On December 28, 2016 ImmunoGen, Inc. (Nasdaq:IMGN), a leader in the expanding field of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for the treatment of cancer, reported that results from the Phase 1 expansion cohort evaluating mirvetuximab soravtansine (IMGN853) in patients with folate receptor alpha (FRα)-positive platinum-resistant ovarian cancer were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (Press release, ImmunoGen, DEC 28, 2016, View Source [SID1234517221]). The data demonstrate the potential clinical benefit of mirvetuximab soravtansine for the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo! "Standard single-agent therapy for patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer typically has a response rate below 20% and median progression-free survival below four months," said Kathleen Moore, M.D., Associate Professor, Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma, and lead author of the publication. "Mirvetuximab soravtansine generated encouraging efficacy and tolerability data in the Phase 1 trial that suggest the potential to improve clinical outcomes for this patient population."
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The Phase 1 expansion cohort enrolled 46 patients with platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer whose tumors were positive for FRα. Patients were dosed with mirvetuximab soravtansine once every three weeks. Mirvetuximab soravtansine demonstrated single-agent activity in the 46-patient cohort with a 26% confirmed response rate and median progression free survival (PFS) of 4.8 months. In a subset of 23 patients with low, medium or high FRα, who had received three or fewer prior lines of therapy, there was a 39% objective response rate (ORR) and median PFS of 6.7 months. On the basis of the study findings and additional data demonstrating the importance of FRα expression levels with mirvetuximab soravtansine, the Company has designed the Phase 3 FORWARD I study to enroll patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer with one to three prior therapies and with medium or high FRα. This group of patients in the Phase 1 expansion cohort exhibited a 44% ORR and a median PFS of 6.7 months.1
Mirvetuximab soravtansine exhibited a manageable safety profile. Adverse events (AEs) were generally mild with the majority being grade 1 or grade 2 (least severe grades). The most commonly observed AEs were diarrhea, blurred vision, nausea, and fatigue.
"These results demonstrate that mirvetuximab soravtansine is active in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer, with encouraging response rates and progression-free survival combined with a manageable safety profile," said Anna Berkenblit, M.D., Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of ImmunoGen. "On the basis of these findings, we have moved confidently into a Phase 3 registration study evaluating this promising agent against the standard of care in the platinum-resistant setting. In addition, we are evaluating combination regimens to assess mirvetuximab soravtansine in expanded patient populations and will begin reporting data from these combinations in mid-2017."
The publication, "Safety and Activity of Mirvetuximab Soravtansine (IMGN853), a Folate Receptor Alpha-Targeting Antibody-Drug Conjugate, in Platinum-Resistant Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, or Primary Peritoneal Cancer: A Phase I Expansion Study," is available on the Journal of Clinical Oncology website.
About Mirvetuximab Soravtansine
Mirvetuximab soravtansine (IMGN853) is the first FRα-targeting ADC. It uses a FRα-binding antibody to target the ADC specifically to FRα-expressing cancer cells and a potent anti-tumor agent, DM4, to kill the targeted cancer cells.
Mirvetuximab soravtansine is ImmunoGen’s lead program and is now in Phase 3 testing as a single agent for the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The candidate is also being assessed in combination regimens for both platinum-resistant and platinum-sensitive disease in Phase 1b/2 FORWARD II trial.
About Ovarian Cancer and FRα
In 2016, approximately 22,300 new cases of ovarian cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S. and more than 14,200 women will die from the disease.2 ImmunoGen estimates that 60% of ovarian cancer cases have medium or high FRα expression.
Standard first-line therapy for ovarian cancer is a platinum-based regimen. Once the cancer becomes platinum-resistant, treatment options include single-agent cytotoxic therapies such as pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, paclitaxel, or topotecan.