On May 20, 2020 Incyte (NASDAQ:INCY) and MorphoSys AG (FSE: MOR; Prime Standard Segment; MDAX & TecDAX; NASDAQ:MOR) reported the validation of the European Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) for tafasitamab, an anti-CD19 antibody (Press release, Incyte, MAY 20, 2020, View Source [SID1234558323]). The application seeks approval of tafasitamab in combination with lenalidomide, followed by tafasitamab monotherapy, for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (r/r DLBCL), including DLBCL arising from low grade lymphoma, who are not candidates for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). The validation of the MAA by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) confirms that the submission is ready to enter the formal review process.
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"The EMA’s validation of the MAA for tafasitamab is a critical step on the path to making tafasitamab available for use in combination with lenalidomide in eligible patients with r/r DLBCL in Europe," said Peter Langmuir, M.D., Group Vice President, Targeted Therapeutics, Incyte. "We will continue to work closely with the EMA to progress the review of this application, with the hope of bringing this novel therapy to eligible patients as soon as possible."
"We are pleased to have achieved this important milestone, which moves tafasitamab in combination with lenalidomide into the formal regulatory review process in the European Union," said Dr. Malte Peters, Chief Research & Development Officer, MorphoSys. "Following the U.S. FDA’s acceptance of our Biologics License Application filing for tafasitamab for Priority Review earlier this year, this represents another major step forward. We look forward to continuing to work with the regulatory authorities alongside our partners at Incyte to bring this novel therapeutic option to eligible patients in need."
The MAA, submitted by MorphoSys, is based on data from the L-MIND study evaluating tafasitamab in combination with lenalidomide as a treatment for patients with r/r DLBCL; and is supported by the Re-MIND study, an observational retrospective study in r/r DLBCL. If approved, Incyte will hold the marketing authorization, and has exclusive commercialization rights for tafasitamab outside of the United States, including Europe.
DLBCL is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in adults worldwide – comprising 40% of all cases1. It is an aggressive disease affecting the B-cells of the immune system with 30-40% of patients who do not respond to initial therapy or relapse thereafter, leading to a high medical need for new, effective therapies2.
About L-MIND
The L-MIND trial is a single arm, open-label Phase 2 study (NCT02399085) investigating the combination of tafasitamab and lenalidomide in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (r/r DLBCL) after up to two prior lines of therapy, including an anti-CD20 targeting therapy (e.g. rituximab), who are not eligible for high-dose chemotherapy and subsequent autologous stem cell transplantation. The study’s primary endpoint is objective response rate (ORR). Secondary outcome measures include duration of response (DoR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). In May 2019, the study reached its primary completion. Two-year data, assessed by an independent review committee (November 30, 2019 cut-off), evaluating 80 patients receiving tafasitamab and lenalidomide corroborate previously reported primary analysis data.
For more information about L-MIND, visit View Source
About Re-MIND
Re-MIND, an observational retrospective study (NCT04150328), was designed to isolate the contribution of tafasitamab in the combination with lenalidomide and to prove the combinatorial effect. The study compares real-world response data of patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (r/r DLBCL) who received lenalidomide monotherapy with the efficacy outcomes of the tafasitamab-lenalidomide combination, as investigated in MorphoSys’ L-MIND trial. Re-MIND collected the efficacy data from 490 r/r DLBCL patients in the U.S. and EU. Qualification criteria for matching patients of both studies were pre-specified. As a result, 76 eligible Re-MIND patients were identified and matched 1:1 to 76 of 80 L-MIND patients based on important baseline characteristics. Objective response rates (ORR) were validated based on this subset of 76 patients in Re-MIND and L-MIND, respectively. The primary endpoint of Re-MIND was met and shows a statistically significant superior best ORR of the tafasitamab/lenalidomide combination compared to lenalidomide monotherapy.
For more information about Re-MIND, visit View Source
About Tafasitamab
Tafasitamab is an investigational humanized Fc-engineered monoclonal antibody directed against CD19. In 2010, MorphoSys licensed exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize tafasitamab from Xencor, Inc. Tafasitamab incorporates an XmAb(R) engineered Fc domain, which is intended to lead to a significant potentiation of antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), thus aiming to improve a key mechanism of tumor cell killing.
In January 2020, MorphoSys and Incyte entered into a collaboration and licensing agreement to further develop and commercialize tafasitamab globally. If approved, MorphoSys and Incyte will co-commercialize tafasitamab in the United States. Incyte has exclusive commercialization rights outside the United States.
Tafasitamab is being studied as a therapeutic option in B-cell malignancies in a number of ongoing combination trials, including L-MIND and Re-MIND, as well as the ongoing Phase 3 B-MIND study evaluating the combination of tafasitamab and bendamustine versus rituximab and bendamustine in r/r DLBCL. In addition, tafasitamab is currently being evaluated in patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) after discontinuation of a prior Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor therapy (e.g. ibrutinib) in combination with idelalisib or venetoclax.
XmAb is a trademark of Xencor, Inc.