MNK Inhibitor AUM001 in Combination With Either Pembrolizumab or Irinotecan to Treat Metastatic Colorectal Cancer

Main Inclusion criteria:

1. The participant provides written informed consent for the trial.
2. Subjects are at least 18 years of age at the time of signing the Informed Consent Form
3. Subjects with histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of locally advanced or metastatic CRC.
4. Locally determined histological diagnosis is acceptable for study entry in Module 1.
5. Subjects can be enrolled in module 1 regardless of microsatellite stability status.
6. Only subjects with CRC MSS will be enrolled in module 2, arm B'.
7. Subjects who have had >2 lines of prior therapy for their CRC.
8. Prior use of irinotecan or irinotecan containing regimens is permitted
9. CRC MSI-H patients should have been treated with a checkpoint inhibitor and have progressed on such therapy or found to be resistant, refractory or intolerant to the checkpoint inhibitor
10. Patients with an available molecularly targeted therapy such as antibodies targeting VEGF/R, EGFR, encorafenib/cetuximab, prior to study entry. Additionally, patients with driver mutations for which an FDA approved therapy is available such as BRAF V600E, HER2 or NTRK should have been offered such therapy prior to study entry.
11. CRC subjects will be eligible to enrol in Arm C' if they have failed an established 5-fluorouracil containing regimen and have progressed after oxaliplatin based or irinotecan-based combination therapy and do not have a driver mutation for which there is an approved targeted therapy.
12. Subject must have provided archival tumor tissue sample or newly obtained core or excisional or punch needle biopsy of a tumor lesion not previously irradiated.
13. Have measurable disease per RECIST 1.1 as assessed by the local site investigator/radiologist.
14. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 1.
15. Have a predicted life expectancy of greater or equal to 3 months.
16. Have adequate organ function
17. HIV infected participants must be on anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and have a well-controlled HIV infection/disease
18. Women of childbearing potential must not be breastfeeding and must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test. Must be willing to use an adequate method of contraception.
19. Women of non-childbearing potential: Evidence of post-menopausal status is required.
20. Male subjects: Non-sterilized male subjects who are not abstinent and intend to be sexually active with a female partner of childbearing potential must use a male condom plus spermicide. Male subjects should refrain from sperm donation throughout this period.

Main Exclusion Criteria

1. Has a history of another malignancy within 2 years prior to first investigational product administration, unless the malignancy was treated with curative intent and the likelihood of relapse is <5% in 2 years.
2. Has known active CNS metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis.
3. Has received prior systemic anti-cancer therapy including investigational agents within 4 weeks or 5 half-lives, whichever is shorter prior to study treatment.
4. Is currently participating in or has participated in a study of an investigational agent or has used an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study treatment.
5. Has had an allogeneic tissue/solid organ transplant.
6. Pregnant or breastfeeding
7. Has a known history or Hepatitis B (defined as HbsAg reactive) or known active Hepatitis C virus (defined as HCV RNA [qualitative] is detected) infection.
8. Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the study, interfere with the participant's participation for the full duration of the study, or is not in the best interest of the participant to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator.
9. Has a known psychiatric or substance abuse disorder that would interfere with the participant's ability to cooperate with the requirements of the study.
10. Gastrointestinal (GI) tract disease causing the inability to take oral medication.
11. Has received prior therapy with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti PD L2 agent or with an agent directed to another stimulatory or co-inhibitory T-cell receptor, and was discontinued from that treatment due to a Grade 3 or higher irAE.
12. Participants must have recovered from all radiation-related toxicities, not require corticosteroids, or have had history of radiation pneumonitis.
13. Has received a live or live-attenuated vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of study intervention.