On October 23, 2014 Clovis Oncology reported that its global Phase 2 study of lucitanib in patients with FGFR1-amplified squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has commenced and the first patient has been dosed at a U.S. study site (Press release Clovis Oncology, OCT 23, 2014, View Source;p=RssLanding&cat=news&id=1981074 [SID:1234500872]). Lucitanib is the Company’s oral, potent inhibitor of the tyrosine kinase activity of fibroblast growth factor receptors 1 through 3 (FGFR1-3), vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1 through 3 (VEGFR1-3) and platelet-derived growth factor receptors alpha and beta (PDGFR α-ß).
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"The lucitanib data presented to date in patients with FGF-aberrant breast cancer are very encouraging, and we know that FGFR1 amplification occurs in approximately 15 percent of patients with squamous non-small cell lung cancer," said Dr. Benjamin Besse, Head of Thoracic Oncology, Institut Gustave Roussy, and the lead investigator of the study in squamous NSCLC. "Accordingly, we are very enthusiastic to explore lucitanib in this selected population of patients with lung cancer, for whom there is significant need for novel therapies."
"Less than a year after acquiring lucitanib, we are commencing a broad clinical development program, which includes this study in FGFR1-amplified squamous NSCLC, as well as our ongoing study currently underway in FGF-aberrant breast cancer," said Patrick J. Mahaffy, President and CEO of Clovis Oncology. "We are enthusiastic about the opportunity to explore lucitanib in these indications, and potentially in other solid tumors exhibiting FGFR pathway activation."
The Phase 2 study will enroll FGFR1-amplified squamous NSCLC patients with advanced disease who have progressed on at least one prior line of therapy. The global study will assess objective response rate, progression-free survival, and duration of response, as well as the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of lucitanib.
Lucitanib is unique among tyrosine kinase inhibitors being developed for cancer therapy, as it effectively targets fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR)1-3, vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR)1-3, and platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGFR) alpha and beta with minimal off-target activity. This selectivity profile allows lucitanib to provide a potential benefit to cancer patients by targeting multiple pathways of tumor development. Specifically, by targeting the FGFR pathway, lucitanib can have a direct antitumor effect in FGF/FGFR driven tumors such as breast or lung cancers harboring amplification of the FGFR1 gene. In addition, by targeting the FGFR, VEGFR and PDGFR receptors lucitanib also can inhibit the development of blood vessels that are required by the tumor to grow and spread.
In addition to this Clovis-sponsored Phase 2 study in squamous NSCLC, a global development program for lucitanib in breast cancer is underway, which includes the Clovis-sponsored Phase 2 study in FGF-aberrant advanced breast cancer being conducted in the U.S., the Servier-sponsored FINESSE study of lucitanib monotherapy being conducted in Europe, Canada and Australia as well as the Servier-sponsored INES study evaluating lucitanib in combination with fulvestrant after failure of endocrine therapy.