On December 11, 2019 Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), the Breast International Group (BIG), Institut Jules Bordet Clinical Trials Support Unit (IJB-CTSU) and Frontier Science Foundation (FS) reported data from a second interim overall survival (OS) analysis of the phase III APHINITY study, evaluating the combination of Perjeta (pertuzumab), Herceptin (trastuzumab) and chemotherapy (the Perjeta-based regimen) as an adjuvant (after surgery) treatment for patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer (eBC) (Press release, Hoffmann-La Roche, DEC 11, 2019, View Source [SID1234552253]). This latest interim OS analysis was conducted after a median follow-up of approximately 74 months, compared to approximately 45 months for the primary analysis in 2017, and includes updated descriptive iDFS and cardiac safety data.1
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"The goal of adjuvant treatment is to give each person with early breast cancer the best chance of a cure," said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. "These new data with longer follow-up show the continued effect of the Perjeta-based regimen and an increased invasive disease-free survival benefit."
Martine Piccart, M.D., Ph.D., BIG co-founder and Scientific Director at Institut Jules Bordet, added: "These results demonstrate the importance of longer follow-up of APHINITY and further confirm the Perjeta-based regimen as the standard of care for people with HER2-positive early breast cancer at high risk of recurrence, such as those with lymph node-positive disease."
At this latest planned analysis, in the overall study population, the Perjeta-based regimen reduced the risk of breast cancer recurrence or death by 24%, compared to Herceptin, chemotherapy and placebo (HR=0.76; 95% CI 0.64-0.91). At six years, 90.6% of patients in the Perjeta arm have not seen their breast cancer return, compared to 87.8% in the placebo arm, an absolute benefit of 2.8%.1
Consistent with the primary analysis, the greatest effect continues to be observed in patients at high risk of recurrence, such as those with lymph node (LN)-positive disease. In these patients there was a 28% reduction in the risk of recurrence or death with the Perjeta-based regimen compared to Herceptin, chemotherapy and placebo (HR=0.72; 95% CI 0.59-0.87). This corresponds to an absolute improvement in iDFS at six years of 4.5% (87.9% vs. 83.4%). With longer follow-up, the treatment effect of the Perjeta-based regimen is seen regardless of hormone receptor (HR) status. The iDFS hazard ratio for HR-positive patients is 0.73 (95% CI 0.59-0.92). The iDFS hazard ratio for HR-negative patients is 0.83 (95% CI 0.63–1.10).1
Fewer deaths have been observed in the Perjeta-based regimen arm (125 vs. 147 [HR=0.85; 95% CI: 0.67-1.07]); however, data remain immature at this time. The APHINITY study continues as planned with the third interim analysis of OS scheduled for 2022. Continued follow-up of these patients is very important to determine a possible OS benefit.1
No new cardiac safety concerns emerged. The safety profile of the Perjeta-based regimen was consistent with that seen at primary analysis and in previous studies, with a low incidence of cardiac events. The percentage of primary cardiac events recorded in the Perjeta-based regimen arm was 0.8% vs. 0.3% in the placebo arm.1,2
Based on the primary study analysis in 2017, the clinical value of the Perjeta-based regimen for patients with HER2-positive eBC has been recognised by regulatory bodies around the world. This regimen is now approved for the treatment of eBC for people at a high risk of recurrence in more than 86 countries, including the US and across the EU. To date, more than 150,000 patients have been treated with the Perjeta-based regimen in this setting.3 The regimen has also been recognised in multiple international treatment guidelines, including those from St Gallen International Breast Cancer Conference, NCCN, ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) and ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper), which recommend it as an adjuvant standard treatment for patients with HER2-positive eBC at high risk of recurrence.4,5,6,7
These results from APHINITY will be presented in an oral session on Wednesday 11 December at 09.30 CT at the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) in San Antonio, Texas, US, by Dr Martine Piccart (Abstract #GS1-04). The data will also be featured in SABCS’ official press programme.
About APHINITY
APHINITY (Adjuvant Pertuzumab and Herceptin IN Initial TherapY in Breast Cancer, NCT01358877/ BO25126/ BIG 4-11) is an international, phase III, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-arm study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Perjeta plus Herceptin and chemotherapy, compared to Herceptin and chemotherapy, as adjuvant therapy in 4,805 people with operable HER2-positive eBC. The primary efficacy endpoint of the APHINITY study is iDFS, which in this study is defined as the time a patient lives without return of invasive breast cancer at any site, or death from any cause after adjuvant treatment. Secondary endpoints include cardiac and overall safety, OS, disease-free survival and health-related quality of life. The study will continue to follow participants for ten years.2,8
About Perjeta
Perjeta is a medicine that targets the HER2 receptor, a protein found on the outside of many normal cells and in high quantities on the outside of cancer cells in HER2-positive cancers. Perjeta is designed specifically to prevent the HER2 receptor from pairing (or ‘dimerising’) with other HER receptors (EGFR/HER1, HER3 and HER4) on the surface of cells, a process that is believed to play a role in tumour growth and survival.9 Binding of Perjeta to HER2 may also signal the body’s immune system to destroy the cancer cells. The mechanisms of action of Perjeta and Herceptin are believed to complement each other, as both bind to the HER2 receptor, but to different locations. The combination of Perjeta and Herceptin is thought to provide a more comprehensive, dual blockade of HER signalling pathways, thus preventing tumour cell growth and survival.10
About Roche’s medicines for HER2-positive breast cancer
Roche has been leading research into the HER2 pathway for over 30 years and is committed to improving the health, quality of life and survival of people with both early and metastatic HER2-positive disease. HER2-positive breast cancer is a particularly aggressive form of the disease that affects approximately 15-20% of patients.11 Roche has developed three innovative medicines that have helped transform the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer: Herceptin (trastuzumab), Perjeta (pertuzumab) and Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine). Eligibility for treatment with Roche’s HER2-targeted medicines is determined via a diagnostic test which identifies people who will likely benefit from these medicines at the onset of their disease.