U.S. Food and Drug Administration accepts GSK’s application for ZEJULA (niraparib) in late stage ovarian cancer with priority review

On June 24, 2019 GlaxoSmithKline plc reported that TESARO, an oncology-focused business acquired by GSK, submitted a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for ZEJULA (niraparib) (Press release, GlaxoSmithKline, JUN 24, 2019, View Source [SID1234537220]). The application was granted priority review and has an action date of 24 October 2019.

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The sNDA supports a potential new indication for the treatment of advanced ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer patients who have been treated with three or more prior chemotherapy regimens and whose cancer is associated with either:

BRCA mutation or
Homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) and have progressed more than six months after the last platinum-based chemotherapy.
Mary Lynne Hedley, Ph.D., President and Chief Operating Officer of TESARO, said, "The results of the QUADRA study demonstrate that ZEJULA is active as a late-line treatment for patients beyond those with BRCA mutations. With this study, we continue to advance our mission to provide more patients with ovarian cancer an opportunity to benefit from treatment with ZEJULA."

Dr Hal Barron, Chief Scientific Officer and President, R&D, GSK, said: "We know ZEJULA plays an important role in helping women with ovarian cancer whose disease has progressed despite initial therapy. Our hope is that over time, our ongoing clinical trials will demonstrate that this medicine can benefit even more patients."

The niraparib sNDA is supported by data from the QUADRA trial. Data from the QUADRA trial were recently published in Lancet Oncology.[1]

About QUADRA

QUADRA is a large multicenter, open-label, single-arm, phase 2 study that evaluated the safety and activity of niraparib in adult patients with relapsed, high-grade serous epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who were treated with three or more previous chemotherapy regimens. Patients received oral niraparib 300 mg once daily continuously until disease progression. The primary objective was the proportion of patients achieving an investigator-assessed confirmed overall response in patients with homologous recombination deficiency (HRD)-positive tumours (including patients with BRCA and without BRCA mutations) sensitive to their last platinum-based therapy. Additional objectives of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of niraparib in the broad late-line ovarian cancer population overall, and in subgroups defined by clinical and molecular biomarkers, such as platinum-sensitivity and BRCAmut and HRD status."

About Ovarian Cancer

Approximately 22,000 women are diagnosed each year with ovarian cancer in the United States, and more than 65,000 women are diagnosed annually in Europe. Ovarian cancer is the fifth most frequent cause of cancer death among women. Despite high response rates to platinum-based chemotherapy in the second-line advanced treatment setting, approximately 85% of patients will experience recurrence within two years.

About niraparib

Niraparib is an oral, once-daily PARP inhibitor that is currently being evaluated in three pivotal trials. TESARO is building a robust niraparib franchise by assessing activity across multiple tumor types and by evaluating several potential combinations of niraparib with other therapeutics. The ongoing development program for niraparib includes a Phase 3 trial in patients with first-line ovarian cancer (the PRIMA trial), a Phase 3 trial for the treatment of patients with germline BRCA-mutated, metastatic breast cancer (the BRAVO trial), and a registrational Phase 2 treatment trial in patients with ovarian cancer (the QUADRA trial). Several combination studies are also underway, including trials of niraparib plus pembrolizumab in metastatic, triple-negative breast cancer and advanced, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (the TOPACIO trial) and niraparib plus bevacizumab in recurrent, platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer (the ENGOT-OV24/AVANOVA trial). Janssen Biotech has licensed rights to develop and commercialize niraparib specifically for patients with prostate cancer worldwide, except in Japan.

MorphoSys Presents Primary Analysis Data from L-MIND Study of Tafasitamab (MOR208) in combination with Lenalidomide in r/r DLBCL at ICML 2019

On June 22, 2019 MorphoSys reported Primary Analysis Data from L-MIND Study of Tafasitamab (MOR208) in combination with Lenalidomide in r/r DLBCL at ICML 2019 (Press release, MorphoSys, JUN 22, 2019, View Source [SID1234537216])

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MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment; MDAX & TecDAX; Nasdaq: MOR) presented data from the primary analysis (cut-off date November 30, 2018) of the ongoing single-arm phase 2 clinical trial known as L-MIND in an oral presentation at the 15th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma (ICML) in Lugano, Switzerland.

The L-MIND study enrolled patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (r/r DLBCL), who are ineligible for high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). The primary analysis data reported today included 80 patients enrolled into the trial who had received tafasitamab and lenalidomide and had been followed-up as per protocol for at least one year. Efficacy results in this update are based on response rates assessed by an independent review committee for all 80 patients. Patients enrolled had a median age of 72 years and had received a median of two prior treatment lines.

The primary endpoint, defined as best objective response rate (ORR) compared to published data on the respective monotherapies, has been met. The ORR was 60% (48 out of 80 patients), and the complete response (CR) rate was 43% (34 out of 80 patients). 82% of the CRs were PET (positron emission tomography)-confirmed. The median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 12.1 months with a median follow-up of 17.3 months. Responses were durable with a median duration of response (mDoR) of 21.7 months. Median overall survival (mOS) was not reached (NR) (95% CI 18.3 months – NR) with a median follow-up time of 19.6 months. The 12-month OS rate was 73.3%.

Efficacy parameters, such as response rates, showed comparable results in most patient subgroups of interest, including rituximab refractory versus non-refractory and primary refractory versus non-primary refractory, amongst others.

The L-MIND treatment combination was generally well tolerated in this study; infusion-related reactions (IRRs) for tafasitamab were reported for only 6% of the patients and were limited to grade 1. The most frequent treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) with a toxicity grading of 3 or higher were neutropenia in 48%, thrombocytopenia in 17%, and anemia in 7% patients each. Treatment-related serious adverse events (SAEs) occurred in 15 (18.5%) patients, the majority of which were infections or neutropenic fever. 37 (43%) patients required dose reduction with lenalidomide, 62 patients (78%) could stay on a daily lenalidomide dose of 20 mg or higher.

"We are very pleased by the results from the primary analysis of the L-MIND study and are especially encouraged by the durability of the responses and the OS that we are seeing", commented Dr. Malte Peters, Chief Development Officer of MorphoSys AG. "If approved, we believe that with tafasitamab in combination with lenalidomide we can offer a chemo-free treatment option to patients with r/r DLBCL who are ineligible for HDC and ASCT. We remain highly committed to completing the submission of a BLA to the FDA by end of this year."

"The results from the L-MIND study presented today at the ICML meeting in Lugano are very encouraging. We are particularly pleased to see such a high complete response rate and a prolonged response duration, which is unusual in this population of relapsed or refractory DLBCL. The number of patients on this study with a complete remission was 43%; the probability that these patients remain in remission 21 months after they started treatment was 93% based on Kaplan Meier analysis of DoR", commented Professor Gilles Salles, Chair of the Clinical Hematology Department at the University of Lyon, France, and lead investigator of L-MIND.

L-MIND is designed to investigate the antibody tafasitamab in combination with lenalidomide in patients with r/r DLBCL who are not eligible for high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation. Tafasitamab is an investigational humanized Fc-enhanced monoclonal antibody directed against CD19 and is currently in clinical development in blood cancer indications.

Details about the presentation on L-MIND data at ICML 2019:
Abstract publication number: 124
Session name: Session 11 – New Drug Combinations
Session date and time: Saturday, June 22, 2019, 08:30am-10:00am CEST
Presentation time: 08:30am CEST
Venue: Lugano Convention Centre (Palazzo dei Congressi), Room A and B; Lugano, Switzerland

MorphoSys will host a "Meet the Team" event in New York on June 25, 2019, 10:00am EDT (3:00pm BST, 4:00pm CEST). The presentation, a live webcast and a replay of the webcast will be made available at View Source

MEI Pharma Presents Updated Clinical Data from the ME-401 Phase 1b study in Patients with Indolent B-cell Malignancies at the 2019 International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma (ICML)

On June 22, 2019 MEI Pharma, Inc. (NASDAQ: MEIP), a late-stage pharmaceutical company focused on advancing potential new therapies for cancer, reported that updated data presented in an oral presentation at ICML 2019 from a Phase 1b study of investigational ME-401, a selective oral inhibitor of PI3K delta, demonstrate an 83% overall response rate in patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) follicular lymphoma (FL) and r/r chronic lymphocytic leukemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) (Press release, MEI Pharma, JUN 22, 2019, View Source [SID1234537215]).

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Additionally, the data demonstrate:

Overall response rates of 75% to 100% across all patient groups receiving ME-401.
100% overall response rate in all patients with CLL/SLL.
A lower rate of delayed, grade 3 adverse events observed in patients dosed on the intermittent schedule (IS) (e.g. 9.7% diarrhea/colitis for IS dosing).
Durable responses in patients with FL and CLL/SLL across both CS and IS dosing groups.
Median PFS not reached.
The ME-401 ICML 2019 presentation can be accessed on the MEI Pharma website.

"The Phase 1b interim results presented at ICML support the high level of confidence we hold in ME-401 as a potential new treatment for patients with B-cell malignancies; we were particularly excited to see continued strong and durable responses in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, especially as the majority of the patients tested expressed unmutated IGHV, which is generally associated with a poorer prognosis," said Daniel P. Gold, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of MEI Pharma. "ME-401’s rapid and preferential accumulation in tumor cells, among other properties, we believe enable it to be successfully administered on our intermittent dosing schedule, which results in lower toxicity while maintaining potency as presented in our data to date. Based on the pharmacological profile of ME-401, we see important opportunities to investigate various combination regimens to treat B-cell malignancies."

MEI has initiated a global Phase 2 study to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of ME-401 as a single agent in patients with follicular lymphoma after failure of at least two prior systemic therapies including chemotherapy and an anti-CD20 antibody. The Phase 2 TIDAL study (Trials of PI3K DeltA in Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma) is intended to support an accelerated approval marketing application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

ME-401 Phase 1b Clinical Study
The ongoing Phase 1b clinical study is evaluating ME-401 as a monotherapy and in combination with rituximab or with zanubrutinib in patients with r/r B-cell malignancies. Over 85 patients have been enrolled to date, of which data on 71 patients were presented today at ICML 2019 including 17 with r/r CLL/SLL and 54 patients with r/r FL.

ME-401 was administered once daily at 60 mg for two 28-day cycles and then on an intermittent schedule of once daily dosing for the first 7 days of each subsequent 28-day cycle (i.e. the intermittent schedule or IS). A previous cohort of monotherapy patients in the study was treated with ME-401 administered continuously once daily or were switched to the intermittent schedule in later cycles (i.e. the continuous schedule or CS).

The overall response rate in patients with r/r FL or r/r CLL/SLL was 83% (54/64); the overall response rate in patients with r/r FL was 80% (40/50) and it was 100% in patients with CLL/SLL (14/14). The overall response rate in patients ranged from 75% to 100% across all groups. Median progression free survival was not reached with a median follow up of approximately 9 months.

Evaluable Patients

FL

(N = 50)

CLL/SLL

(N = 14)*

Total

(N = 64)

All groups

40 (80%)

14 (100%)

54 (83%)

By treatment arm

ME-401 monotherapy

ME-401 + rituximab

30/38 (79%)

10/12 (83%)

11/11 (100%)

3/3 (100%)

41/49 (84%)

13/15 (87%)

By schedule

IS Group

CS Group

15/20 (75%)

25/30 (83%)

5/5 (100%)

9/9 (100%)

20/25 (80%)

34/39 (87%)

*IGHV unmutated in 11/13 CLL patients (85%) tested

ME-401 was generally well-tolerated and no grade 4 or grade 5 adverse events have been observed in the Phase 1b study. Among drug related grade 3 adverse events of special interest, the most common are diarrhea/colitis at 9.7% (3/31) on IS dosing and 20% (8/40) on CS dosing, and rash with none on IS dosing and 10% (4/40) on CS dosing.

The rate of the development of delayed, grade 3 adverse events was improved in patients on the intermittent dosing schedule. There were no isolated grade 3 elevations in ALT and AST; such elevations were transient and in each case were associated with grade 3 diarrhea or rash.

Grade 3 Drug Related Adverse Events of Special Interest

CS (n = 40)

N (%)

IS (n = 31)

N (%)

Diarrhea/Colitis

8 (20.0%)

3 (9.7%)

Rash, all types

4 (10.0%)

0

ALT/AST increased

3 (7.5%)

1 (3.2%)

Mucositis

1 (2.5%)

0

Pneumonia/Pneumonitis

5 (12.5%)

1 (3.2%)

About ME-401
ME-401 is an investigational oral phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase ("PI3K") delta inhibitor; PI3K delta is often overexpressed in cancer cells and plays a key role in the proliferation and survival of hematologic cancers. ME-401 displays high selectivity for the PI3K delta isoform and has distinct pharmaceutical properties from other PI3K delta inhibitors. It is being clinically evaluated in patients with various B-cell malignancies. An ongoing, global, Phase 2 study is evaluating the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of ME-401 as a single agent in patients with follicular lymphoma after failure of at least two prior systemic therapies including chemotherapy and an anti-CD20 antibody. The Phase 2 study is intended to support an accelerated approval new drug application with the U.S Food and Drug Administration.

ADC Therapeutics Presents Clinical Data on ADCT-402 and ADCT-301 in Subtypes of Relapsed or Refractory Lymphoma at the 15th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma

On June 21, 2019 ADC Therapeutics, an oncology drug discovery and development company that specializes in the development of antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), presented data from subgroup analyses of its 183-patient Phase I clinical trial of ADCT-402 (loncastuximab tesirine) and 128-patient Phase I trial of ADCT-301 (camidanlumab tesirine), as well as preclinical data demonstrating the potential of both product candidates in combination with other therapies, at the 15th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma (15-ICML) in Lugano, Switzerland (Press release, ADC Therapeutics, JUN 21, 2019, View Source [SID1234596059]).

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"The ADCT-402 data presented at 15-ICML demonstrate its signficant anti-tumor activity and manageable tolerability profile at doses greater than or equal to 120 μg /kg in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL)," said John Radford, MD, FRCP, FMedSci, Professor of Medical Oncology at The University of Manchester and Director of Research at The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK. "It is particularly encouraging to see the responses in older patients and patients with transformed or primary refractory disease, as in many cases these are very frail and sick patients who have not responded to multiple previous therapies. I believe ADCT-402 has the potential to become an important part of the treatment paradigm for patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL, if approved, and look forward to the forthcoming interim results of the pivotal Phase II trial."

Regarding the ADCT-301 data, Graham P. Collins, MB, BS, DPhil, Consultant and Lymphoma Lead, Oxford University Hospitals, said, "The response rates we have observed in patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma in the Phase I trial of ADCT-301 are very encouraging, as these patients have been heavily pretreated with a median of five prior therapies, including stem cell transplantation and highly active agents like brentuximab vedotin and checkpoint inhibitors. The data support further evaluation of ADCT-301 in a pivotal Phase II trial in relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma."

Chris Martin, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of ADC Therapeutics, added, "On the heels of these encouraging data, we look forward to completing enrollment in the pivotal 140-patient Phase II trial of ADCT-402 in patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL and, if successful, preparing to file a potential Biologics License Application in the second half of 2020. In addition, based on the compelling data from our 128-patient Phase I trial of ADCT-301 and recent end of Phase I meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, we plan to start a pivotal Phase II trial in 100 patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma in the coming months."

ADCT-402 Oral Presentations at ICML

Analysis of Efficacy and Safety of Loncastuximab Tesirine (ADCT-402) by Demographic and Clinical Characteristics in Relapsed/Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (Abstract 054)

Data were presented from Phase I clinical trial subgroup analyses of response to ADCT-402 at doses ≥120 μg/kg in 129 patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). As of the October 16, 2018 data cutoff, 129 patients were evaluable for safety and 127 patients were evaluable for efficacy.

Key findings from the oral presentation include:

Older patients had a higher overall response rate (ORR) than younger patients (≥ 75 years: 59.1%; 65-74 years: 52.8%; <65 years: 33.3%)
Patients with transformed disease had a higher ORR than those with de novo DLBCL (54.8% vs 39.6%)
Median duration of response (DoR) was longer for refractory patients than relapsed patients, and median DoR was comparable for patients to their most recent therapy vs relapsed patients
No difference in ORR was observed between patients who had received ≤3 lines vs >3 lines of prior therapy
The most common grade ≥3 treatment-emergent adverse events were: gamma-glutamyltransferase increased (20.2%), neutropenia (17.8%), neutrophil count decreased (14%), anaemia (11.6%), thrombocytopenia (11.6%) and platelet count decreased (10.9%)

The Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) Loncastuximab Tesirine (ADCT-402) Targeting CD19 Shows Strong In Vitro Anti-Lymphoma Activity Both as Single Agents and In Combination (Abstract 084)

This preclinical study evaluated the activity of ADCT-402 as a single agent and in combination with approved drugs in lymphoma cell lines. The findings support the continued evaluation of ADCT-402 in ongoing clinical trials in patients with R/R DLBCL and other types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Key findings from the oral presentation include:

ADCT-402 demonstrated significant activity in vitro in a wide panel of lymphoma cell lines and sensitivity to ADCT-402 was higher in B-cell lymphomas than T-cell lymphomas
ADCT-402 in vitro activity correlated with CD19 expression at both the cell surface and RNA level
When tested in combination with other drugs, ADCT-402 demonstrated strong synergy with BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax (4/4 cell lines), PI3K-delta inhibitor idelalisib (4/4 cell lines) and chemotherapy agent bendamustine (3/4 cell lines)

ADCT-301 Oral Presentation and Poster at ICML

Analysis of Clinical Determinants Driving Safety and Efficacy of Camidanlumab Tesirine (ADCT301, Cami) in Relapsed/Refractory (R/R) Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL) (Abstract 055)

Data were presented from Phase I clinical trial subgroup analyses of response to ADCT-301 in patients with R/R classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). At the time of the data cutoff of April 14, 2019, 77 patients were evaluable for safety and 75 patients were evaluable for efficacy.

Key findings from the oral presentation include:

ORR for ADCT-301 45 μg/kg was 86.5% and ORR was high across all subgroups, suggesting significant anti-tumor activity across the R/R cHL population
The recommended dose for the pivotal Phase II trial of ADCT-301 in cHL is 45 μg/kg every three weeks (Q3W) dosed for two cycles, followed by 30 μg/kg Q3W to improve tolerability while maintaining anti-cancer activity
Previously reported cases of Guillain-Barré syndrome/radiculopathy did not appear related to prior checkpoint inhibitor exposure

The Anti-CD25 Antibody-Drug Conjugate Camidanlumab Tesirine (ADCT-301) Presents a Strong Preclinical Activity Both as Single Agent and In Combination in Lymphoma Cell Lines (Poster 270)

This preclinical study evaluated activity of ADCT-301 as a single agent in 57 lymphoma cell lines and in combination with select drugs in T-cell lymphoma-derived cell lines. The findings support the continued clinical development of ADCT-301 in Hodgkin lymphoma, T-cell lymphomas and other types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and identify potential agents for future ADCT-301 combination clinical trials.

Key findings from the poster include:

ADCT-301 in vitro activity was highly correlated with CD25 expression at both the cell surface and RNA level
When tested in combination with other drugs, ADCT-301 demonstrated strong synergy with the mTOR inhibitor everolimus (4/4 cell lines), PI3K inhibitor copanlisib (3/4 cell lines), BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax (3/4 cell lines) and HDAC inhibitor vorinostat (3/4 cell lines)
Jay Feingold, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Clinical Development at ADC Therapeutics, said, "Our presentations at 15-ICML represent the strong dataset we continue to amass for ADCT-402 and ADCT-301 in difficult-to-treat patients, both young and old, with subtypes of relapsed or refractory lymphoma, including DLBCL and Hodgkin lymphoma. The clinical activity we have observed in these populations, which include heavily pretreated patients with unfavorable genetics and primary refractory disease, increases our enthusiasm for the potential utility of ADCT-402 and ADCT-301 as single agents and in combination with other agents, if approved."

The three oral presentations and one poster will be available after 15-ICML under "Posters & Presentations" in the News & Media section of ADC Therapeutics’ web site at www.adctherapeutics.com.

About ADCT-402
ADCT-402 (loncastuximab tesirine) is an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) comprised of a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to human CD19, conjugated through a linker to a pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) dimer toxin. Once bound to a CD19-expressing cell, ADCT-402 is internalized into the cell where enzymes release the PBD-based warhead. CD19 is a clinically validated target for the treatment of B-cell malignancies. The PBD-based warhead has the ability to form highly cytotoxic DNA interstrand cross-links, blocking cell division and resulting in cell death. ADCT-402 is being evaluated in a pivotal Phase II clinical trial in patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (NCT03589469), a Phase Ib trial in combination with ibrutinib in patients with R/R DLBCL or mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) (NCT03684694) and a Phase Ib trial in combination with durvalumab in patients with R/R DLBCL, MCL or follicular lymphoma (NCT03685344). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted orphan drug designation to ADCT-402 for the treatment of relapsed or refractory DLBCL and MCL.

About ADCT-301
ADCT-301 (camidanlumab tesirine) is an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) comprised of a monoclonal antibody that binds to CD25 (HuMax-TAC, licensed from Genmab A/S), conjugated to the pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) dimer payload tesirine. Once bound to a CD25-expressing cell, ADCT-301 is internalized into the cell where enzymes release the PBD-based warhead. The intra-tumor release of its PBD warhead may cause bystander killing of neighboring tumor cells. In addition, the PBD warhead will trigger immunogenic cell death, which in turn will strengthen the immune response against tumor cells. ADCT-301 is being evaluated in ongoing Phase Ia/Ib clinical trials in patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NCT02432235), as well as a Phase Ib clinical trial in solid tumors (NCT03621982). A pivotal Phase II clinical trial of ADCT-301 in 100 patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma is expected to commence in 2019.

Daiichi Sankyo Provides Update on FDA Review of Quizartinib for the Treatment of Patients with Relapsed/Refractory FLT3-ITD AML

On June 21, 2019 Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited (hereafter, Daiichi Sankyo) reported that the company received a Complete Response Letter (CRL) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the New Drug Application (NDA) of quizartinib for the treatment of adults with relapsed/ refractory FLT3-ITD acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (Press release, Daiichi Sankyo, JUN 21, 2019, View Source [SID1234537219]).

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"Daiichi Sankyo is evaluating the Complete Response Letter and will determine next steps in the U.S.," said Antoine Yver, MD, MSc, Executive Vice President and Global Head, Oncology Research and Development, Daiichi Sankyo.

About Quizartinib

Quizartinib, an oral selective type II FLT3 inhibitor, is the lead product in the AML Franchise of Daiichi Sankyo. Quizartinib was approved by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) of Japan under the brand name of VANFLYTA for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed/refractory FLT3-ITD AML, as detected by an MHLW-approved test, on June 18, 2019.

A broad and comprehensive development program is underway with quizartinib including phase 3 development in combination with standard chemotherapy in newly diagnosed FLT3-ITD AML (QuANTUM-First) in the U.S., EU and Japan; phase 1/2 development for pediatric and young adult relapsed/refractory FLT3-ITD AML in North America and the EU; and phase 1 development in combination with an investigational MDM2 inhibitor, milademetan, for relapsed/refractory FLT3-ITD AML and newly-diagnosed FLT3-ITD AML unfit for intensive chemotherapy in the U.S.

Milademetan is an investigational agent that has not been approved for any indication in any country. Safety and efficacy have not been established. Quizartinib is only approved for use in Japan.

About FLT3-ITD AML

AML is an aggressive blood and bone marrow cancer that causes uncontrolled growth and accumulation of malignant white blood cells that fail to function normally and interfere with the production of normal blood cells.[1] In the U.S. this year, it is estimated that there will be more than 19,000 new diagnoses of AML and more than 10,000 deaths from AML.[2] The five-year survival rate of AML reported from 2007 to 2013 was approximately 27 percent, which was the lowest of all leukemias.[1]

FLT3 gene mutations are one of the most common genetic abnormalities in AML.[3] FLT3-ITD is the most common FLT3 mutation, affecting approximately one in four patients with AML.[4],[5],[6],[7] FLT3-ITD is a driver mutation that presents with high leukemic burden and has poor prognosis and a significant impact on disease management for patients with AML.5,[8] Patients with FLT3-ITD AML have a worse overall prognosis, including an increased incidence of relapse, an increased risk of death following relapse and a higher likelihood of relapse following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation as compared to those without this mutation.[9],[10]