with CD4+ T-cell (CD4+) counts ≥ 350 cells/μL and have not had an opportunistic infection within the past 12 months prior to first dose of APL-101 would be eligible for study entry. If history is unclear, relevant test(s) at Screening will be required to confirm eligibility.
8. Known significant mental illness or other conditions such as active alcohol or other substance abuse that, in the opinion of the investigator, predisposes the subject to high risk of noncompliance with the protocol treatment or assessments.
9. Unable to swallow orally administered medication whole.
10. Impairment of gastrointestinal function or gastrointestinal disease that may significantly alter drug absorption
11. Women who are breastfeeding
12. History of another malignancy within 3 years prior to C1D1. A subject with the following malignancies is allowed if considered cured or unlikely to recur within 3 years:
1. Carcinoma of the skin without melanomatous features.
2. Curatively treated cervical carcinoma in situ.
3. Bladder tumors considered superficial such as noninvasive (T1a) and carcinoma in situ (T1s), thyroid papillary cancer with prior treatment, prostate cancer which has been surgically or medically treated and not likely to recur within 3 years.
13. Subjects who are unable or unwilling to discontinue excluded medications (drugs with known QTc risk and known strong cytochrome P450 \[CYP\]3A4 inducer and/or strong inhibitors) for at least 5 half-lives prior to first dose of study drug. Subjects may qualify if such medication(s) can be safely replaced with alternate medications with less risk of drug-drug interaction.
14. Subjects with active COVID-19 infection.
15. Symptomatic and/or neurologically unstable CNS metastases, or who require an increase in steroid dose to control CNS disease. Subjects who have been receiving a stable steroid dose for at least 2 weeks prior to C1D1 may be allowed.
Melbourne, Australia
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Status: Recruiting
Winnipeg, Canada
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Edmonton, Canada
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Montreal, Canada
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Toronto, Canada
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Brest, France
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Lyon, France
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Marseille, France
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Villejuif, France
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Paris, France
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Tatabánya, Hungary
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Budapest, Hungary
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Bologna, Italy
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Milan, Italy
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Milan, Italy
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Padua, Italy
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Meldola, Italy
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Singapore, Singapore
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Barcelona, Spain
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Badalona, Spain
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Madrid, Spain
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Barcelona, Spain
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Barcelona, Spain
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Valencia, Spain
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Taipei, Taiwan
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Surrey Quays, United Kingdom
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Manchester, United Kingdom
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London, United Kingdom
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Los Angeles, California, 90048, United States
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Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States
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Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033, United States
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Madison, Wisconsin, 53792, United States
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Saint Petersburg, Russia
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Status: Active, not recruiting
Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States
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Status: Active, not recruiting
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
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Status: Active, not recruiting