Menarini Group and MEDSIR Present the Phase III Study ADELA: A New Therapeutic Strategy for Advanced Breast Cancer

On December 11, 2024 The Menarini Group ("Menarini"), a leading international pharmaceutical and diagnostics company, and Stemline Therapeutics, Inc. ("Stemline"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Menarini Group focused on bringing transformational oncology treatments to cancer patients, along with MEDSIR, a leading global independent clinical research company in oncology and part of Oncoclínicas & Co., the largest specialized oncology treatment group in Latin America, reported research on the pioneering clinical trial ADELA (Press release, Menarini, DEC 11, 2024, View Source [SID1234649063]). This important research addresses therapeutic resistance in advanced ER+/HER2- breast cancer. Presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2024 (SABCS), the study represents a key milestone in the quest for more effective and personalized treatment options for patients with disease progression.

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The standard first-line treatment for advanced ER+/HER2- breast cancer combines endocrine therapy with CDK4/6 inhibitors. ESR1 mutations develop as a result of prior exposure to endocrine therapy during metastatic treatment, and up to 50% of ER+, HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancers will develop these mutations. ESR1 mutations cause the tumors to become resistant to endocrine therapy, in turn causing the cancer to progress; therefore, it is important to test for ESR1 whenever mBC progresses. Longer exposure to endocrine therapy during first-line treatment increases the chance of a patient’s tumor developing an ESR1 mutation. With the goal of addressing this unmet medical need, the ADELA phase III clinical trial investigates a new therapeutic option combining elacestrant, a next generation, oral selective estrogen receptor degrader, with everolimus, an mTORC1 inhibitor.

This combination is being evaluated in patients with advanced ER+/HER2- breast cancer that harbors ESR1 mutations, and who have experienced progression after standard first-line treatment. Results from the phase III EMERALD study were the basis for elacestrant’s approval. Meanwhile, everolimus has shown efficacy in inhibiting other resistance mechanisms in this type of cancer. The elacestrant and everolimus combination has demonstrated preliminary efficacy with a manageable safety profile in the phase 1b/2 ELEVATE study (NCT05563220).

"We at Menarini Stemline are delighted to announce the collaboration with MEDSIR to continue advancing the clinical research to explore the combination therapy with elacestrant," said Nassir Habboubi, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Stemline Therapeutics. "We are committed to driving innovation in cancer treatment by delivering transformational therapies aiming to extend the lives of people living with cancer."

The primary objective of this international, randomized, double-blind trial is to evaluate whether the combination of elacestrant and everolimus offers greater efficacy in delaying disease progression compared to elacestrant monotherapy. Additionally, it investigates other crucial aspects, such as overall survival, toxicity profile, and the impact on patients’ quality of life.

The ADELA study represents a critical step in understanding how to overcome tumor resistance challenges in patients with ESR1 mutations, with the goal of advancing towards more effective and safer treatments.

"At MEDSIR, we understand innovation not only as achieving clinical results but as the ability to transform patients’ lives on a global scale. With ADELA, we take a decisive step toward accomplishing less invasive and more accessible treatments, aiming to offer new hope to those facing the most complex forms of the disease. This advancement reinforces our commitment to increasingly personalized and patient-centered medicine, a fundamental pillar in shaping the future of oncology," said Dr. Antonio Llombart-Cussac, Senior Scientific Leader at MEDSIR.

The phase III study not only has significant clinical objectives, but also holds the potential to pave the way for regulatory approval of this therapeutic combination, enabling its use in a broader population of patients with advanced breast cancer. Moreover, the international scope of the study, which includes participation from multiple countries, including Spain, Italy, France, Austria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Germany, and the United Kingdom, underscores the study’s global importance and relevance in the scientific community.

The presentation of the ADELA study at an event as prominent as SABCS 2024 reinforces MEDSIR’s leadership in excellence-driven oncology research and highlights its focus on addressing unmet needs in breast cancer treatment. The ADELA study is active and already recruiting patients.

About ORSERDU (elacestrant)

U.S. Indication: ORSERDU (elacestrant), 345 mg tablets, is indicated for the treatment of postmenopausal women or adult men with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, ESR1-mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer with disease progression following at least one line of endocrine therapy.

Full prescribing information for the U.S. can be found at www.orserdu.com.

Important Safety Information
Warning and Precautions

Dyslipidemia: Hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia occurred in patients taking ORSERDU at an incidence of 30% and 27%, respectively. The incidence of Grade 3 and 4 hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia were 0.9% and 2.2%, respectively. Monitor lipid profile prior to starting and periodically while taking ORSERDU.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Based on findings in animals and its mechanism of action, ORSERDU can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise pregnant women and females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ORSERDU and for 1 week after the last dose. Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with ORSERDU and for 1 week after the final dose.

Adverse Reactions

Serious adverse reactions occurred in 12% of patients who received ORSERDU. Serious adverse reactions in >1% of patients who received ORSERDU were musculoskeletal pain (1.7%) and nausea (1.3%). Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 1.7% of patients who received ORSERDU, including cardiac arrest, septic shock, diverticulitis, and unknown cause (one patient each).
The most common adverse reactions (≥10%), including laboratory abnormalities, of ORSERDU were musculoskeletal pain (41%), nausea (35%), increased cholesterol (30%), increased AST (29%), increased triglycerides (27%), fatigue (26%), decreased hemoglobin (26%), vomiting (19%), increased ALT (17%), decreased sodium (16%), increased creatinine (16%), decreased appetite(15%), diarrhea(13%), headache (12%), constipation (12%), abdominal pain (11%), hot flush (11%), and dyspepsia (10%).

Drug interactions

Concomitant use with CYP3A4 Inducers and/or inhibitors: Avoid concomitant use of strong or moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors with ORSERDU. Avoid concomitant use of strong or moderate CYP3A4 inducers with ORSERDU.

Use in specific populations

Lactation: Advise lactating women to not breastfeed during treatment with ORSERDU and for 1 week after the last dose.
Hepatic Impairment: Avoid use of ORSERDU in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C). Reduce the dose of ORSERDU in patients with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B).
The safety and effectiveness of ORSERDU in pediatric patients have not been established.

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Stemline Therapeutics, Inc. at 1-877-332-7961 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.