On May 29, 2020 Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 4519) reported that it obtained an approval from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for expanded use of the genomic mutation analysis program, FoundationOne CDx Cancer Genomic Profile as a companion diagnostic of the Novartis’ investigational MET inhibitor, capmatinib (INC280) for the treatment of unresectable advanced and/or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with that leads to MET exon 14 skipping (METex14) (Press release, Chugai, MAY 29, 2020, View Source [SID1234558655]).

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!

"We are pleased that FoundationOne CDx Cancer Genomic Profile was approved as a companion diagnostic of an investigational MET inhibitor, capmatinib. Since the standard treatment of NSCLC is decided based on whether the cancer has a driver mutation, we believe NSCLC is one of the cancer types that comprehensive genomic profiling can particularly contribute to its treatment decision," said, Dr. Osamu Okuda, Chugai’s President and COO. "By continuing to collaborate with many biopharma partners, we will expand the companion diagnostic functions and are committed to working toward the realization of precision medicine."

The approval aims to expand the program for use as a companion diagnostic to aid in identifying patients who could benefit from capmatinib for the treatment of unresectable advanced and/or metastatic NSCLC with METex14 by detecting mutations that lead to METex14. It is estimated that 3-4% of all patients with NSCLC have an identified METex141) and is said to be a poor prognosis factor2). Capmatinib is a selective MET inhibitor and is confirmed to strongly inhibit the kinase activity of the METex143). Efficacy and safety of capmatinib are investigated in patients with advanced and/or metastatic NSCLC in the phase II GEOMETRY mono-1 study conducted by Novartis. Novartis Japan K.K. has submitted the regulatory application of capmatinib to the MHLW.

Developed by Foundation Medicine Inc., FoundationOne CDx Cancer Genomic Profile is a next-generation sequencing based in vitro diagnostic device for the detection of substitutions, insertion and deletion alterations, and copy number alterations in 324 genes and select gene rearrangements, as well as genomic signatures including microsatellite instability (MSI) and tumor mutational burden (TMB) using DNA isolated from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue specimens. The program is available as a companion diagnostic for multiple molecular-targeted drugs approved in Japan.

As a leading company in the field of oncology, Chugai is committed to realize advanced personalized oncology care and contribute to patients and healthcare professionals through improving access to comprehensive genomic profiling.

Approval information The underlined part has been newly added.
Intended uses or indications

The Product is used for comprehensive genomic profiling of tumor tissues in patients with solid cancers.
The Product is used for detecting gene mutations and other alterations to support the assessment of drug indications listed in the table below.
Alterations Cancer type Relevant drugs
EGFR exon 19 deletions and EGFR exon 21 L858R alterations Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) afatinib dimaleate, erlotinib hydrochloride, gefitinib, osimertinib mesylate
EGFR exon 20 T790M alterations osimertinib mesylate
ALK fusion genes alectinib hydrochloride, crizotinib, ceritinib
ROS1 fusion genes entrectinib
MET exon 14 skipping alterations capmatinib hydrochloride hydrate
BRAF V600E and V600K alterations Malignant melanoma dabrafenib mesylate, trametinib dimethyl sulfoxide, vemurafenib
ERBB2 copy number alterations (HER2 gene amplification positive) Breast cancer trastuzumab (genetical recombination)
KRAS/NRAS wild-type Colorectal cancer cetuximab (genetical recombination), panitumumab (genetical recombination)
NTRK1/2/3 fusion gene Solid tumors entrectinib
BRCA1/2 alterations Ovarian cancer olaparib
Trademarks used or mentioned in this release are protected by laws.

Reference

Salgia R. MET in Lung Cancer: Biomarker Selection Based on Scientific Rationale. Mol Cancer Ther. 2017; 16(4):555-565.
Tong JH, Yeung SF, Chan AWH, et al. MET Amplification and Exon 14 Splice Site Mutation Define Unique Molecular Subgroups of Non–Small Cell Lung Carcinoma with Poor Prognosis. Clin Cancer Res. 2016; 22(12):3048-3056.
Fujino T, Kobayashi Y, Suda K, et al. Sensitivity and Resistance of MET Exon 14 Mutations in Lung Cancer to Eight MET Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors In Vitro. J Thorac Oncol: 2019 Oct;14(10):1753-1765