On May 28, 2015 Pfizer reported the launch of a competitive, peer-reviewed grants program to support clinical research projects investigating IBRANCE (palbociclib) in advanced breast cancer (Press release, Pfizer, MAY 28, 2015, View Source [SID:1234504863]).

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The multi-year program, which will award a total of up to $3 million in grants to investigators in the United States, is an extension of Pfizer’s Advancing Science through Pfizer Investigator Research Exchange (ASPIRE) initiative. It is the first ASPIRE program to focus on breast cancer research.

IBRANCE received accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in February 2015 for use in combination with letrozole for the treatment of postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (ER+/HER2-) advanced breast cancer as initial endocrine-based therapy for their metastatic disease.

"We believe the ASPIRE Breast Cancer Research Awards will contribute important information to our body of knowledge about the role IBRANCE plays in the treatment and clinical management of advanced breast cancer, and will complement the robust clinical development program we have ongoing," said Dr. Julia Perkins Smith, senior medical director, U.S. Breast Cancer Lead, Pfizer Oncology. "Through these awards, we also look forward to supporting the mission of the ASPIRE program to further academic research and nurture the career development of emerging investigators in a disease area of high unmet medical need."

"This is an exciting opportunity to gain a better understanding of the efficacy and tolerability of CDK inhibition in ER+ breast cancer," said Dr. Ruth O’Regan, head of hematology and oncology in the Department of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

Grantees will be selected through a competitive application process overseen by an independent review panel of breast cancer experts.

The review panel encourages investigators (with a special interest for emerging researchers at Assistant Professor level or equivalent) to submit applications for innovative research in several areas. Highlights of the research of interest include:

Improving the medical knowledge of palbociclib in the treatment of advanced breast cancer
Optimizing clinical management during palbociclib treatment that addresses or improves patient compliance and convenience and/or patient reported outcomes
For more information about the ASPIRE Breast Cancer Research Awards and specifics regarding eligible areas of research, please visit www.aspireresearch.orgExternal Links icon. The application submission period ends September 8, 2015, and successful awardees will be notified in October. Pfizer anticipates providing up to six awards to investigators in the United States.

About IBRANCE

IBRANCE is an oral inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) 4 and 6.1 CDKs 4 and 6 are key regulators of the cell cycle that trigger cellular progression.2,3 IBRANCE is indicated in the U.S. for use in combination with letrozole for the treatment of postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (ER+/HER2-) advanced breast cancer as initial endocrine-based therapy for their metastatic disease. The effectiveness of IBRANCE in these patients is based on a study that measured progression-free survival. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.

The full prescribing information for IBRANCE can be found at www.IBRANCE.comExternal Links icon. IBRANCE is not approved for any indication in any market outside the U.S.

Important IBRANCE (palbociclib) Safety Information

Neutropenia: Neutropenia is frequently reported with IBRANCE therapy. In the randomized phase II study, Grade 3 (57%) or 4 (5%) decreased neutrophil counts were reported in patients receiving IBRANCE plus letrozole. Febrile neutropenia can occur. Monitor complete blood count prior to starting IBRANCE and at the beginning of each cycle, as well as Day 14 of the first two cycles, and as clinically indicated. For patients who experience Grade 3 neutropenia, consider repeating the complete blood count monitoring 1 week later. Dose interruption, dose reduction, or delay in starting treatment cycles is recommended for patients who develop Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia.

Infections: Infections have been reported at a higher rate in patients treated with IBRANCE plus letrozole (55%) compared with letrozole alone (34%). Grade 3 or 4 infections occurred in 5% of patients treated with IBRANCE plus letrozole vs no patients treated with letrozole alone. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of infection and treat as medically appropriate.

Pulmonary embolism (PE): PE has been reported at a higher rate in patients treated with IBRANCE plus letrozole (5%) compared with no cases in patients treated with letrozole alone. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of PE and treat as medically appropriate.

Pregnancy and lactation: Based on the mechanism of action, IBRANCE can cause fetal harm. Advise females with reproductive potential to use effective contraception during therapy with IBRANCE and for at least 2 weeks after the last dose. Advise females to contact their healthcare provider if they become pregnant or if pregnancy is suspected during treatment with IBRANCE. Advise women not to breastfeed while on IBRANCE therapy because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants from IBRANCE.

Additional hematologic abnormalities: Decreases in hemoglobin (83% vs 40%), leukocytes (95% vs 26%), lymphocytes (81% vs 35%), and platelets (61% vs 16%) occurred at a higher rate in patients treated with IBRANCE plus letrozole vs letrozole alone.

Adverse reactions: The most common all causality adverse reactions (≥10%) of any grade reported in patients treated with IBRANCE plus letrozole vs letrozole alone in the phase II study included neutropenia (75% vs 5%), leukopenia (43% vs 3%), fatigue (41% vs 23%), anemia (35% vs 7%), upper respiratory infection (31% vs 18%), nausea (25% vs 13%), stomatitis (25% vs 7%), alopecia (22% vs 3%), diarrhea (21% vs 10%), thrombocytopenia (17% vs 1%), decreased appetite (16% vs 7%), vomiting (15% vs 4%), asthenia (13% vs 4%), peripheral neuropathy (13% vs 5%), and epistaxis (11% vs 1%).

Grade 3/4 adverse reactions reported (≥10%) occurring at a higher incidence in the IBRANCE plus letrozole vs letrozole alone group include neutropenia (54% vs 1%) and leukopenia (19% vs 0%). The most frequently reported serious adverse events in patients receiving IBRANCE were pulmonary embolism (4%) and diarrhea (2%).

General dosing information: The recommended dose of IBRANCE is 125 mg taken orally once daily for 21 days followed by 7 days off treatment in 28-day cycles. IBRANCE should be taken with food and in combination with letrozole 2.5 mg once daily continuously. Patients should be encouraged to take their dose at approximately the same time each day.

Capsules should be swallowed whole. No capsule should be ingested if it is broken, cracked, or otherwise not intact. If a patient vomits or misses a dose, an additional dose should not be taken that day. The next prescribed dose should be taken at the usual time.

Management of some adverse reactions may require temporary dose interruption/delay and/or dose reduction, or permanent discontinuation. Dose modification of IBRANCE is recommended based on individual safety and tolerability.

Drug interactions: Avoid concurrent use of strong CYP3A inhibitors. If patients must be administered a strong CYP3A inhibitor, reduce the IBRANCE dose to 75 mg/day. If the strong inhibitor is discontinued, increase the IBRANCE dose (after 3-5 half-lives of the inhibitor) to the dose used prior to the initiation of the strong CYP3A inhibitor. Grapefruit or grapefruit juice may increase plasma concentrations of IBRANCE and should be avoided.

Avoid concomitant use of strong and moderate CYP3A inducers. The dose of the sensitive CYP3A substrates with a narrow therapeutic index may need to be reduced as IBRANCE may increase their exposure.

Hepatic and renal impairment: IBRANCE has not been studied in patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment or in patients with severe renal impairment (CrCl <30 mL/min).

On May 28, 2015 Merck and NanoString Technologies reported a clinical research collaboration to develop an assay that will optimize immune-related gene expression signatures and evaluate the potential to predict benefit from Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab), in multiple tumor types (Press release, Merck & Co, MAY 28, 2015, View Source [SID:1234504862]).

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The collaboration between NanoString Technologies, Inc., a provider of life science tools for translational research and molecular diagnostic products, and Merck, through a subsidiary, will utilize NanoString’s nCounter Analysis System to optimize gene expression signatures as part of the clinical development program for KEYTRUDA.

"Our commitment to advancing the science of immuno-oncology includes pursuing cutting-edge RNA and DNA approaches to identify a range of biomarkers, such as immune-related gene expression signatures, that in addition to PD-L1 expression, may help to identify patients who may be more likely to experience improved benefit with KEYTRUDA," said Dr. Eric Rubin, vice president and therapeutic area head, oncology early-stage development, Merck Research Laboratories. "Our collaboration with NanoString Technologies is an important advancement for our early-stage, immuno-oncology development program. Early data exploring the predictive value of the NanoString-derived gene expression signatures with KEYTRUDA will be presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) 2015."

"We are excited to work with Merck to help direct treatment with KEYTRUDA," said Brad Gray, president and chief executive officer of NanoString Technologies. "New approaches in immuno-oncology, like KEYTRUDA, have the potential to transform cancer care across many different tumor types. With our nCounter technology and in vitro diagnostic capability, NanoString is ideally positioned to address the critical challenge of matching patients to powerful new therapies. This collaboration with Merck complements our existing relationships with MD Anderson and the Cancer Immunotherapy Trials Network, and builds on our leadership position in immuno-oncology biomarker development."

Early Data on Immune-based Gene Expression Signatures at 2015 ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting

First-time presentations of data evaluating immune-based gene expression signatures developed using NanoString’s nCounter Analysis System, and their correlation to patient benefit with KEYTRUDA will be presented at this year’s 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) (May 29-June 2, 2015 in Chicago). The early data to be presented include findings in bladder cancer (Abstract #4502), advanced melanoma (Abstract #3001), gastric cancer (Abstract #3026), and head and neck cancer (Abstract #6017). These early data are based on an initial signature, the interferon-gamma response gene, which was derived from initial findings that expression of this immune response gene predicted response to KEYTRUDA in advanced melanoma patients. Additional signatures are in development based on extension of these initial findings.

About KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab)

KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2. By binding to the PD-1 receptor and blocking the interaction with the receptor ligands, KEYTRUDA releases the PD-1 pathway-mediated inhibition of the immune response, including the anti-tumor immune response.

KEYTRUDA is indicated in the United States at a dose of 2 mg/kg administered as an intravenous infusion over 30 minutes every three weeks for the treatment of patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma and disease progression following ipilimumab and, if BRAF V600 mutation positive, a BRAF inhibitor. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response rate and durability of response. An improvement in survival or disease-related symptoms has not yet been established. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.

Merck is advancing a broad and fast-growing clinical development program for KEYTRUDA with more than 100 clinical trials – across more than 30 tumor types and enrolling more than 16,000 patients – both as a monotherapy and in combination with other therapies.

Selected Important Safety Information for KEYTRUDA

Pneumonitis occurred in 12 (2.9%) of 411 patients with advanced melanoma receiving KEYTRUDA (the approved indication in the United States), including Grade 2 or 3 cases in 8 (1.9%) and 1 (0.2%) patients, respectively. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of pneumonitis. Evaluate suspected pneumonitis with radiographic imaging. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater pneumonitis. Withhold KEYTRUDA for Grade 2; permanently discontinue KEYTRUDA for Grade 3 or 4 pneumonitis.

Colitis (including microscopic colitis) occurred in 4 (1%) of 411 patients, including Grade 2 or 3 cases in 1 (0.2%) and 2 (0.5%) patients respectively, receiving KEYTRUDA. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of colitis. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater colitis. Withhold KEYTRUDA for Grade 2 or 3; permanently discontinue KEYTRUDA for Grade 4 colitis.

Hepatitis (including autoimmune hepatitis) occurred in 2 (0.5%) of 411 patients, including a Grade 4 case in 1 (0.2%) patient, receiving KEYTRUDA. Monitor patients for changes in liver function. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater hepatitis and, based on severity of liver enzyme elevations, withhold or discontinue KEYTRUDA.

Hypophysitis occurred in 2 (0.5%) of 411 patients, including a Grade 2 case in 1 and a Grade 4 case in 1 (0.2% each) patient, receiving KEYTRUDA. Monitor for signs and symptoms of hypophysitis. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater hypophysitis. Withhold KEYTRUDA for Grade 2; withhold or discontinue for Grade 3; and permanently discontinue KEYTRUDA for Grade 4 hypophysitis.

Nephritis occurred in 3 (0.7%) patients receiving KEYTRUDA, consisting of one case of Grade 2 autoimmune nephritis (0.2%) and two cases of interstitial nephritis with renal failure (0.5%), one Grade 3 and one Grade 4. Monitor patients for changes in renal function. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater nephritis. Withhold KEYTRUDA for Grade 2; permanently discontinue KEYTRUDA for Grade 3 or 4 nephritis.

Hyperthyroidism occurred in 5 (1.2%) of 411 patients, including Grade 2 or 3 cases in 2 (0.5%) and 1 (0.2%) patients respectively, receiving KEYTRUDA. Hypothyroidism occurred in 34 (8.3%) of 411 patients, including a Grade 3 case in 1 (0.2%) patient, receiving KEYTRUDA. Thyroid disorders can occur at any time during treatment. Monitor patients for changes in thyroid function (at the start of treatment, periodically during treatment, and as indicated based on clinical evaluation) and for clinical signs and symptoms of thyroid disorders. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 3 or greater hyperthyroidism. Withhold KEYTRUDA for Grade 3; permanently discontinue KEYTRUDA for Grade 4 hyperthyroidism. Isolated hypothyroidism may be managed with replacement therapy without treatment interruption and without corticosteroids.

Other clinically important immune-mediated adverse reactions can occur. The following clinically significant, immune-mediated adverse reactions occurred in less than 1% of patients treated with KEYTRUDA: exfoliative dermatitis, uveitis, arthritis, myositis, pancreatitis, hemolytic anemia, partial seizures arising in a patient with inflammatory foci in brain parenchyma, adrenal insufficiency, myasthenic syndrome, optic neuritis, and rhabdomyolysis.

For suspected immune-mediated adverse reactions, ensure adequate evaluation to confirm etiology or exclude other causes. Based on the severity of the adverse reaction, withhold KEYTRUDA and administer corticosteroids. Upon improvement of the adverse reaction to Grade 1 or less, initiate corticosteroid taper and continue to taper over at least 1 month. Restart KEYTRUDA if the adverse reaction remains at Grade 1 or less. Permanently discontinue KEYTRUDA for any severe or Grade 3 immune-mediated adverse reaction that recurs and for any life-threatening immune-mediated adverse reaction.

Based on its mechanism of action, KEYTRUDA may cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. If used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant during treatment, apprise the patient of the potential hazard to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use highly effective contraception during treatment and for 4 months after the last dose of KEYTRUDA.

For the treatment of advanced melanoma, KEYTRUDA was discontinued for adverse reactions in 6% of 89 patients who received the recommended dose of 2 mg/kg and 9% of 411 patients across all doses studied. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 36% of patients receiving KEYTRUDA. The most frequent serious adverse drug reactions reported in 2% or more of patients were renal failure, dyspnea, pneumonia, and cellulitis.

The most common adverse reactions (reported in ≥20% of patients) were fatigue (47%), cough (30%), nausea (30%), pruritus (30%), rash (29%), decreased appetite (26%), constipation (21%), arthralgia (20%), and diarrhea (20%).

The recommended dose of KEYTRUDA is 2 mg/kg administered as an intravenous infusion over 30 minutes every three weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. No formal pharmacokinetic drug interaction studies have been conducted with KEYTRUDA. It is not known whether KEYTRUDA is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, instruct women to discontinue nursing during treatment with KEYTRUDA. Safety and effectiveness of KEYTRUDA have not been established in pediatric patients.

On May 28, 2015 Celldex Therapeutics reported the initiation of an open-label, Phase 1/2 safety and tolerability study examining the investigational combination of varlilumab and sunitinib (SUTENT) in patients with metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CC-RCC) (Press release, Celldex Therapeutics, MAY 28, 2015, View Source [SID:1234504859]).

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Varlilumab is Celldex’s fully human monoclonal agonist antibody that binds and activates CD27, a critical co-stimulatory molecule in the immune activation cascade. Sunitinib is approved by the FDA as monotherapy for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), as well as certain advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Varlilumab is currently being studied in four Phase 1/2 combination studies, and additional combination studies will be initiated in 2015.

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Sunitinib blocks the function of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs), of which several are implicated in tumor growth, angiogenesis and metastasis. Sunitinib was selected for an investigational combination with varlilumab because it has demonstrated the potential to modulate anti-tumor immunity and reverse immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment. Varlilumab strengthens or creates an immune response against a new antigen, or target; therefore, a synergistic combination of sunitinib and varlilumab may elicit stronger responses in the immune system to fight CC-RCC and potentially other cancers. In Celldex’s Phase 1 study of varlilumab in multiple solid tumors, promising signs of clinical activity in patients with refractory CC-RCC were observed, including a durable partial response (13.0+ months) that has continued to decrease in tumor volume over time and prolonged stable disease (4 patients with a range of 5.3 to 33.0+ months).

"A growing understanding of renal cell carcinoma tumor biology has suggested that sunitinib’s mechanism of action may result in immune system stimulation in this indication," said Thomas Davis, M.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Celldex Therapeutics. "We think we may be able to build on this potential effect in clear cell renal cell carcinoma because varlilumab can both enhance immune responses and may have a therapeutic effect through T cell signaling mechanisms. This study furthers our commitment to expanding the applicability of varlilumab across several cancers and approaches with immunotherapy in novel combinations."

The Phase 1 portion of the study will assess the safety and tolerability of varlilumab at 0.3, 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg combined with sunitinib at 50 mg in order to identify a recommended dose for the Phase 2 portion of the study. In both phases of the trial, varlilumab will be administered once every three weeks for up to eight six-week cycles (a total of up to 16 varlilumab doses). In each six-week cycle, sunitinib 50mg will be administered orally once daily for four weeks followed by two weeks without administration. The primary objective of the Phase 2 portion of the study is to assess the preliminary anti-tumor efficacy of the varlilumab/sunitinib combination measured by the overall response rate (ORR). Secondary objectives include safety and tolerability, pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity and further assessment of anti-tumor activity across a broad range of endpoints. The study is anticipated to include up to 10 sites in the United States and enroll approximately 60 patients.

About Varlilumab

Varlilumab is a fully human monoclonal agonist antibody that binds and activates CD27, a critical co-stimulatory molecule in the immune activation cascade. CD27 can be effectively manipulated with activating antibodies to induce potent anti-tumor responses and may result in fewer toxicities due to its restricted expression and regulation. Varlilumab is a potent anti-CD27 agonist that induces activation and proliferation of human T cells when combined with T cell receptor stimulation. In lymphoid malignancies that express CD27 at high levels, varlilumab may have an additional mechanism of action through a direct anti-tumor effect. Varlilumab has completed a Phase 1 dose-escalation study, demonstrating potent immunologic activity consistent with its mechanism of action and anti-tumor activity in patients with advanced, refractory disease. No maximum tolerated dose was reached and minimal toxicities were observed. Celldex has initiated a broad development program for varlilumab to explore its role as an immune activator in combination with a number of complementary investigational and approved oncology drugs.