Karyopharm Reports New and Updated XPOVIO® (Selinexor) Data in Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma at the American Society of Hematology 2019 Annual Meeting

On December 7, 2019 Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq:KPTI), an oncology-focused pharmaceutical company, reported that two presentations highlighting new and updated data relating to XPOVIO (selinexor), the Company’s first-in-class, oral Selective Inhibitor of Nuclear Export (SINE) compound, will be given at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) 2019 Annual Meeting taking place December 7-10, 2019 in Orlando (Press release, Karyopharm, DEC 7, 2019, View Source [SID1234552028]). The first study, which will be featured in an oral presentation, describes updated data from the Phase 1b/2 STOMP study evaluating the all oral regimen of selinexor in combination with Pomalyst (pomalidomide) and low-dose dexamethasone (dex) (SPd) in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. The second abstract, which will be featured in a poster presentation, describes new data on the use of selinexor and dexamethasone, either alone or in combination with standard approved therapies, in patients with multiple myeloma whose disease has progressed following experimental chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy.

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"We continue to be pleased with the efficacy and safety observed in the all oral selinexor plus Pomalyst arm of the Phase 1b/2 STOMP study, where patients with Pomalyst-naïve and Revlimid (lenalidomide)-relapsed or -refractory myeloma achieved a 56% overall response rate (ORR) and a 12-month progression free survival (PFS)," said Sharon Shacham, PhD, MBA, Founder, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Karyopharm. "Another key study this year is the presentation of new data from patients treated with selinexor-based regimens after their myeloma had progressed following experimental CAR-T therapy. Although these data are early, six of seven patients whose disease relapsed after CAR-T achieved a response when treated with selinexor and dexamethasone alone or in combination with either Velcade (bortezomib) or Kyprolis (carfilzomib). There is currently very limited data regarding treatment options for patients whose disease has progressed following experimental CAR-T therapy, and we believe these encouraging results further reinforce the therapeutic activity of selinexor in patients with relapsed or refractory disease."

Updated Data from Phase 1b/2 STOMP Study Evaluating Selinexor in Combination with Pomalyst and Low-dose Dexamethasone (SPd)

In this arm of the Phase 1b/2 STOMP study, oral selinexor is being evaluated in combination with Pomalyst (3 or 4mg orally, once daily) and low dose dexamethasone (orally, 40mg once weekly or 20mg twice weekly) in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who received at least three prior lines of therapy, including a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and an immunomodulatory drug (IMiD), or patients with myeloma refractory to both a PI and an IMiD. The following table is a summary of the efficacy results:

Best Responses1 in Evaluable SPd Patients as of 1-Oct-20192
Prior Therapy Status N3 ORR VGPR4 PR Median PFS
Pomalyst-naïve and Revlimid refractory or relapsed 32 18 (56%) 6 (19%) 12 (38%) 12.2 months
Pomalyst Treated and Revlimid refractory 14 5 (36%) 1 (7%) 4 (29%) 5.6 months
Key: ORR=Overall Response Rate (VGPR+PR); VGPR=Very Good Partial Response; PR=Partial Response
1 Responses were adjudicated according to the International Myeloma Working Group criteria
2 Based on interim unaudited data
3 Five patients not evaluable for response: one death unrelated to myeloma, one non-compliance with study procedures, one withdrawal of consent before disease follow up, one death related to progressive disease (PD), one PD before C2D1
4 One unconfirmed VGPR

Among the patients evaluated for safety as of the data cutoff date, the most common treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were cytopenias, along with gastrointestinal and constitutional symptoms; most were manageable with dose modifications and/or standard supportive care. The most common non-hematologic treatment-related AEs were nausea (52%), fatigue (52%) and weight loss (39%). As expected, the most common treatment-related Grade 3 and 4 AEs were neutropenia (58%), thrombocytopenia (27%) and anemia (27%).

Based on these Phase 2 results, a Phase 3 study investigating the SPd combination is planned.

In parallel with the ongoing Phase 1b/2 STOMP study, Karyopharm is conducting the pivotal, randomized Phase 3 BOSTON study evaluating once-weekly selinexor in combination with the PI Velcade and dexamethasone (SVd) for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have had one to three prior lines of therapy. Enrollment in the BOSTON study is complete and top-line data are expected in early 2020 contingent upon the occurrence of PFS events, the primary endpoint of the study. Data from the BOSTON study, if positive, are expected to be used to support regulatory submissions to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency requesting the use of selinexor in combination with Velcade and dexamethasone in patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy.

New Data from Study Evaluating Selinexor in Patients with Multiple Myeloma Following CAR-T Therapy

In this study, seven patients were identified from selinexor myeloma trials who had received an active dose of CAR-T cell therapy (>108 CAR-positive cells targeting B-cell maturation antigen) as treatment for their multiple myeloma prior to being enrolled in a trial using a selinexor-containing regimen. One patient was treated with selinexor (starting at 80 mg twice-weekly) and dexamethasone (20 mg twice weekly), one patient was treated with the regimen currently being investigated in the ongoing Phase 3 BOSTON study, a combination of selinexor (100 mg once-weekly), Velcade (1.3 mg/m2 once-weekly for 4 of 5 weeks) and dexamethasone (40 mg once-weekly), and five patients were treated with a combination of selinexor (100 mg once-weekly), Kyprolis (20/56 mg/m2 or 20/70 mg/m2) and dexamethasone (40 mg once weekly or 20 mg twice weekly). Patients had a median of ten prior therapeutic regimens (range: 5-15), all had high-risk cytogenetics, and six of the seven had rapidly progressing disease as indicated by the percent increase in paraprotein (17-91%) between screening and Cycle 1 Day 1 (range: 7-22 days).

The following table is a summary of the efficacy results:

Best Responses1 in Evaluable Patients2
N ORR sCR VGPR PR
All patients 7 6 (86%) 1 (14%) 3 (43%) 2 (29%)
Key: ORR=Overall Response Rate (CR+VGPR+PR); sCR=Stringent Complete Response
1 Responses were adjudicated according to the International Myeloma Working Group criteria
2 Based on interim unaudited data

Of the six patients who responded (≥PR), the duration of response ranged from 1.4 months to 7.4 months, with two patients still on therapy and responding. Adverse events were consistent with what has previously been reported with selinexor-containing regimens in heavily-pretreated patients with multiple myeloma and included nausea, fatigue, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, and anemia.

These preliminary data suggest that selinexor-dexamethasone alone or in combination with Velcade or Kyprolis may offer a therapeutic option for patients who have exhausted other available treatments, have rapidly progressing disease, and who have progressed after CAR-T therapy.

Details for these two ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) 2019 presentations are as follows:

Oral Presentation

Title: Selinexor, Pomalidomide, and Dexamethasone (SPd) in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Multiple Myeloma
Presenter: Christine Chen, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Abstract #: 141
Session: 653. Myeloma: Therapy, excluding Transplantation: New Approaches in the Treatment of Relapsed/Refractory Plasma Cell Discrasias
Date and Time: Saturday, December 7, 2019; 9:30-11:00 AM ET
Location: Orange County Convention Center, Hall E1
Poster Presentation – Company-Sponsored Studies

Title: Selinexor-Containing Regimens for the Treatment of Patients with Multiple Myeloma Refractory to Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell (CAR-T) Therapy
Presenter: Ajai Chari, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Abstract #: 1854
Session: 653. Myeloma: Therapy, excluding Transplantation: Poster I
Date and Time: Saturday, December 7, 2019; 5:30-7:30 PM ET
Location: Orange County Convention Center, Hall B

PDF copies of these presentations will be available here following conclusion of the presentations at the meeting.

About XPOVIO (selinexor)

XPOVIO is a first-in-class, oral Selective Inhibitor of Nuclear Export (SINE) compound. XPOVIO functions by selectively binding to and inhibiting the nuclear export protein exportin 1 (XPO1, also called CRM1). XPOVIO blocks the nuclear export of tumor suppressor, growth regulatory and anti-inflammatory proteins, leading to accumulation of these proteins in the nucleus and enhancing their anti-cancer activity in the cell. The forced nuclear retention of these proteins can counteract a multitude of the oncogenic pathways that, unchecked, allow cancer cells with severe DNA damage to continue to grow and divide in an unrestrained fashion. In addition to receiving accelerated FDA approval of XPOVIO in July 2019 in combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who have received at least four prior therapies and whose disease is refractory to at least two proteasome inhibitors, at least two immunomodulatory agents, and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, Karyopharm has also submitted a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) with a request for conditional approval of selinexor. Selinexor is also being studied in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). In 2018, Karyopharm reported positive top-line results from the Phase 2b SADAL study evaluating selinexor in patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL after at least two prior multi-agent therapies and who are ineligible for transplantation, including high dose chemotherapy with stem cell rescue. Selinexor has received Fast Track designation from the FDA for the patient population evaluated in the SADAL study. Selinexor is also being evaluated in several other mid-and later-phase clinical trials across multiple cancer indications, including in multiple myeloma in a pivotal, randomized Phase 3 study in combination with Velcade (bortezomib) and low-dose dexamethasone (BOSTON), as a potential backbone therapy in combination with approved therapies (STOMP), in liposarcoma (SEAL), in recurrent gliomas (KING) and in endometrial cancer (SIENDO), among others. Additional Phase 1, Phase 2 and Phase 3 studies are ongoing or currently planned, including multiple studies in combination with approved therapies in a variety of tumor types to further inform Karyopharm’s clinical development priorities for selinexor. Additional clinical trial information for selinexor is available at www.clinicaltrials.gov.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Thrombocytopenia

XPOVIO can cause thrombocytopenia, leading to potentially fatal hemorrhage. Thrombocytopenia was reported as an adverse reaction in 74% of patients, and severe (Grade 3-4) thrombocytopenia occurred in 61% of patients treated with XPOVIO. The median time to onset of the first event was 22 days. Bleeding occurred in 23% of patients with thrombocytopenia, clinically significant bleeding occurred in 5% of patients with thrombocytopenia and fatal hemorrhage occurred in <1% of patients.

Monitor platelet counts at baseline, during treatment, and as clinically indicated. Monitor more frequently during the first two months of treatment. Institute platelet transfusion and/or other treatments as clinically indicated. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of bleeding and evaluate promptly. Interrupt and/or reduce dose, or permanently discontinue based on severity of adverse reaction.

Neutropenia

XPOVIO can cause neutropenia, potentially increasing the risk of infection. Neutropenia was reported as an adverse reaction in 34% of patients, and severe (Grade 3-4) neutropenia occurred in 21% of patients treated with XPOVIO. The median time to onset of the first event was 25 days. Febrile neutropenia was reported in 3% of patients.

Obtain neutrophil counts at baseline, during treatment, and as clinically indicated. Monitor more frequently during the first two months of treatment. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of concomitant infection and evaluate promptly. Consider supportive measures including antimicrobials for signs of infection and use of growth factors (e.g., G-CSF). Interrupt and/or reduce dose, or permanently discontinue based on severity of adverse reaction.

Gastrointestinal Toxicity

Gastrointestinal toxicities occurred in patients treated with XPOVIO.

Nausea/Vomiting

Nausea was reported as an adverse reaction in 72% of patients, and Grade 3 nausea occurred in 9% of patients treated with XPOVIO. The median time to onset of the first nausea event was 3 days.

Vomiting was reported in 41% of patients, and Grade 3 vomiting occurred in 4% of patients treated with XPOVIO. The median time to onset of the first vomiting event was 5 days.

Provide prophylactic 5-HT3 antagonists and/or other anti-nausea agents, prior to and during treatment with XPOVIO. Manage nausea/vomiting by dose interruption, reduction, and/or discontinuation. Administer intravenous fluids and replace electrolytes to prevent dehydration in patients at risk. Use additional anti-nausea medications as clinically indicated.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea was reported as an adverse reaction in 44% of patients, and Grade 3 diarrhea occurred in 6% of patients treated with XPOVIO. The median time to onset of diarrhea was 15 days.

Manage diarrhea by dose modifications and/or standard anti-diarrheal agents; administer intravenous fluids to prevent dehydration in patients at risk.

Anorexia/Weight Loss

Anorexia was reported as an adverse reaction in 53% of patients, and Grade 3 anorexia occurred in 5% of patients treated with XPOVIO. The median time to onset of anorexia was 8 days.

Weight loss was reported as an adverse reaction in 47% of patients, and Grade 3 weight loss occurred in 1% of patients treated with XPOVIO. The median time to onset of weight loss was 15 days.

Monitor patient weight at baseline, during treatment, and as clinically indicated. Monitor more frequently during the first two months of treatment. Manage anorexia and weight loss with dose modifications, appetite stimulants, and nutritional support.

Hyponatremia

XPOVIO can cause hyponatremia; 39% of patients treated with XPOVIO experienced hyponatremia, 22% of patients experienced Grade 3 or 4 hyponatremia. The median time to onset of the first event was 8 days.

Monitor sodium level at baseline, during treatment, and as clinically indicated. Monitor more frequently during the first two months of treatment. Correct sodium levels for concurrent hyperglycemia (serum glucose >150 mg/dL) and high serum paraprotein levels. Treat hyponatremia per clinical guidelines (intravenous saline and/or salt tablets), including dietary review. Interrupt and/or reduce dose, or permanently discontinue based on severity of adverse reaction.

Infections

In patients receiving XPOVIO, 52% of patients experienced any grade of infection. Upper respiratory tract infection of any grade occurred in 21%, pneumonia in 13%, and sepsis in 6% of patients. Grade ≥3 infections were reported in 25% of patients, and deaths resulting from an infection occurred in 4% of patients. The most commonly reported Grade ≥3 infections were pneumonia in 9% of patients, followed by sepsis in 6%. The median time to onset was 54 days for pneumonia and 42 days for sepsis. Most infections were not associated with neutropenia and were caused by non-opportunistic organisms.

Neurological Toxicity

Neurological toxicities occurred in patients treated with XPOVIO.

Neurological adverse reactions including dizziness, syncope, depressed level of consciousness, and mental status changes (including delirium and confusional state) occurred in 30% of patients, and severe events (Grade 3-4) occurred in 9% of patients treated with XPOVIO. Median time to the first event was 15 days.

Optimize hydration status, hemoglobin level, and concomitant medications to avoid exacerbating dizziness or mental status changes.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity

Based on data from animal studies and its mechanism of action, XPOVIO can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Selinexor administration to pregnant animals during organogenesis resulted in structural abnormalities and alterations to growth at exposures below those occurring clinically at the recommended dose.

Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential and males with a female partner of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with XPOVIO and for 1 week after the last dose.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

The most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥20%) are thrombocytopenia, fatigue, nausea, anemia, decreased appetite, decreased weight, diarrhea, vomiting, hyponatremia, neutropenia, leukopenia, constipation, dyspnea, and upper respiratory tract infection.

The treatment discontinuation rate due to adverse reactions was 27%; 53% of patients had a reduction in the XPOVIO dose, and 65.3% had the dose of XPOVIO interrupted. The most frequent adverse reactions requiring permanent discontinuation in 4% or greater of patients who received XPOVIO included fatigue, nausea, and thrombocytopenia. The rate of fatal adverse reactions was 8.9%.