On February 3, 2021 Indapta Therapeutics Inc. ("Indapta"), a biotechnology company focused on developing and commercializing a proprietary, first-in-class, off-the-shelf, non-engineered, allogeneic FcRγ-deficient natural killer (G-NK) cell therapy to treat multiple cancers, reported the appointments of Lori Kunkel, M.D., as its Senior Clinical Advisor, Robert Sikorski, M.D., Ph.D., as its Founding Chief Medical Officer, and Jim Weiss as a member of its Board of Directors (Press release, Indapta Therapeutics, FEB 3, 2021, View Source [SID1234574578]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"I’m delighted to welcome these industry veterans to our team at this exciting time in Indapta’s evolution into the clinic," said Guy DiPierro, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Indapta. "Lori and Bob bring vast and relevant clinical experience and strategic expertise to help shepherd Indapta through our clinical trials in multiple indications and phases of development. Dr. Kunkel’s knowledge of oncology drug development and commercialization, along with Dr. Sikorski’s extensive cell therapy experience, will help accelerate our clinical programs in multiple cancer types. And Jim Weiss will bring data-driven digitally-based commercial strategy, marketing and communications savvy as product development and launches become increasingly virtual in the post pandemic landscape."

Dr. Kunkel has more than two decades of experience in oncology and immunology drug development and commercialization. Previously, she was the acting Chief Medical Officer at Loxo Oncology, which was acquired by Eli Lilly, and subsequently served on the Board of Directors. Earlier, she served as Chief Medical Officer at Pharmacyclics, which was acquired by AbbVie, and at Proteolix, Inc., which was acquired by Onyx Pharmaceuticals, which in turn was acquired by Amgen, where she contributed to the global approvals of cancer therapeutics IMBRUVICA and Kyprolis. Dr. Kunkel spent 10 years in academic medicine and served as a faculty member at the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the University of California, Los Angeles. She currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Curis, Inc., Nurix Therapeutics, OricPharma and Maverick Therapeutics.

"Indapta’s promising preclinical data combined with its proprietary manufacturing process and its innovative management team is what drew me to the company," said Dr. Kunkel. "I’m looking forward to working with Guy, the management team and Board members and applying my experience to position Indapta’s products in the current therapy regimen, design the clinical trials, work with the FDA, and help rapidly advance Indapta’s G-NK cell therapy through the clinic and too approval."

Dr. Sikorski has extensive drug development experience, having most recently served as Chief Medical Officer at FivePrime Therapeutics, a public biotechnology company, where he led the development of a biologics pipeline that spanned preclinical discovery through proof of concept to pivotal trials. Previously, he led an early-stage clinical development group at Medimmune/AstraZeneca that advanced six novel molecules into clinical trials. He played a leading role in building Medimmune/AstraZeneca’s oncology portfolio through corporate partnering and acquisition efforts. Earlier in his career, he led late-stage clinical development and post marketing efforts for several commercial drugs and drug candidates at Amgen. He began his career as a Howard Hughes Research Fellow and Visiting Scientist at the National Cancer Institute and the National Human Genome Research Institute in the laboratory of Nobel Laureate Harold Varmus. Dr. Sikorski has served as an editor for Science and the Journal of the American Medical Association.

"The team at Indapta has developed a novel and powerful allogeneic NK cell product and manufacturing process that could serve as a platform for multiple next-generation anti-cancer therapies," said Dr. Sikorski. "I’m excited by the opportunity to bring this cutting-edge science to the treatment of cancer patients."

Mr. Weiss has 30 years of experience in strategic media and marketing communications in the healthcare and technology sectors and has been involved in nearly every aspect of corporate, product and organizational communications. He is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of W2O, the leading independent provider of analytics-driven, digital-first marketing and communications to the healthcare sector. During his career, Mr. Weiss has been recognized as one of the most influential people in health communications, receiving many accolades, including Top 50 Health Influencer and Top 25 Innovator in Communications. He began his career at Genentech during its formative commercial years. Mr. Weiss currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the Cancer Research Institute and The Commons Project and is an Advisory Board member of both the Newhouse School and the Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association.

"Jim has advised me at numerous companies, from private to public, and from preclinical to commercial, driving value through key inflection points," said Dov Goldstein, M.D., Chief Financial and Business Officer of Indapta. "A founder and owner of a company that has grown to include more than 1,500 employees, Jim understands how to scale and evolve a company through various stages of success. We know our efforts at Indapta will benefit from his insights while serving on our Board."

Indapta’s G-NK Cell Therapy

Indapta Therapeutics is developing a universal, allogeneic G-NK cell therapy designed to substantially improve the cytotoxicity of monoclonal antibody therapy in multiple cancers. G-NK cells are a specific and potent subset of NK (natural killer) cells with specialized anti-tumor activity resulting from an epigenetic change, rather than engineering. Indapta has further enhanced G-NK cells via specific G-NK cell subset selection and its proprietary manufacturing process which, when combined, produce a G-NK cell therapy that demonstrates higher efficacy, persistence and enhanced cryopreservation than multiple monoclonal antibody therapies alone or monoclonal antibody therapies combined with conventional NK cells.

When a monoclonal antibody binds to the tumor target and to Indapta’s G-NK cell therapy product, it initiates the release of dramatically more cancer killing compounds than conventional NK cells, allowing for increased efficacy and potentially less frequent dosing. Indapta’s off-the-shelf G-NK cell therapy is further differentiated from other NK cell therapies in that it is a cell banked product with low variability. In vivo studies have demonstrated the safety of Indapta’s G-NK cell therapy.

On February 3, 2021 Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited (hereafter, Daiichi Sankyo) reported that the first patient has been dosed in HERTHENA-Lung01, a phase 2 study evaluating patritumab deruxtecan, a HER3 directed DXd antibody drug conjugate (ADC), in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated metastatic or locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) previously treated with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) and platinum-based chemotherapy (Press release, Daiichi Sankyo, FEB 3, 2021, https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210203005120/en/HERTHENA-Lung01-Phase-2-Study-of-Daiichi-Sankyo%E2%80%99s-Patritumab-Deruxtecan-Initiated-in-Patients-with-EGFR-Mutated-NSCLC [SID1234574577]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women, and accounts for about one-fifth of all cancer deaths globally, with 80 to 85 percent classified as NSCLC.1,2 For patients with metastatic disease, prognosis is particularly poor, as only 6 to 10 percent live beyond five years after diagnosis.3

Approximately 25 to 30 percent of lung cancers worldwide have an EGFR-activating mutation, and it is estimated that about 83 percent of all NSCLC tumors express the HER3 protein, which can be associated with an increased incidence of metastases, reduced survival and resistance to standard of care treatment.4,5,6 There currently are no HER3 directed medicines approved for the treatment of NSCLC.

"Our focus is to rapidly and strategically advance the clinical development program of patritumab deruxtecan in cancers where HER3 is frequently overexpressed and is associated with poor prognosis," said Gilles Gallant, BPharm, PhD, FOPQ, Senior Vice President, Global Head, Oncology Development, Oncology R&D, Daiichi Sankyo. "This study will further inform whether targeting HER3 with an antibody drug conjugate may become a potential treatment strategy to overcome diverse mechanisms of EGFR TKI and chemotherapy resistance seen in patients with metastatic EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer."

Exploratory biomarker analyses from the ongoing phase 1 study of patritumab deruxtecan in patients with previously treated metastatic or locally advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC were recently presented at the IASLC 2020 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC), hosted by the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer. Encore clinical results from this phase 1 study also were presented at WCLC.

About HERTHENA-Lung01

HERTHENA-Lung01 is a global, multicenter, open-label, phase 2 study evaluating the safety and efficacy of patritumab deruxtecan in patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with an EGFR-activating mutation (exon 19 deletion or L858R) who have progressed after receiving at least one EGFR TKI and at least one platinum-based chemotherapy regimen.

The study will randomize patients into one of two patritumab deruxtecan treatment arms in a 1:1 ratio. Patients in the first arm of the study will receive a 5.6 mg/kg fixed dose regimen of patritumab deruxtecan intravenously every three weeks. Patients in the second arm will receive an up-titration dose regimen of patritumab deruxtecan in three week cycles, with a 3.2 mg/kg dose given in the first cycle, a 4.8 mg/kg dose in the second, and 6.4 mg/kg in the third and subsequent cycles.

The primary endpoint of HERTHENA-Lung01 is objective response rate (ORR), as assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR). Secondary endpoints include duration of response, progression-free survival, disease control rate, and time to response – all assessed by both BICR and investigator assessment – as well as investigator-assessed ORR, overall survival, safety and tolerability. The level of HER3 protein expression in tumor tissue and its relationship with efficacy will be analyzed. Pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity also will be assessed.

HERTHENA-Lung01 is expected to enroll up to approximately 420 patients in the U.S., Europe and Asia, including Japan. For more information about the study, visit ClinicalTrials.gov.

About Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide; there were an estimated 2.2 million new cases of lung cancer and 1.8 million deaths in 2020.1 Most lung cancers are diagnosed at an advanced or metastatic stage.2 Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80 to 85 percent of all lung cancers.7

The introduction of targeted therapies and checkpoint inhibitors in the past decade has improved the treatment landscape for patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC; however, the prognosis is particularly poor among patients who have progressed after treatment with standard therapies. For those who are not eligible for current treatments, or whose cancer continues to progress, new therapeutic approaches are needed.8

The mutationally-activated EGFR tyrosine kinase is a well-established oncogenic driver and molecular target for management of advanced stage NSCLC.9 For patients with advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC, targeted therapy with EGFR TKIs offer higher response rates and progression-free survival compared to chemotherapy.8 However, most patients eventually develop resistance to these therapies, and standard treatment options are limited.10 Clinical resistance to EGFR TKIs has been linked to multiple molecular mechanisms, and in many cases, the underlying mechanism of resistance remains unknown.11,12,13

About HER3

HER3 is a member of the EGFR family of receptor tyrosine kinases, which are associated with aberrant cell proliferation and survival.14 Approximately 25 to 30 percent of lung cancers worldwide have an EGFR-activating mutation, and it is estimated that about 83 percent of all NSCLC tumors express the HER3 protein, which can be associated with an increased incidence of metastases, reduced survival and resistance to standard of care treatment.4,5,6 Currently, no HER3 directed medicines are approved for the treatment of cancer.

About Patritumab Deruxtecan

Patritumab deruxtecan (HER3-DXd, U3-1402) is one of three lead DXd antibody drug conjugates (ADC) in the oncology pipeline of Daiichi Sankyo. Designed using Daiichi Sankyo’s proprietary DXd ADC technology, patritumab deruxtecan is comprised of a human anti-HER3 antibody attached to a topoisomerase I inhibitor payload, an exatecan derivative, via a stable tetrapeptide-based cleavable linker.

Patritumab deruxtecan is currently being evaluated in a comprehensive development program across multiple cancers as both a monotherapy and in combination with other anticancer treatments. The development program includes HERTHENA-Lung01, a phase 2 study in patients with EGFR-mutated metastatic or locally advanced NSCLC previously treated with a TKI and platinum-based chemotherapy; a phase 2 study in patients with advanced/metastatic colorectal cancer with progression following at least two prior lines of systemic therapy; a phase 1/2 study in HER3 expressing metastatic breast cancer; a phase 1 study in combination with osimertinib in locally advanced/metastatic EGFR-mutated NSCLC; and, a phase 1 study in previously treated patients with metastatic or unresectable NSCLC.

Patritumab deruxtecan is an investigational agent that has not been approved for any indication in any country. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

About Daiichi Sankyo Cancer Enterprise

The mission of Daiichi Sankyo Cancer Enterprise is to leverage our world-class, innovative science and push beyond traditional thinking to create meaningful treatments for patients with cancer. We are dedicated to transforming science into value for patients, and this sense of obligation informs everything we do. Anchored by our DXd antibody drug conjugate (ADC) technology, our powerful research engines include biologics, medicinal chemistry, modality and other research laboratories in Japan, and Plexxikon Inc., our small molecule structure-guided R&D center in Berkeley, CA. For more information, please visit: www.DSCancerEnterprise.com.

On February 3, 2021 4D pharma plc (AIM: DDDD), a pharmaceutical company leading the development of Live Biotherapeutic products (LBPs) – a novel class of drug derived from the microbiome, reported progress on activities in its development program for lead immuno-oncology single strain Live Biotherapeutic candidate MRx0518 (Press release, 4d Pharma, FEB 3, 2021, View Source [SID1234574576]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"4D pharma has continued to make excellent progress with the MRx0518 development program on multiple fronts. We have generated additional safety and efficacy data, building on the positive data from both the monotherapy and KEYTRUDA combination studies last year. This clinical and development progress has been achieved in spite of the headwinds of COVID-19," said Dr. Alex Stevenson, Chief Scientific Officer, 4D pharma. "As 4D pharma extends its leading position in this exciting and rapidly maturing field, we see the next 12 months as being instrumental for the space. We look forward to generating more clinical data from our ongoing studies of MRx0518 in multiple different tumor types and treatment settings. This will support 4D pharma’s continued productive engagement with regulatory authorities to develop the clinical strategy to bring this novel therapeutic to patients suffering from a range of cancers."

MRx0518 in Combination with KEYTRUDA

MRx0518 is in an ongoing Phase I/II clinical trial in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) Keytruda (pembrolizumab), MSD’s anti-PD-1 therapy, in patients with advanced malignancies who have previously progressed on ICI therapy. This study is comprised of two parts – Part A, an initial safety phase assessing dose-limiting toxicities of the combination, and the Part B cohort expansion phase to assess clinical benefit in addition to safety. In May 2020 the successful completion of Part A and initiation of Part B was announced.

24 additional patients across five active US sites have now been treated in Part B of this ongoing study. The safety review following the first Part B cohort of 10 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients has been completed indicating no dose limiting toxicities. A total of 12 patients with RCC, nine patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and three bladder cancer patients have been enrolled in Part B to date. Recruitment will continue up to a total of 30 patients in each of these indications.

Target tumor reductions in Part B patients have been observed as patients reach the first scheduled restaging timepoint (nine weeks). These include the first signals of anti-tumor activity for the combination in bladder cancer, adding to the previously reported activity in RCC and NSCLC in patients in Part A.

Three Part A patients with RCC and NSCLC that were previously reported to have experienced clinical benefit continue on the study. Two of these patients have now been treated for over 18 months and have had further target tumor reductions or extended disease control since the last update. Efficacy of the combination continues to be evaluated on an ongoing basis.

Following the positive results of Part A in RCC and NSCLC, the new tumor cohorts added to Part B of the study are now open to recruitment. Patients with advanced malignancies resistant to ICI therapy, including triple-negative breast cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and microsatellite instability-high/mismatch repair deficient cancers, are now eligible for inclusion. Enrolment for the trial is expected to complete in Q4 2021.

MRx0518 with Radiation in Pancreatic Cancer

Five patients are now enrolled in this Phase I trial. The study is designed to evaluate safety and efficacy in 15 patients receiving treatment with MRx0518 and hypofractionated radiation prior to surgery for pancreatic cancer. This study will generate valuable data to assess the relationship between systemic and tumor biomarkers, as well as clinical outcomes. Study treatment is well tolerated to date. Enrolment continues and we anticipate receiving initial data from this clinical trial in 2021.

MRx0518 in Neoadjuvant Setting Monotherapy

The previously reported 17 patients in the completed Part A of this Phase I study continue in the follow up phase for survival outcomes. Biomarker and safety data from the study were presented at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) (Free SITC Whitepaper) Annual Meeting 2020, demonstrating systemic immune and tumor microenvironment modulation following two to four weeks of treatment with MRx0518. Additional biomarker analyses are underway to further investigate the immune response induced by MRx0518. These additional results may inform an optimization of Part B of this study.

About MRx0518

MRx0518 is single strain Live Biotherapeutic product in development for the treatment of cancer. It is delivered as an oral capsule and stimulates the body’s immune system, directing it to produce cytokines and immune cells that are known to attack tumors. It is currently being evaluated in three clinical trials in cancer patients. MRx0518-I-001 (NCT03934827) is a neoadjuvant monotherapy study in a variety of solid tumors and is being conducted at Imperial College (London, UK). MRx0518-I-002 (NCT03637803) is in combination with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) in patients who have previously progressed on anti PD-1 therapies. The Coordinating Investigator of the study is at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA, with multiple additional sites in the US. The study is being conducted in collaboration with MSD, the tradename of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA. MRx0518-I-003 (NCT04193904) is in combination with preoperative radiotherapy in resectable pancreatic cancer.

On February 3, 2021 The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson reported it will highlight the depth of its solid tumour portfolio at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Genitourinary (ASCO GU) Cancers Symposium with 12 data presentations, including three company-sponsored oral presentations from the apalutamide clinical development program (Press release, Johnson & Johnson, FEB 3, 2021, View Source [SID1234574575]). The virtual meeting will take place 11-13 February.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"Janssen’s extensive data presentations at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) GU are testament of our commitment to clinical research in genitourinary cancers — to deliver innovative therapies that improve patient outcomes and address critical unmet needs," said Dr Joaquín Casariego, M.D., Therapeutic Area Lead Oncology for Europe, Middle East & Africa, Janssen-Cilag S.A. "The latest research from the TITAN Phase 3 trial and our prostate cancer portfolio improves clinical understanding and opens new treatment pathways for a broader group of patients."

New Analyses for Apalutamide Phase 3 Studies Highlight Breadth of Ongoing Clinical Development Program

Data from three Phase 3 registrational clinical trials will be featured in oral presentations:

ACIS: Analysis evaluating apalutamide in combination with abiraterone acetate plus prednisone versus abiraterone acetate plus prednisone in patients with chemo-naïve metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (Abstract #9)1
TITAN: Final analysis with close to four years of follow-up data evaluating apalutamide versus placebo on overall survival (OS) and other endpoints in patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) receiving hormone therapy (Abstract #11)2
SPARTAN: Post-hoc analysis data from a biomarker cohort study identifying the molecular signatures associated with long-term response to apalutamide (Abstract #8)3
Combined, the apalutamide focused presentations include data from more than 2,000 patients across multiple studies. Apalutamide has shown a statistically significant improvement in OS in its approved indications of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (TITAN) and non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (SPARTAN).4 Both TITAN and SPARTAN trials confirm the safety of apalutamide, with over four years of patient follow-up demonstrating exposure-adjusted rates of Grade 3 and 4 adverse events for apalutamide that are comparable to androgen deprivation therapy alone.5

Further details about these data and the science that Janssen is advancing for patients with genitourinary cancers will be made available at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) GU via the Janssen media event, Prioritising Prostate Cancer (February 12th, 2021 at 16:30 CET).

Abstracts to be presented at the meeting include:

Abstract No.

Title

Date/Time

Apalutamide

Oral Presentations

Abstract #8

Molecular Determinants Associated with Long-Term Response to Apalutamide in Non-Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Thursday,

February 11
6:45 PM – 8:00 PM CET

Abstract #9

Results from ACIS, a Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Double-Blind Phase 3 Study of Apalutamide and Abiraterone Acetate Plus Prednisone (AAP) Versus AAP in Patients with Chemo-Naive Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Thursday,

February 11
6:45 PM – 8:00 PM CET

Abstract #11

Final Analysis Results From TITAN: A Phase 3 Study of Apalutamide vs Placebo in Patients with Metastatic Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer Receiving Androgen Deprivation Therapy

Thursday,

February 11
9:30 PM – 10:15 PM CET

Poster Presentations

Abstract #44

Medication Adherence Among Prostate Cancer Patients Using Advanced Oral Therapies

Poster Session: Prostate Cancer – Advanced Disease, available on-demand throughout the meeting

Abstract #64

Health-Related Quality of Life Analysis from a Randomized Phase 2 Trial of Androgen Signaling Inhibitors with or without Androgen Deprivation Therapy for Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer: LACOG0415

Poster Session: Prostate Cancer – Advanced Disease, available on-demand throughout the meeting

Abstract #83

Outcomes in Men with Metastatic Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer Treated with Early Platinum-Based Chemotherapy Following an Unsatisfactory Response to Androgen Receptor Inhibition as Part of the Phase 2 Dynamic Allocation Modular Sequential (DynAMo) Trial

Poster Session: Prostate Cancer – Advanced Disease, available on-demand throughout the meeting

Abstract #90

Interim Analysis of STARTAR: A Phase 2 Salvage Trial of Androgen Receptor Inhibition with Androgen Deprivation Therapy and Apalutamide with Radiation Therapy Followed by Docetaxel in Men with PSA Recurrent Prostate Cancer After Radical Prostatectomy

Poster Session: Prostate Cancer – Advanced Disease, available on-demand throughout the meeting

Erdafitinib

Poster Presentation

Abstract #426

Management of Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events of Interest in Patients with Locally Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma

Poster Session: Urothelial Carcinoma, available on-demand throughout the meeting

Niraparib

Poster Presentation

Abstract #TPS176

AMPLITUDE: A Study of Niraparib in Combination with Abiraterone Acetate Plus Prednisone (AAP) Versus AAP for the Treatment of Patients with Deleterious Germline or Somatic Homologous Recombination Repair Gene-Altered Metastatic Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer

Trials in Progress Poster Session: Advanced Prostate Cancer, available on-demand throughout the meeting

Other

Poster Presentations

Abstract #47

Real-World Utilization of Docetaxel Among Men with De Novo Metastatic Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer: A Population-Based Study in Men Aged 66 or Older

Poster Session: Prostate Cancer – Advanced Disease, available on-demand throughout the meeting

Abstract #50

Geographic Variation in Systemic Therapy in Men Age 66 Years and Older With De Novo Metastatic Castration Sensitive Prostate Cancer: A Population-Based Study in a Single Payer Health-System

Poster Session: Prostate Cancer – Advanced Disease, available on-demand throughout the meeting

Abstract #149

Prognostic Association Between Common Laboratory Tests and Overall Survival in Men with De Novo Metastatic Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer: A Population-Based Study

Poster Session: Prostate Cancer – Advanced Disease, available on-demand throughout the meeting

# #END# #

About apalutamide

Apalutamide is an orally administered, selective androgen receptor (AR) inhibitor approved in Europe and is indicated in

adult men for the treatment of non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) who are at high risk of developing metastatic disease, and
in adult men for the treatment of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC), also known as metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC), in combination with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). 4
About abiraterone acetate

Abiraterone acetate, an orally administered androgen biosynthesis inhibitor, in combination with prednisone or prednisolone is approved in Europe for

the treatment of newly diagnosed high risk metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) in adult men in combination with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT);
the treatment of metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) in adult men who are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic after failure of ADT in whom chemotherapy is not yet clinically indicated, and
the treatment of mCRPC in adult men whose disease has progressed on or after a docetaxel-based chemotherapy regimen.6
Additionally, abiraterone acetate was approved for the treatment of high-risk metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) by the U.S. FDA on February 8, 2018.7,8 Since its first approval in Europe in 2011, abiraterone acetate has been approved in combination with prednisone or prednisolone, in more than 105 countries and has been prescribed to more than 700,000 patients worldwide.8

About erdafitinib

Erdafitinib is a once-daily, oral fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) kinase inhibitor that is being studied in patients with selected FGFR gene alterations in locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer, in Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) experienced, high risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer and in advanced solid tumours.9,10,11,12,13 In 2019 erdafitinib was approved in the U.S. for the treatment of adults with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) that has susceptible FGFR3 or FGFR2 genetic alterations and who have progressed during or following at least one line of prior platinum-containing chemotherapy, including within 12 months of neoadjuvant or adjuvant platinum-containing chemotherapy.14 In 2008, Janssen entered into an exclusive worldwide license and collaboration agreement with Astex Pharmaceuticals to develop and commercialise erdafitinib.15

About niraparib

Niraparib is an orally administered, selective poly (ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor that is currently being studied by Janssen for the treatment of patients with prostate cancer. Ongoing studies include the Phase 3 AMPLITUDE study evaluating niraparib in combination with abiraterone acetate plus prednisone in a biomarker-selected patient population with mHSPC;16 the Phase 3 MAGNITUDE study evaluating niraparib in combination with abiraterone acetate plus prednisone in adults with mCRPC;17 and QUEST, a Phase 1b/2 study of niraparib combination therapies for the treatment of mCRPC.18

In April 2016, Janssen entered a worldwide (except Japan) collaboration and license agreement with TESARO, Inc. (acquired by GSK in 2018), for exclusive rights to niraparib in prostate cancer.19 In Europe, niraparib is indicated for the maintenance treatment of adult patients with advanced epithelial high-grade ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who are in a complete or partial response to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy; for the maintenance treatment of adult patients with platinum sensitive relapsed high grade serous epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who are in response (complete or partial) to platinum-based chemotherapy.20

On February 3, 2021 EMD Serono, the healthcare business sector of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany in the US and Canada, reported that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved TEPMETKO (tepotinib) following Priority Review for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) exon 14 skipping alterations (Press release, EMD Serono, FEB 3, 2021, View Source [SID1234574574]). This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate and duration of response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

The approval is based on results from the pivotal Phase II VISION study evaluating TEPMETKO as monotherapy in patients with advanced NSCLC with METex14 skipping alterations.

"METex14 skipping occurs in approximately 3% to 4% of NSCLC cases, and patients with this aggressive lung cancer are often elderly and face a poor clinical prognosis," said Paul K. Paik, M.D., VISION primary investigator and Clinical Director, Thoracic Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. "There is a pressing need for targeted treatments that have the potential to generate durable anti-tumor activity and improve the lives of patients with this challenging disease. TEPMETKO offers an important and welcome new therapeutic option for patients with metastatic NSCLC harboring these genetic mutations."

"In recent years, the treatment of lung cancer has seen powerful progress in the understanding of the genetic mutations that lead to tumor growth, resistance and progression," said Andrea Ferris, President and CEO of LUNGevity. "The availability of a new precision medicine for NSCLC with METex14 skipping alterations advances patient access to targeted treatment and underscores the importance of routine comprehensive biomarker testing for patients with this challenging cancer."

Experience the interactive Multichannel News Release here:
View Source

TEPMETKO is the first and only FDA approved MET inhibitor that offers once-daily oral dosing and is administered as two 225 mg tablets (450 mg). Patients with metastatic NSCLC should be selected for treatment with TEPMETKO based on the presence of MET exon 14 skipping alterations.

"This approval of TEPMETKO by the FDA is an important milestone on our mission to significantly improve the treatment of cancer where MET plays a driving role," said Danny Bar-Zohar, M.D., Global Head of Development for the Healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. "Our focus now is to ensure TEPMETKO is accessible to patients in the United States and fully integrated into clinical practice given the important advance it represents for indicated patients as an oral once-a-day precision medicine."

EMD Serono, the healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany in the US and Canada, is committed to providing patient access and reimbursement support for eligible TEPMETKO patients through its Oncology Navigation Center (ONC) program in the US. ONC provides a spectrum of patient access and reimbursement support services intended to help US patients receive appropriate treatment access. ONC may be reached at 1-844-662-3631 (844-ONC-EMD1) between 8am-8pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, or by visiting OncNavigationCenter.com.

TEPMETKO was the first oral MET inhibitor to receive a regulatory approval anywhere in the world for the treatment of advanced NSCLC harboring MET gene alterations, with its approval in Japan in March 2020. The FDA completed its review of TEPMETKO under its Real-Time Oncology Review pilot program after previously granting the medicine Breakthrough Therapy Designation. The FDA also recently granted TEPMETKO Orphan Drug Designation (ODD).

A Marketing Authorization Application for tepotinib for a similar indication was validated by the European Medicines Agency in November 2020. Applications have also been submitted in Australia, Switzerland, and Canada under the FDA’s Project Orbis initiative, which provides a framework for concurrent submission and review of oncology medicines among international partners.1

VISION Study Pivotal Trial Results
VISION (NCT02864992) is an ongoing pivotal Phase II, multicenter, multi-cohort, single-arm, non-randomized, open-label study investigating tepotinib as monotherapy in 152 patients with a median age of 73 years with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with MET exon 14 (METex14) skipping alterations. Eligible patients were required to have advanced or metastatic NSCLC harboring METex14 skipping alterations, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) wild-type and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) negative status, at least one measurable lesion as defined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status of 0 to 1. Patients received TEPMETKO 450 mg once daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The major efficacy outcome measure is overall response rate (ORR) according to RECIST version 1.1 as assessed by a blinded independent review committee (BIRC). An additional efficacy outcome measure was duration of response (DOR) by BIRC. Patients with symptomatic CNS metastases, clinically significant uncontrolled cardiac disease, or who received treatment with any MET or hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) inhibitor were not eligible for the study. Data from the primary analysis of the VISION study were previously published online in The New England Journal of Medicine.2

In the study, TEPMETKO demonstrated an overall response rate of 43% (95% CI, 32–56) in treatment-naïve patients (n=69) and 43% (95% CI, 33-55) in previously treated patients (n=83). Median duration of response (DOR) was 10.8 months (95% CI, 6.9-NE) and 11.1 months (95% CI, 9.5-18.5) among treatment-naïve and previously treated patients, respectively. Duration of response of six months or more occurred among 67% of treatment-naïve patients and 75% of previously treated patients, and duration of response of nine months or more occurred among 30% of treatment-naïve patients and 50% of previously treated patients.3

The safety population included 255 patients with NSCLC positive for METex14 skipping alterations, who received TEPMETKO in the VISION study. Fatal adverse reactions occurred in one patient (0.4%) due to pneumonitis, one patient (0.4%) due to hepatic failure, and one patient (0.4%) due to dyspnea from fluid overload. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 45% of patients who received TEPMETKO. Serious adverse reactions occurring in >2% of patients included pleural effusion (7%), pneumonia (5%), edema (3.9%), dyspnea (3.9%), general health deterioration (3.5%), pulmonary embolism (2%), and musculoskeletal pain (2%). The most common adverse reactions (≥20%) in patients who received TEPMETKO were edema, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, musculoskeletal pain, and dyspnea.

About Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
With 2 million cases diagnosed annually, lung cancer (including trachea, bronchus and lung) is the most common type of cancer worldwide and the leading cause of cancer-related death, with 1.9 million mortality cases worldwide each year.4 In the US in 2020, there were an estimated 228,820 new cases of lung cancer and more than 135,000 deaths from lung cancer.5 Alterations of the MET signaling pathway, including MET exon 14 (METex14) skipping alterations, are estimated to occur in 3% to 4% of NSCLC cases.6

About TEPMETKO (tepotinib)
TEPMETKO is an oral MET inhibitor that inhibits the oncogenic MET receptor signaling caused by MET (gene) alterations. Discovered and developed in-house at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, TEPMETKO has a highly selective mechanism of action, with the potential to improve outcomes in aggressive tumors that have a poor prognosis and harbor these specific alterations.7

Additional Clinical Investigations: Tepotinib is also being investigated in the Phase II INSIGHT 2 study in combination with osimertinib in MET amplified, advanced or metastatic NSCLC harboring activating EGFR mutations that has progressed following first-line treatment with osimertinib, and in the Phase II PERSPECTIVE study in combination with cetuximab in patients with RAS/BRAF wild-type left-sided metastatic colorectal cancer having acquired resistance to anti-EGFR antibody targeting therapy due to MET amplification.

Important Safety Information
TEPMETKO can cause interstitial lung disease (ILD)/pneumonitis, which can be fatal. Monitor patients for new or worsening pulmonary symptoms indicative of ILD/pneumonitis (eg, dyspnea, cough, fever). Immediately withhold TEPMETKO in patients with suspected ILD/pneumonitis and permanently discontinue if no other potential causes of ILD/pneumonitis are identified. ILD/pneumonitis occurred in 2.2% of patients treated with TEPMETKO, with one patient experiencing a Grade 3 or higher event; this event resulted in death.

TEPMETKO can cause hepatotoxicity, which can be fatal. Monitor liver function tests (including ALT, AST, and total bilirubin) prior to the start of TEPMETKO, every 2 weeks during the first 3 months of treatment, then once a month or as clinically indicated, with more frequent testing in patients who develop increased transaminases or total bilirubin. Based on the severity of the adverse reaction, withhold, dose reduce, or permanently discontinue TEPMETKO. Increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT)/increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST) occurred in 13% of patients treated with TEPMETKO. Grade 3 or 4 increased ALT/AST occurred in 4.2% of patients. A fatal adverse reaction of hepatic failure occurred in one patient (0.2%). The median time-to-onset of Grade 3 or higher increased ALT/AST was 30 days (range 1 to 178).

TEPMETKO can cause embryo-fetal toxicity. Based on findings in animal studies and its mechanism of action, TEPMETKO can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential or males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with TEPMETKO and for one week after the final dose.

Avoid concomitant use of TEPMETKO with dual strong CYP3A inhibitors and P-gp inhibitors and strong CYP3A inducers. Avoid concomitant use of TEPMETKO with certain P-gp substrates where minimal concentration changes may lead to serious or life-threatening toxicities. If concomitant use is unavoidable, reduce the P-gp substrate dosage if recommended in its approved product labeling.

Fatal adverse reactions occurred in one patient (0.4%) due to pneumonitis, one patient (0.4%) due to hepatic failure, and one patient (0.4%) due to dyspnea from fluid overload.

Serious adverse reactions occurred in 45% of patients who received TEPMETKO. Serious adverse reactions in >2% of patients included pleural effusion (7%), pneumonia (5%), edema (3.9%), dyspnea (3.9%), general health deterioration (3.5%), pulmonary embolism (2%), and musculoskeletal pain (2%).

The most common adverse reactions (≥20%) in patients who received TEPMETKO were edema, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, musculoskeletal pain, and dyspnea.

Clinically relevant adverse reactions in <10% of patients who received TEPMETKO included ILD/pneumonitis, rash, fever, dizziness, pruritus, and headache.

Selected laboratory abnormalities (≥20%) from baseline in patients receiving TEPMETKO in descending order were: decreased albumin (76%), increased creatinine (55%), increased alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (50%), decreased lymphocytes (48%), increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (44%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (35%), decreased sodium (31%), decreased hemoglobin (27%), increased potassium (25%), increased gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) (24%), increased amylase (23%), and decreased leukocytes (23%).

The most common Grade 3 to 4 laboratory abnormalities (≥2%) in descending order were: decreased lymphocytes (11%), decreased albumin (9%), decreased sodium (8%), increased GGT (5%), increased amylase (4.6%), increased ALT (4.1%), increased AST (2.5%), and decreased hemoglobin (2%).

A clinically relevant laboratory abnormality in <20% of patients who received TEPMETKO was increased lipase in 18% of patients, including 3.7% Grades 3 to 4.

For more information about TEPMETKO, please see full Prescribing Information, and visit www.TEPMETKO.com.

References

US Food and Drug Administration. Project Orbis. View Source Accessed February 2021.
Paik PK, Felip E, Veillon R, et al. Tepotinib in non–small-cell lung cancer with MET exon 14 skipping mutations. N Engl J Med 2020; 383:931-943.
TEPMETKO Prescribing Information. Rockland, MA: EMD Serono Inc.; 2021.
Global Burden of Disease Cancer Collaboration. Global, regional, and national cancer cadence, mortality, years of life lost, years lived with disability, and disability-adjusted life-years for 29 cancer groups, 1990 to 2017; a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study. JAMA Oncol. 2019;5:1749–1768.
American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Lung Cancer. American Cancer Society. Atlanta, Ga. 2020. Accessed at View Source Accessed February 2021.
Reungwetwattana T, Liang Y, Zhu V, Ou SHI. The race to target MET exon 14 skipping alterations in non-small cell lung cancer: The Why, the How, the Who, the Unknown, and the Inevitable. Lung Cancer. 2017;103:27–37.
Bladt F, Faden B, Friese-Hamim M, et al. EMD 1214063 and EMD 1204831 constitute a new class of potent and highly selective c-Met inhibitors. Clin Cancer Res. 2013;19:2941-2951.
Disclosure: Dr. Paik has provided consulting/advisory services for EMD Serono.

All Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the EMD Group Website. In case you are a resident of the USA or Canada please go to www.emdgroup.com/subscribe to register again for your online subscription of this service as our newly introduced geo-targeting requires new links in the email. You may later change your selection or discontinue this service.