On October 25, 2016 Array BioPharma (NASDAQ: ARRY) and Pierre Fabre reported that results from the Phase 3 COLUMBUS trial of binimetinib and encorafenib in BRAF-mutant melanoma will be presented at the 2016 Society for Melanoma Research (SMR) Annual Congress in Boston, Massachusetts on November 9 (Press release, Array BioPharma, OCT 25, 2016, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2215774 [SID1234515994]). Findings from COLUMBUS evaluating the combination of encorafenib plus binimetinib ("combination") in patients with unresectable or metastatic BRAF-mutant melanoma will be presented as an oral, late-breaking abstract. Two data analyses from the NEMO Phase 3 trial will also be presented, which evaluated binimetinib in patients with NRAS-mutant melanoma.

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COLUMBUS TRIAL DATA

Data from the Phase 3 study will be featured as an oral presentation during the late-breaking abstract session on Wednesday, November 9 from 10:00 – 10:15 AM ET:

Abstract 2617508: Results of COLUMBUS Part 1: A Phase 3 Trial of Encorafenib (ENCO) Plus Binimetinib (BINI) Versus Vemurafenib (VEM) or ENCO in BRAF-Mutant Melanoma
Presenter: Keith T. Flaherty, M.D., Director of the Termeer Center for Targeted Therapy, Massachusetts General Hospital and Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
As reported in late September, 577 patients were randomized 1:1:1 to receive the combination of encorafenib plus binimetinib, encorafenib alone, or vemurafenib alone. In the analysis of the primary endpoint, the median PFS for patients treated with the combination of encorafenib plus binimetinib ("combination") was 14.9 months versus 7.3 months for patients treated with vemurafenib; HR (0.54), [95% CI 0.41-0.71], p<0.001. Analysis of a secondary endpoint comparing the PFS of patients treated with combination to patients treated with encorafenib showed a median of 14.9 months versus 9.6 months with HR (0.75), [95% CI 0.56-1.00], p=0.051, which did not reach statistical significance. The combination was generally well-tolerated and reported adverse events were overall consistent with previous combination encorafenib plus binimetinib clinical trial results in BRAF-mutant melanoma patients.

ARRAY BIOPHARMA INVESTOR RECEPTION

Array will be hosting an investor reception immediately following the conclusion of SMR. The event will be held on Wednesday, November 9 from 1 – 3 pm ET in Boston and will include an encore presentation of the COLUMBUS results by Dr. Flaherty at 1 pm ET. The public is welcome to participate in the presentation through a webcast (live and replay): View Source

For questions regarding the reception, please contact Melissa Green/ConferenceSource at 303-325-8800 or [email protected].

About Metastatic Melanoma
Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer among men and the seventh most common cancer among women in the United States, with more than 76,000 new cases and over 10,000 deaths from the disease expected in 2016. Novel therapies that target the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway have a strong scientific rationale for activity in advanced melanoma, as up to 50 percent of patients with metastatic melanoma have activating BRAF mutations, the most common gene mutation in this patient population. Activating NRAS mutations are present in up to 20 percent of patients with metastatic melanoma, and is a poor prognostic indicator for these patients.

About Binimetinib & Encorafenib
MEK and BRAF are key protein kinases in the MAPK signaling pathway (RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK). Research has shown this pathway regulates several key cellular activities including proliferation, differentiation, survival and angiogenesis. Inappropriate activation of proteins in this pathway has been shown to occur in many cancers, such as melanoma, colorectal and thyroid cancers. Binimetinib is a late-stage small molecule MEK inhibitor and encorafenib is a late-stage small molecule BRAF inhibitor, both of which target key enzymes in this pathway.

Binimetinib and encorafenib are being studied in clinical trials in advanced cancer patients, including the recently initiated Phase 3 BEACON CRC trial that is evaluating encorafenib in combination with cetuximab with or without binimetinib in patients with BRAF V600E-mutant colorectal cancer. Array submitted a New Drug Application (NDA) for binimetinib in NRAS-mutant melanoma to the FDA at the end of June 2016. The FDA accepted the NDA with a target action date under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) of June 30, 2017. Array also expects to submit an NDA for binimetinib and encorafenib in BRAF-mutant melanoma to the FDA in 2017.

Array BioPharma retains exclusive rights to binimetinib and encorafenib in key markets including the U.S., Japan, Canada, Korea and Israel. Pierre Fabre will have exclusive rights to commercialize both products in all other countries, including Europe, Asia and Latin America.