On October 7, 2015 Seattle Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq:SGEN) reported that it has initiated a phase 1/2 clinical trial of ADCETRIS (brentuximab vedotin) in combination with Opdivo (nivolumab) for patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) after failure of frontline treatment (Press release, Seattle Genetics, OCT 7, 2015, View Source [SID:1234507658]). The trial is being conducted under a previously announced clinical trial collaboration agreement with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY). Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo! ADCETRIS is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) directed to CD30, a defining marker of classical HL, which combines the targeting ability of a monoclonal antibody with a highly potent cell-killing agent. Opdivo is a human antibody that targets and inhibits the programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1), resulting in T-cell activation. Opdivo is part of a new class of cancer immunotherapy treatments known as checkpoint inhibitors, which are designed to harness the body’s own immune system in fighting cancer by targeting distinct regulatory components of the immune system. A second trial under the collaboration is planned to begin later in 2015 for relapsed or refractory B-cell and T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
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"This is the first corporate-sponsored clinical trial to evaluate ADCETRIS combined with a checkpoint inhibitor to determine if the combination can improve patient outcomes," said Jonathan Drachman, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President, Research and Development. "The trial supports our strategy to establish ADCETRIS as the foundation of care for CD30-expressing malignancies, and to test novel combinations that could benefit patients. We are executing a broad clinical program with ADCETRIS to potentially expand into earlier lines of therapy and new indications, including the ECHELON-1 trial in frontline Hodgkin lymphoma, the ECHELON-2 trial in frontline mature T-cell lymphoma, the ALCANZA trial in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma and both ongoing and planned trials in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma."
The phase 1/2 open-label trial will enroll relapsed or refractory HL patients who have failed frontline therapy. The primary objective is to assess the safety and antitumor activity of ADCETRIS in combination with Opdivo. After completion of four cycles of combination therapy, patients are eligible to undergo autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). Patients at high risk of relapse or progression following ASCT will be eligible to receive ADCETRIS in the commercial setting. All patients will be assessed for progression-free survival after ASCT. The trial is being conducted at multiple centers in the United States and is designed to enroll up to approximately 60 patients.
ADCETRIS is not currently approved for the treatment of second-line, transplant eligible HL or for the treatment of NHL other than relapsed systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Opdivo is currently not approved for the treatment of lymphoma.
About ADCETRIS (Brentuximab Vedotin)
ADCETRIS is an ADC comprising an anti-CD30 monoclonal antibody attached by a protease-cleavable linker to a microtubule disrupting agent, monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), utilizing Seattle Genetics’ proprietary technology. The ADC employs a linker system that is designed to be stable in the bloodstream but to release MMAE upon internalization into CD30-expressing tumor cells.
ADCETRIS for intravenous injection has received approval from the FDA for three indications: (1) regular approval for the treatment of patients with classical HL after failure of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) or after failure of at least two prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimens in patients who are not auto-HSCT candidates, (2) regular approval for the treatment of classical HL patients at high risk of relapse or progression as post-auto-HSCT consolidation, and (3) accelerated approval for the treatment of patients with systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL) after failure of at least one prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimen. The sALCL indication is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate. Continued approval for the sALCL indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials. Health Canada granted ADCETRIS approval with conditions for relapsed or refractory HL and sALCL.
ADCETRIS was granted conditional marketing authorization by the European Commission in October 2012 for two indications: (1) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory CD30-positive HL following autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT), or following at least two prior therapies when ASCT or multi-agent chemotherapy is not a treatment option, and (2) the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory sALCL. ADCETRIS has received marketing authorization by regulatory authorities in more than 55 countries. See important safety information below.
Seattle Genetics and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Takeda) are jointly developing ADCETRIS. Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, Seattle Genetics has U.S. and Canadian commercialization rights and Takeda has rights to commercialize ADCETRIS in the rest of the world. Seattle Genetics and Takeda are funding joint development costs for ADCETRIS on a 50:50 basis, except in Japan where Takeda is solely responsible for development costs.
About Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a general term for a group of cancers that originate in the lymphatic system. There are two major categories of lymphoma: HL and NHL. HL is distinguished from other types of lymphoma by the presence of one characteristic type of cell, known as the Reed-Sternberg cell. The Reed-Sternberg cell generally expresses CD30. NHL is further categorized into indolent (low-grade) or aggressive, including DLBCL. DLBCL is the most common type of NHL.