On April 5, 2022 Iovance Biotherapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: IOVA), a late-stage biotechnology company developing novel T cell-based cancer immunotherapies, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has provided feedback on April 1, 2022 regarding Iovance’s proposed matrix of potency assays for its upcoming Biologics License Application (BLA) for lifileucel in metastatic melanoma (Press release, Iovance Biotherapeutics, APR 5, 2022, View Source [SID1234611453]). Iovance received positive feedback from the FDA on both its potency assay matrix and its proprietary cell co-culture assay included in the potency assay matrix. Based on this response, Iovance expects to request a pre-BLA meeting in July 2022 and to complete a BLA submission for lifileucel by August 2022.
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!
Frederick Vogt, Ph.D., J.D., Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of Iovance, stated, "The favorable feedback received from the FDA on our potency assays and assay matrix brings Iovance a step closer to our submission of a BLA for lifileucel in metastatic melanoma. We look forward to bringing lifileucel to the market quickly to offer melanoma patients a new option following anti-PD-1 therapy."
In addition, Iovance reported plans to open a Phase III study for lifileucel in combination with pembrolizumab for the treatment of immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) naïve frontline metastatic melanoma in late 2022. Updated data from the combination cohort of lifileucel and pembrolizumab in ICI naïve patients (Cohort 1A in the IOV-COM-202 study, n=12) demonstrated an overall response rate (ORR) of 67%. Eight out of 12 patients had a confirmed objective response per RECIST 1.1, including three complete responses and five partial responses. Six of the eight responders had ongoing response at the time of the last data cut, and five responders had a duration of response of more than one year. The FDA previously granted Fast Track Designation for lifileucel in combination with pembrolizumab for the treatment of ICI naïve metastatic melanoma based on the unmet medical need and potential advantages for this combination over available care.
Management will host a conference call and live audio webcast to discuss these updates at 8:00 a.m. Eastern time on April 6, 2022. To participate in the conference call, please dial 1-844-646-4465 (domestic) or 1-615-247-0257 (international) and reference the access code 3734669. The live webcast can be accessed in the Investors section of the Company’s website at www.iovance.com. The archived webcast will also be available for one year in the Investors section at www.iovance.com.