On September 25, 2019 Pierre Fabre reported that new research from its oncology portfolio will be presented at this year’s European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO; 27 September–1 October, Barcelona, Spain) Annual Congress (Press release, Pierre Fabre, SEP 25, 2019, View Source [SID1234539780]). Presentations will include study results for BRAFTOVI (encorafenib) + MEKTOVI (binimetinib) in BRAFV600E-mutant melanoma, and encorafenib + binimetinib plus Erbitux (cetuximab) in BRAFV600E-mutant metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), which is being developed in collaboration with Pfizer.
Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:
Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing
Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!
"As a company committed to providing innovation through partnerships for patients who are underserved by current treatment options, we are pleased that key results from the Pierre Fabre oncology portfolio have been accepted for presentation at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2019 congress," said Jean Luc Lowinski, Chief Executive Officer of the Pierre Fabre Pharmaceuticals Division. "These data follow one year after the first approval for encorafenib and binimetinib in metastatic melanoma, and build on our unique therapeutic approaches that target specific tumour biomarkers with the goal of prolonging the lives of patients."
At ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper), BRAFTOVI + MEKTOVI feature in two poster presentations that highlight results of the combination therapy in patients with BRAFV600E-mutant melanoma brain metastases, with evidence of intracranial activity from a case series investigation. Expanded results from the Phase 3 BEACON CRC trial of encorafenib + binimetinib + cetuximab for the treatment of BRAFV600E-mutant mCRC will be presented as a late-breaking oral presentation, adding to the growing body of evidence for this investigational therapy, which could potentially be the first chemotherapy-free, targeted regimen for patients.
Presentations
Title:
Encorafenib plus Cetuximab With or Without Binimetinib for BRAFV600E–Mutant Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Expanded Results from a Randomized, 3-Arm, Phase III Study vs. the Choice of Either Irinotecan or FOLFIRI plus Cetuximab (BEACON CRC)*
Presenter:
Josep Tabernero
Abstract:
LBA32 (Late breaking oral presentation; abstract available on the ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) website on 30 September)
Session:
Proffered Paper 2 – Gastrointestinal tumours, colorectal
Date/Time:
Monday, 30 September, 08:00–08:45 Central European Summer Time (CEST)
Location:
Barcelona Auditorium (Hall 2)
Title:
Intracranial Anti-Tumor Activity in Melanoma Brain Metastases with Encorafenib Plus Binimetinib: A Multicenter, Retrospective Analysis
Presenter:
Jose Lutzky
Abstract:
1360P
Session:
Poster Display Session
Date/Time:
Monday, 30 September, 12:00–13:00 CEST
Location:
Poster Area (Hall 4)
Title:
A Phase 2, Open-Label, Randomized, Multicenter Trial of Encorafenib + Binimetinib Evaluating a Standard-dose and a High-dose Regimen in Patients With BRAFV600-Mutant Melanoma Brain Metastasis (MBM) (POLARIS)
Presenter:
Michael A. Davies
Abstract:
1379TiP
Session:
Poster Display Session
Date/Time:
Monday, 30 September, 12:00–13:00 CEST
Location:
Poster Area (Hall 4)
About Colorectal Cancer
Worldwide, colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in men and the second most common in women, with approximately 1.8 million new diagnoses in 2018. Globally in 2018, approximately 881,000 deaths were attributed to colorectal cancer.1 Every year more than 450,000 people in Europe are diagnosed with colorectal cancer and approximately 230,000 will die of their disease.2 BRAF mutations are estimated to occur in up to 12% of patients with mCRC and represent a poor prognosis for these patients.3,4,5 The V600E mutation is the most common BRAF mutation and the risk of mortality in CRC patients with the BRAFV600E mutation is more than two times higher than for those with wild-type BRAF.6,2,7 Several irinotecan and cetuximab-containing regimens, similar to the BEACON CRC control arm, have established observed historical published benchmarks in patients with BRAFV600E-mutant mCRC, whose disease has progressed after one or two prior lines of therapy. These benchmarks include ORR of 4% to 8%, median PFS of 2 to 3 months and median OS of 4 to 6 months.8,9,10
About BRAF-mutant Metastatic Melanoma
Melanoma develops when unrepaired DNA damage to skin cells triggers mutations that may lead them to multiply and form malignant tumours. Metastatic melanoma is the most serious and life-threatening type of skin cancer and is associated with low survival rates.11,12 There are a variety of gene mutations that can lead to metastatic melanoma. The most common genetic mutation in metastatic melanoma is BRAF. There are more than 100,000 new cases of melanoma diagnosed in Europe each year,13 approximately half of which have BRAF mutations, a key target in the treatment of metastatic melanoma.14,15
About BEACON CRC
BEACON CRC is a randomised, open-label, global trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of encorafenib, binimetinib and cetuximab in patients with BRAFV600E-mutant mCRC whose disease has progressed after one or two prior regimens. BEACON CRC is the first and only Phase 3 trial designed to test a BRAF/MEK combination targeted therapy in BRAFV600E-mutant mCRC. Thirty patients were treated in the safety lead-in and received the triplet combination (encorafenib 300 mg daily, binimetinib 45 mg twice daily and cetuximab per label). Of the 30 patients, 29 had a BRAFV600 mutation. Microsatellite instability high, resulting from defective DNA mismatch repair, was detected in only one patient. As previously announced, the triplet combination demonstrated good tolerability, supporting initiation of the randomised portion of the trial. The randomised portion of the BEACON CRC trial is designed to assess the efficacy of encorafenib in combination with cetuximab with or without binimetinib compared with cetuximab and irinotecan-based therapy. 665 patients were randomised 1:1:1 to receive triplet combination, doublet combination (encorafenib and cetuximab) or the control arm (irinotecan-based therapy and cetuximab). The study was amended to include an interim analysis of endpoints, including ORR. The primary overall survival endpoint is a comparison of the triplet combination with the control arm. Secondary endpoints address efficacy of the doublet combination compared with the control arm, and the triplet combination compared with the doublet therapy. Other secondary endpoints include PFS, duration of response, safety and tolerability. Health-related quality of life data will also be assessed. The trial is being conducted at over 200 investigational sites in North America, South America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. The BEACON CRC trial is being conducted with support from Pierre Fabre, Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., and Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany (support is for sites outside of North America).
About encorafenib and binimetinib
Encorafenib is an oral small-molecule BRAF kinase inhibitor and binimetinib) is an oral small-molecule MEK inhibitor that target key enzymes in the MAPK signalling pathway (RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK). Inappropriate activation of proteins in this pathway has been shown to occur in many cancers, including melanoma, colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer and others.
On 20 September 2018, the EC granted marketing authorisation for the combination of BRAFTOVI (encorafenib) and MEKTOVI (binimetinib) for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAFV600 mutation, as detected by a validated test.16,17 The EC decision is applicable to all 28 European Union member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Encorafenib and binimetinib have also received regulatory approval in the United States (U.S.), Australia and Japan. On 27 June 2018, the combination of encorafenib and binimetinib was approved by the FDA for the treatment of unresectable or metastatic melanoma with a BRAFV600E or BRAFV600K mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved test.18,19 Encorafenib is not indicated for treatment of patients with wild-type BRAF melanoma. The Swiss Medicines Agency (Swissmedic) is currently reviewing the Marketing Authorisation Applications for encorafenib and binimetinib submitted by Pierre Fabre.
Pfizer has exclusive rights to BRAFTOVI and MEKTOVI in the U.S. and Canada. Pfizer has granted Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., exclusive rights to commercialize both products in Japan and South Korea, Medison exclusive rights to commercialize both products in Israel and Pierre Fabre exclusive rights to commercialize both products in all other countries, including Europe, Latin American and Asia (excluding Japan and South Korea).