On February 22, 2021 Ipsen (Euronext: IPN; ADR: IPSEY) reported a total of 9 abstracts presenting new data with a focus in NETs (Press release, Ipsen, FEB 22, 2021, View Source [SID1234575378]).1-10 These include data from the Phase II CLARINET FORTE study and data on the use of independent administration of lanreotide autogel to be presented at the ENETS Conference, taking place virtually 25-27 February 2021.1-3
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Updated data from the CLARINET FORTE study were presented including additional quality of life (QoL) data showcasing assessments of patients’ perceived QoL during the treatment period of the study.1 QoL was assessed using three validated questionnaires covering the severity of problems associated with mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression (EQ-5D-5L), as well as questionnaires specific to patients with cancer (EORTC QLQ-C30) and NETs (QLQ‑GINET.21).1 Results from these measurements suggest no deterioration of QoL with no substantial deviation from baseline prior to treatment.1 Additional pharmacokinetic (PK) analyses of the increased dosing regimen showed that PK increased in a proportional manner and no increase in rates of glycoregulation, cholelithiasis or hypertension in patients with increased lanreotide autogel exposure was observed.2 With confirmation of the PK data together with the substantial period of QoL preservation, data from the CLARINET FORTE study could represent a potentially meaningful treatment option for a population of patients with high unmet needs.1-2
"The new findings from the CLARINET FORTE trial highlighted that QoL remained stable throughout the study in patients who were enrolled with progressive disease and who were receiving twice the frequency of injections compared with their pre-study regimen", said Professor Marianne Pavel, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen, Germany, Senior Physician and Chair of Endocrinology, and principal investigator of the study. "This is an important new measure as it reflects the patients’ perceptions of their own current overall health and means that patients with progressive NETs may be able to remain on a more tolerable first-line standard of care for longer with no new safety signals or quality of life deterioration."
Among the Ipsen data presented at ENETS 2021 is the presentation of findings from a study into the potential cost savings associated with increased uptake of independent administration of long-acting somatostatin analogues (SSAs) for the treatment of gastroenteropancreatic NETs (GEP-NETs) within the UK’s National Healthcare Service (NHS).3 In the UK, lanreotide autogel is approved for independent injection at home by the patient or a partner*.11 Health-economic modeling suggests that when a patient with GEP-NETs treated with octreotide long-acting release (LAR) transition to lanreotide autogel administered via independent injection, an average of 14.5 nurse contacts, including four hospital visits, could potentially be avoided every year as well as potential overall expenses per patient being lowered by 16.4% equating to £2,458 saved per year. At a population level, the increase in patients independently injecting SSAs, from 12.6% (pre-COVID) to 24.5% (during COVID), may have reduced the annual overall healthcare expenditure for the NHS from £53.4M to £52.9M.3
"The effective remote management of patients has never been more critical. As a chronic condition, patients living with NETs require long-term solutions which provide continuity of treatment and flexibility. Home administration of lanreotide autogel provides patients living with NETs the independence to manage their own treatment and can ease the pressure on frontline healthcare professionals, reducing hospital visits and potentially the risk of COVID-19 for patients," said Lilian Cortez, author and GI specialist pharmacist at the The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, UK. "The potential benefits identified in this study should be considered alongside patient experience in evaluating pandemic-enforced practices that may be beneficial to adopt long-term."
Ipsen also unveiled details from multiple studies highlighting a data-driven vision of patient-centricity, which show how mining the wealth of data generated from a drug’s discovery to real-world use after regulatory approval can unlock insights into the epidemiology and clinical features of NETs. These include a retrospective study leveraging data from five years of electronic health records to increase understanding of NETs and help to identify new therapeutic strategies; and results from the Phase III RAISE study investigating the use of deep learning models and dissociated response to predict early treatment efficacy in patients with NETs.4,5
"True patient-centricity requires an analytical, insights-driven mindset and at Ipsen we are pushing the boundaries to bring new data to best serve patients and their families, and generate pharmacoeconomic measures of Health Systems," said Prof. Dr. Steven Hildemann, Executive Vice President, Chief Medical Officer, Head of Global Medical Affairs and Patient Safety, Ipsen. "Ipsen remains a committed partner and leader in the NET landscape and our presence at ENETS showcases how we are taking strides in making tangible differences for patients living with NETs. As a company, we continue to champion the empowerment of patients across the treatment pathway."
About NETs
Neuroendocrine tumors, or NETs, are a group of uncommon tumors that develop in the cells of the neuroendocrine system, throughout the body.12,13 NETs occur in both men and women, in general aged 50 to 60 years old, although they can affect anyone of any age.14
The three licensed areas where NETs are found in the body are the gastrointestinal tract, the pancreas and the lungs.15
Gastrointestinal NETs (GI-NETs) are found in the gastrointestinal tract or digestive system and are the most common type of NETs.15
Pancreatic NETs (panNETs) are formed in the islet cells of the pancreas and include several uncommon types of NETs.15
Lung NETs are less common than other types, accounting for about one quarter of NETs.15
The symptoms of NETs are often not distinct and difficult to identify, and can sometimes take between five to seven years to fully diagnose.16 The number of people being newly diagnosed with NETs overall is believed to be rising.17 This is mainly due to increased awareness of the condition and diagnostic testing.17 NETs are now the fastest growing class of cancers worldwide, accounting for around 2% of all cancers at any time.17
About CLARINET FORTE
CLARINET FORTE was a prospective single-arm, open-label, exploratory, international Phase II study to explore the efficacy and safety of an increased lanreotide autogel dosing frequency (120 mg every 14 days) in patients with metastatic or locally advanced unresectable pancreatic NETs or midgut NETs, with centrally-accessed progression within the last two years while on a standard lanreotide autogel regimen (120 mg every 28 days) for 24 weeks or more.18 Initial efficacy and safety data from the CLARINET FORTE study were presented at the 2020 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress, which took place on 19-21 September 2020.
About Somatuline Autogel (lanreotide)
Somatuline Autogel/Depot is made of the active substance lanreotide and is a long-acting somatostatin analogue that inhibits the secretion of growth hormone and certain hormones secreted by the digestive system. The licensed indications of Somatuline Autogel are:11
The treatment of individuals with acromegaly when the circulating levels of Growth Hormone (GH) and/or Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) remain abnormal after surgery and/or radiotherapy, or in patients who otherwise require medical treatment.
The treatment of grade 1 and a subset of grade 2 (Ki-67 index up to 10%) gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) of midgut, pancreatic or unknown origin where hindgut sites of origin have been excluded, in adult patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic disease.
The treatment of symptoms associated with neuroendocrine (particularly carcinoid) tumors. The recommended starting dose is one injection of Somatuline Autogel 120 mg administered every 28 days.
The detailed recommendations for the use of Somatuline Autogel are described in the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) in the UK.11
* The decision regarding administration by the patient or a trained person should be taken by a healthcare professional.