U.S. FDA Approves XTANDI® (enzalutamide) for the Treatment of Men with Non-Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC)

On July 13, 2018 Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Kenji Yasukawa, Ph.D., "Astellas") and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) reported the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for XTANDI (enzalutamide), following FDA Priority Review designation, based on results from the Phase 3 PROSPER trial (Press release, Astellas, JUL 13, 2018, View Source [SID1234527693]). The FDA action broadens the indication for XTANDI to men with castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), now including men with non-metastatic CRPC. This approval makes XTANDI the first and only oral medication FDA-approved for both non-metastatic and metastatic CRPC. XTANDI was first approved by the FDA in 2012 for the treatment of patients with metastatic CRPC who had previously received docetaxel, and was granted approval in 2014 for chemotherapy-naïve men with metastatic CRPC.

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!

Astellas is a pharmaceutical company dedicated to improving the health of people around the world. (PRNewsFoto/Astellas Pharma Inc.)

"With today’s approval, there is now a new option for men with non-metastatic CRPC, who are in between the failure of androgen deprivation therapy resulting in CRPC and the onset of metastatic disease," said Jonathan Simons, M.D., Prostate Cancer Foundation President and CEO. "As a foundation that drives research aimed at improving patient outcomes, it is exciting to see approvals like this, which are vital to help address unmet patient needs."

The updated label is based on results from the Phase 3 PROSPER trial, which demonstrated that the use of XTANDI plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) significantly reduced the risk of developing metastasis or death compared to ADT alone in men with non-metastatic CRPC. The median for the primary endpoint, metastasis-free survival (MFS), was 36.6 months for men who received XTANDI plus ADT compared to 14.7 months with ADT alone (N=1401; HR=0.29 [95% CI: 0.24-0.35]; p<0.0001). The most common adverse reactions (greater than or equal to 10%) that occurred more frequently (greater than or equal to 2% over placebo) in XTANDI plus ADT-treated patients were: asthenic conditions (40% vs 20%), hot flush (13% vs 7.7%), hypertension (12% vs 5.2%), dizziness (12% vs 5.2%), nausea (11% vs 8.6%) and fall (11% vs 4.1%). Grade 3 or higher adverse reactions were reported in 31 percent of men treated with XTANDI plus ADT and in 23 percent of men treated with ADT alone. Data from the PROSPER study were presented at the 2018 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (ASCO GU) in February and published in the New England Journal of Medicine in June.

"Reducing the risk of disease progression is an important treatment goal in castration-resistant prostate cancer, since the disease becomes harder to treat as it advances," said Andy Schmeltz, global president, Oncology, Pfizer. "With XTANDI, men with CRPC now have a clinically proven treatment option that reduces the risk of metastasis. This approval delivers on the potential for XTANDI to help men at an earlier stage of the disease, and we are continuing to evaluate the medicine in an extensive development program across additional prostate cancer populations."

"This approval is important progress for men with CRPC, who now have XTANDI as a treatment option regardless of whether or not they have detectable metastatic disease," said Steven Benner, M.D., senior vice president and global therapeutic area head, Oncology Development, Astellas. "XTANDI is a standard of care in the treatment of men with metastatic CRPC and has been prescribed to more than 250,000 men worldwide since its initial approval in 2012. The expanded indication based on the PROSPER data builds on the body of evidence for XTANDI."

Pfizer and Astellas are committed to helping patients access XTANDI by providing them with access and reimbursement support resources regardless of their situation. Patients can visit www.XTANDI.com or call 1-855-898-2634 to learn more.

PROSPER Trial Results

The Phase 3 PROSPER trial enrolled 1,401 patients with non-metastatic CRPC. Patients were randomized 2:1 and received either XTANDI plus ADT or placebo plus ADT (ADT alone). Data in the updated XTANDI label demonstrates that the use of XTANDI plus ADT significantly reduced the risk of developing metastases or death compared to ADT alone. The median for the primary endpoint, MFS, was 36.6 months for men who received XTANDI compared to 14.7 months with ADT alone (HR=0.29 [95% CI: 0.24-0.35]; p<0.0001).

The primary efficacy outcome was supported by a statistically significant delay in the time to first use of new antineoplastic therapy (TTA) for patients who received XTANDI plus ADT compared to those who received ADT alone (median 39.6 months vs 17.7 months; HR=0.21 [95% CI: 0.17-0.26]; p < 0.0001). Overall survival (OS) data were not mature at the time of final MFS analysis.

The most common adverse reactions (greater than or equal to 10%) that occurred more frequently (greater than or equal to 2% over placebo) in XTANDI plus ADT-treated patients compared to the ADT alone patients were: asthenic conditions (40% vs 20%), hot flush (13% vs 7.7%), hypertension (12% vs 5.2%), dizziness (12% vs 5.2%), nausea (11% vs 8.6%) and fall (11% vs 4.1%). Grade 3 or higher adverse reactions were reported in 31 percent of men treated with XTANDI plus ADT and in 23 percent of men treated with ADT alone. In the study, 3.4 percent of patients in the XTANDI plus ADT arm and 0.6 percent in the ADT alone arm died from adverse events. Discontinuations with an adverse event as the primary reason were reported for 9.4 percent of patients treated with XTANDI plus ADT vs 6 percent treated with ADT alone.

About Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide.1 More than 164,000 men in the United States are estimated to be newly diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018.2 In the European Union, the estimated number of new prostate cancer cases in 2015 was 365,000.3

Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) refers to the subset of men whose prostate cancer progresses despite castrate levels of testosterone (i.e., less than 50 ng/dL).4 Non-metastatic CRPC means there is no clinically detectable evidence of the cancer spreading to other parts of the body (metastases), and there is a rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level.5 Many men with non-metastatic CRPC and a rapidly rising PSA level go on to develop metastatic CRPC.6

About XTANDI (enzalutamide) capsules

XTANDI (enzalutamide) is an androgen receptor inhibitor indicated for the treatment of patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Important Safety Information for XTANDI

Warnings and Precautions

Seizure occurred in 0.4% of patients receiving XTANDI in clinical studies. In a study of patients with predisposing factors for seizure, 2.2% of XTANDI-treated patients experienced a seizure. Patients in the study had one or more of the following pre-disposing factors: use of medications that may lower the seizure threshold; history of traumatic brain or head injury, cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack, Alzheimer’s disease, meningioma, or leptomeningeal disease from prostate cancer, unexplained loss of consciousness within the last 12 months, history of seizure, presence of a space occupying lesion of the brain, history of arteriovenous malformation, or history of brain infection. It is unknown whether anti-epileptic medications will prevent seizures with XTANDI. Advise patients of the risk of developing a seizure while taking XTANDI and of engaging in any activity where sudden loss of consciousness could cause serious harm to themselves or others. Permanently discontinue XTANDI in patients who develop a seizure during treatment.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) In post approval use, there have been reports of PRES in patients receiving XTANDI. PRES is a neurological disorder which can present with rapidly evolving symptoms including seizure, headache, lethargy, confusion, blindness, and other visual and neurological disturbances, with or without associated hypertension. A diagnosis of PRES requires confirmation by brain imaging, preferably MRI. Discontinue XTANDI in patients who develop PRES.

Hypersensitivity reactions, including edema of the face (0.5%), tongue (0.1%), or lip (0.1%) have been observed with XTANDI in clinical trials. Pharyngeal edema has been reported in post-marketing cases. Advise patients who experience any symptoms of hypersensitivity to temporarily discontinue XTANDI and promptly seek medical care. Permanently discontinue XTANDI for serious hypersensitivity reactions.

Ischemic Heart Disease In the placebo-controlled clinical studies, ischemic heart disease occurred more commonly in patients on the XTANDI arm compared to patients on the placebo arm (2.7% vs 1.2%). Grade 3-4 ischemic events occurred in 1.2% of patients on XTANDI versus 0.5% on placebo. Ischemic events led to death in 0.4% of patients on XTANDI compared to 0.1% on placebo. Monitor for signs and symptoms of ischemic heart disease. Optimize management of cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia. Discontinue XTANDI for Grade 3-4 ischemic heart disease.

Falls and Fractures In the placebo-controlled clinical studies, falls occurred in 10% of patients treated with XTANDI compared to 4% of patients treated with placebo. Fractures occurred in 8% of patients treated with XTANDI and in 3% of patients treated with placebo. Evaluate patients for fracture and fall risk. Monitor and manage patients at risk for fractures according to established treatment guidelines and consider use of bone-targeted agents.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity Safety and efficacy of XTANDI have not been established in females. XTANDI can cause fetal harm and loss of pregnancy when administered to a pregnant female. Advise males with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with XTANDI and for 3 months after the last dose of XTANDI. XTANDI should not be handled by females who are or may become pregnant.

Adverse Reactions

The most common adverse reactions (≥ 10%) that occurred more frequently (≥ 2% over placebo) in the XTANDI patients from the randomized placebo-controlled trials were asthenia/fatigue, decreased appetite, hot flush, arthralgia, dizziness/vertigo, hypertension, headache and weight decreased. In the bicalutamide-controlled study, the most common adverse reactions (≥ 10%) reported in XTANDI patients were asthenia/fatigue, back pain, musculoskeletal pain, hot flush, hypertension, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, upper respiratory tract infection, and weight loss.

In the placebo-controlled study of metastatic CRPC (mCRPC) patients taking XTANDI who previously received docetaxel, Grade 3 and higher adverse reactions were reported among 47% of XTANDI patients and 53% of placebo patients. Discontinuations due to adverse events were reported for 16% of XTANDI patients and 18% of placebo patients. In the placebo-controlled study of chemotherapy-naïve mCRPC patients, Grade 3-4 adverse reactions were reported in 44% of XTANDI patients and 37% of placebo patients. Discontinuations due to adverse events were reported for 6% of both study groups. In the placebo-controlled study of non-metastatic CRPC (nmCRPC) patients, Grade 3 or higher adverse reactions were reported in 31% of XTANDI patients and 23% of placebo patients. Discontinuations with an adverse event as the primary reason were reported for 9% of XTANDI patients and 6% of placebo patients. In the bicalutamide-controlled study of chemotherapy-naïve mCRPC patients, Grade 3-4 adverse reactions were reported in 39% of XTANDI patients and 38% of bicalutamide patients. Discontinuations with an AE as the primary reason were reported for 8% of XTANDI patients and 6% of bicalutamide patients.

Lab Abnormalities: In the two placebo-controlled trials in patients with mCRPC, Grade 1-4 neutropenia occurred in 15% of XTANDI patients (1% Grade 3-4) and 6% of placebo patients (0.5% Grade 3-4). In the placebo-controlled trial in patients with nmCRPC, Grade 1-4 neutropenia occurred in 8% of patients receiving XTANDI (0.5% Grade 3-4) and in 5% of patients receiving placebo (0.2% Grade 3-4).

Hypertension: In the two placebo-controlled trials in patients with mCRPC, hypertension was reported in 11% of XTANDI patients and 4% of placebo patients. Hypertension led to study discontinuation in <1% of patients in each arm. In the placebo-controlled trial in patients with nmCRPC, hypertension was reported in 12% of patients receiving XTANDI and 5% of patients receiving placebo.

Drug Interactions

Effect of Other Drugs on XTANDI Avoid strong CYP2C8 inhibitors, as they can increase the plasma exposure to XTANDI. If co-administration is necessary, reduce the dose of XTANDI.

Avoid strong CYP3A4 inducers as they can decrease the plasma exposure to XTANDI. If co-administration is necessary, increase the dose of XTANDI.

Effect of XTANDI on Other Drugs Avoid CYP3A4, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 substrates with a narrow therapeutic index, as XTANDI may decrease the plasma exposures of these drugs. If XTANDI is co-administered with warfarin (CYP2C9 substrate), conduct additional INR monitoring.

Please see Full Prescribing Information for additional safety information.

About the Enzalutamide Development Program

Pfizer and Astellas are collaborating on a comprehensive development program that includes studies of enzalutamide across the full spectrum of advanced prostate cancer. Ongoing studies of enzalutamide in prostate cancer include the ARCHES trial in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer and the EMBARK trial in non-metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer.

Gilead Sciences to Release Second Quarter 2018 Financial Results on Wednesday, July 25, 2018

On July 13, 2018 Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) reported that its second quarter 2018 financial results will be released on Wednesday, July 25, after the market closes (Press release, Gilead Sciences, JUL 13, 2018, View Source;p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2358256 [SID1234527694]). At 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Gilead’s management will host a conference call to discuss the company’s financial results for the second quarter 2018 and provide a general business update.

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!

The live webcast of the call can be accessed at the company’s Investors page at www.gilead.com/investors. Please connect to the company’s website at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be required to listen to the webcast. Alternatively, please call 1-877-359-9508 (U.S.) or 1-224-357-2393 (international) and dial the conference ID 8988927 to access the call. Telephone replay will be available approximately two hours after the call through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, July 27, 2018. To access the replay, please call 1-855-859-2056 (U.S.) or 1-404-537-3406 (international) and dial the conference ID 8988927. The webcast will be archived on www.gilead.com for one year.

Seattle Genetics Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 2 innovaTV 207 Trial Evaluating Tisotumab Vedotin in Multiple Solid Tumors

On July 12, 2018 Seattle Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq:SGEN) reported dosing of the first patient in the phase 2 innovaTV 207 clinical trial evaluating the activity, safety and tolerability of tisotumab vedotin as monotherapy in selected solid tumors with high Tissue Factor expression (Press release, Seattle Genetics, JUL 12, 2018, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=2357993 [SID1234527676]). Tissue Factor is overexpressed in a broad range of solid tumors that are associated with a poor prognosis. Tisotumab vedotin is an investigational antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) designed to target the Tissue Factor antigen on the surface of cancer cells and deliver the cell-killing agent monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) directly inside cancer cells. Tisotumab vedotin is being developed in collaboration with Genmab A/S. The potentially pivotal phase 2 trial innovaTV 204 evaluating tisotumab vedotin for patients with cervical cancer who have relapsed and/or progressed after standard of care treatment was recently initiated.

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!

"The initiation of the phase 2 innovaTV 207 basket trial will enable us to explore the safety and activity of tisotumab vedotin in several tumor types where Tissue Factor is also expressed and is intended to inform a potentially broad development program that maximizes the opportunity for this ADC beyond cervical cancer," said Roger Dansey, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Seattle Genetics.

The phase 2 innovaTV 207 trial is a global, multicenter, open label basket trial that will enroll up to 200 adult patients with relapsed, locally-advanced or metastatic disease in one of four cohorts: colorectal cancer, squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), pancreatic adenocarcinoma, and squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (SCCHN). Patients will be treated with single-agent tisotumab vedotin every three weeks. The primary endpoint of the trial is confirmed objective response rate (ORR) defined as the proportion of patients who achieve a confirmed complete or partial response. Key secondary endpoints include confirmed and unconfirmed ORR, disease control rate, duration of response, progression-free survival, overall survival, safety and tolerability.

For more information about the phase 2 innovaTV 207 clinical trial of tisotumab vedotin, please visit www.clinicaltrials.gov, (Identifier: NCT03485209).

About Tisotumab Vedotin

Tisotumab vedotin is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) composed of Genmab’s human antibody that binds to Tissue Factor and Seattle Genetics’ ADC technology that utilizes a cleavable linker and the cytotoxic drug monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE). In cancer biology, Tissue Factor is a protein involved in tumor cell signaling and angiogenesis. Based on its high expression on many solid tumors and its rapid internalization, Tissue Factor was selected as a target for an ADC approach. In an earlier study, tisotumab vedotin demonstrated an encouraging response rate and manageable safety profile in patients with relapsed, recurrent and/or metastatic cervical cancer.

Tisotumab vedotin is being co-developed by Seattle Genetics, Inc. and Genmab A/S.

Xencor Doses First Patient in Phase 1 Study of XmAb20717 Dual Checkpoint Inhibitor for the Treatment of Advanced Solid Tumors

On July 12, 2018 Xencor, Inc. (NASDAQ: XNCR), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing engineered monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, asthma and allergic diseases and cancer, reported that the first patient has been dosed in XmAb20717-01 (DUET-2), a Phase 1, first-in-human, clinical trial of XmAb20717, a bispecific antibody that simultaneously targets PD-1 and CTLA-4 immune checkpoints for the treatment of multiple advanced solid tumors (Press release, Xencor, JUL 12, 2018, View Source [SID1234527677]).

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!

"Built on the scaffold of Xencor’s XmAb bispecific Fc domain, XmAb20717 is the most advanced candidate in our suite of tumor microenvironment activators," said Paul Foster, M.D., chief medical officer at Xencor. "The dual blockade of PD-1 and CTLA-4 with XmAb20717 may promote superior T cell activation and proliferation compared to anti-PD-1 alone, and we look forward to studying its safety, tolerability and therapeutic activity in clinical trials."

By the end of 2018, Xencor expects to file Investigational New Drug applications for two additional tumor microenvironment activators including XmAb23104, a PD-1 x ICOS bispecific antibody, as well as XmAb22841, a CTLA-4 x LAG-3 dual checkpoint inhibitor.

DUET-2 is a Phase 1 multiple-dose, dose-escalation study that will characterize the safety and tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, immunogenicity and preliminary anti-tumor activity of intravenous administration of XmAb20717 in patients with selected advanced solid tumors. For more information about DUET-2 please visit to View Source (identifier: NCT03517488).

Targovax and SOTIO Announce First Patient Dosed in Phase I/II Combination Trial of ONCOS-102 With DCVAC

On July 12, 2018 Targovax ASA (OSE: TRVX), a clinical stage company focused on developing and commercializing immune activators to target hard to treat solid tumors, and SOTIO, a biotechnology company owned by the PPF Group, reported that the first patient has been dosed with ONCOS-102 in the SP015 phase I/II clinical trial in patients with prostate cancer, combining the Company’s immune-priming adenovirus ONCOS-102, with SOTIO’s DCVAC/PCa, an active cellular immunotherapy (Press release, Targovax, JUL 12, 2018, View Source [SID1234527678]).

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!

The first patient has been dosed with ONCOS-102 at the Motol University Hospital in Prague, by the principal investigator Dr. Ladislav Jarolím. One additional trial site is planned to be opened in the UK later this year.

SP015 (Eudra CT: 2015-004314-15) is a Phase I/II, single-arm clinical trial to evaluate the safety and immune activation of the combination of ONCOS-102 and DCVAC/PCa in men with advanced metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer. The study aims to enroll up to 15 patients across centers in the Czech Republic and United Kingdom. The trial builds on the hypothesis that ONCOS-102 may enhance the anti-tumor immune responses generated by dendritic cells loaded with tumor antigens, and thus may help the immune system to overcome evasion strategies employed by tumors.

"We are excited to have started our fourth combination study of ONCOS-102, which will examine safety, immune activation and efficacy alongside DCVAC/PCa in prostate cancer patients," said Magnus Jäderberg, CMO of Targovax. "Finding the right combination treatments is crucial to boost the response rate to immunotherapies, and in this particular trial we are testing the hypothesis of whether intratumoral delivery of ONCOS-102 and its transgene payload, GM-CSF, can provide a trafficking signal that enhances recruitment of the DCVAC dendritic cells to the prostate tumor site."

Radek Špíšek, CEO of SOTIO, said: "By combining an autologous active cellular therapy with an oncolytic virus, we had to overcome various regulatory and operational challenges. We are very happy to have succeeded in initiating such complex trial, the first of its kind ever conducted in Czech Republic and the CEE region. The SP015 clinical trial will help us to gather critical evidence necessary to develop innovative immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer that threatens one in five men globally."

About ONCOS-102

Targovax’s proprietary ONCOS platform uses oncolytic viruses as potential multi-target, neo-antigen therapeutic cancer vaccines. ONCOS-102 is Targovax’s lead adenovirus-based pipeline product – a purposefully engineered human serotype 5 adenovirus optimized to induce systemic anti-tumor T cell responses in cancer patients. ONCOS-102 has completed a Phase I clinical study and is being tested in further combination clinical trials in several solid tumor indications.

About DCVAC/PCa:

DCVAC/PCa was the first SOTIO product to enter clinical research. DCVAC/PCa is an active cellular immunotherapy treatment for prostate cancer patients; DCVAC/PCa is produced individually for each patient using the patient’s own dendritic cells (that are part of the immune system), to induce an immune reaction against tumor antigens. SOTIO has been sponsoring five Phase II clinical trials and one global Phase III (VIABLE) clinical trial in patients with prostate cancer. Another Phase II and Phase I/II clinical trials are conducted in ovarian cancer and lung cancer indications.