SAN DIEGO, CA, USA I June 25, 2014 I Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ: LGND) announces that its partner GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) plc has started a Phase 3 study to evaluate the platelet supportive care effects of eltrombopag (Promacta™/Revolade™) in combination with azacitidine (the current standard of care) versus placebo in combination with azacitidine in intermediate-1, intermediate-2 or high-risk patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The global SUPPORT (TRC112121) study will assess the proportion of patients who are platelet transfusion free during the first four cycles of treatment.
MDS is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow does not make enough healthy blood cells and there are abnormal (blast) cells in the blood and/or bone marrow1. The disease usually manifests itself with one or more cytopenias, or reductions in the number of blood cells, and patients typically present with complications related to anemia (fatigue), neutropenia (infections) or thrombocytopenia (bleeding)2. MDS may evolve into acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in up to 45% of patients.3
“With the start of the SUPPORT trial GSK continues to advance eltrombopag in multiple indications to boost platelets to treat thrombocytopenia, including clinical programs and regulatory approvals in oncology and infectious disease indications,” said John Higgins, President and CEO of Ligand Pharmaceuticals. “GSK has maintained a comprehensive global view of brand management and a deep commitment to maximizing the reach of Promacta/Revolade to patients with significant unmet needs. The SUPPORT trial is one of more than 25 active clinical trials underway with eltrombopag.”
About the SUPPORT study
SUPPORT (StUdy of eltromboPag in myelodysPlastic SyndrOmes Receiving azaciTidine) is a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study of eltrombopag or placebo in combination with azacitidine in subjects with MDS. It is estimated that 350 patients across 30 countries and 156 study sites with a baseline platelet count of < 75Gi/L, and intermediate-1, intermediate-2 or high-risk MDS (by International Prognostic Scoring System) will be enrolled in the study. Eligible patients will be randomized to receive either eltrombopag (200 mg once daily [100 mg for East Asians]) plus azacitidine (75 mg/m2 subcutaneously once daily for 7 days) every 28 days, for at least 6 cycles, or placebo plus azacitidine. Dose modifications of eltrombopag or placebo will be permitted to ensure that patient platelet counts remain at a safe and effective level.
The primary efficacy endpoint will determine the platelet supportive care effects of eltrombopag in combination with azacitidine versus placebo in combination with azacitidine by comparing the proportion of subjects receiving eltrombopag plus azacitidine who are platelet transfusion free during the first 4 cycles of azacitidine, versus those treated with placebo plus azacitidine. Secondary objectives will compare the following between treatment arms: overall survival, disease response, hematologic improvement, platelet and red blood cell transfusions, adverse events (≥ Grade 3), safety and tolerability, health-related quality of life and medical resource utilization.
About Eltrombopag (Promacta™/Revolade™)
Eltrombopag – marketed as Promacta™ in the U.S. and as Revolade™ in Europe and other countries around the world – works by interacting with the TPO receptor leading to increased platelet production. Eltrombopag is not approved or licensed anywhere in the world for use in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.
For full U.S. Prescribing Information for Promacta® (eltrombopag), including Boxed Warning, please visit: https://www.gsksource.com/gskprm/htdocs/documents/PROMACTA-PI-MG-COMBINED.PDF. For the European Union (EU) Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) for Revolade® (eltrombopag) in approved indications, please visit http://health.gsk.com/.
Promacta™ and Revolade™ are trademarks of the GSK group of companies.
About Ligand Pharmaceuticals
Ligand is a biopharmaceutical company with a business model that is based upon the concept of developing or acquiring royalty revenue generating assets and coupling them to a lean corporate cost structure. Ligand’s goal is to produce a bottom line that supports a sustainably profitable business. By diversifying our portfolio of assets across numerous technology types, therapeutic areas, drug targets and industry partners, we offer investors an opportunity to invest in the increasingly complicated and unpredictable pharmaceutical industry. In comparison to its peers, we believe Ligand has assembled one of the largest and most diversified asset portfolios in the industry with the potential to generate revenue in the future. These therapies address the unmet medical needs of patients for a broad spectrum of diseases including diabetes, hepatitis, muscle wasting, Alzheimer’s disease, dyslipidemia, anemia, asthma and osteoporosis. Ligand’s Captisol platform technology is a patent protected, chemically modified cyclodextrin with a structure designed to optimize the solubility and stability of drugs. Ligand has established multiple alliances with the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies including GlaxoSmithKline, Onyx Pharmaceuticals (a subsidiary of Amgen Inc.), Merck, Pfizer, Baxter International, Eli Lilly & Co. and Spectrum Pharmaceuticals. Please visit www.captisol.com for more information on Captisol. For more information on Ligand, please visit www.ligand.com.
Follow Ligand on Twitter @Ligand_LGND.
References
1 National Cancer Institute. Myelodysplastic Syndromes Treatment (PDQ®). Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/myelodysplastic/Patient/page1. Accessed June 12, 2014.
2 Faderl S, Kantarjian H. Myelodysplastic Syndromes. In: Devita V, Hellman S, Rosenberg S, editor. Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology 7th Edition. Philadelphia, PA:Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2005:2144-2154.
3 Greenberg P, Cox C, LeBeau MM, Fenaux P, Morel P, Sanz G, Sanz M, Vallespi T, Hamblin T, Oscier D, Ohyashiki K, Toyama K, Aul C, Mufti G, Bennett J. International scoring system for evaluating prognosis in myelodysplastic syndromes. Blood. 1997; 89: 2079-2088.
SOURCE: Ligand Pharmaceuticals
Post Views: 177
SAN DIEGO, CA, USA I June 25, 2014 I Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (NASDAQ: LGND) announces that its partner GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) plc has started a Phase 3 study to evaluate the platelet supportive care effects of eltrombopag (Promacta™/Revolade™) in combination with azacitidine (the current standard of care) versus placebo in combination with azacitidine in intermediate-1, intermediate-2 or high-risk patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The global SUPPORT (TRC112121) study will assess the proportion of patients who are platelet transfusion free during the first four cycles of treatment.
MDS is a type of cancer in which the bone marrow does not make enough healthy blood cells and there are abnormal (blast) cells in the blood and/or bone marrow1. The disease usually manifests itself with one or more cytopenias, or reductions in the number of blood cells, and patients typically present with complications related to anemia (fatigue), neutropenia (infections) or thrombocytopenia (bleeding)2. MDS may evolve into acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in up to 45% of patients.3
“With the start of the SUPPORT trial GSK continues to advance eltrombopag in multiple indications to boost platelets to treat thrombocytopenia, including clinical programs and regulatory approvals in oncology and infectious disease indications,” said John Higgins, President and CEO of Ligand Pharmaceuticals. “GSK has maintained a comprehensive global view of brand management and a deep commitment to maximizing the reach of Promacta/Revolade to patients with significant unmet needs. The SUPPORT trial is one of more than 25 active clinical trials underway with eltrombopag.”
About the SUPPORT study
SUPPORT (StUdy of eltromboPag in myelodysPlastic SyndrOmes Receiving azaciTidine) is a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study of eltrombopag or placebo in combination with azacitidine in subjects with MDS. It is estimated that 350 patients across 30 countries and 156 study sites with a baseline platelet count of < 75Gi/L, and intermediate-1, intermediate-2 or high-risk MDS (by International Prognostic Scoring System) will be enrolled in the study. Eligible patients will be randomized to receive either eltrombopag (200 mg once daily [100 mg for East Asians]) plus azacitidine (75 mg/m2 subcutaneously once daily for 7 days) every 28 days, for at least 6 cycles, or placebo plus azacitidine. Dose modifications of eltrombopag or placebo will be permitted to ensure that patient platelet counts remain at a safe and effective level.
The primary efficacy endpoint will determine the platelet supportive care effects of eltrombopag in combination with azacitidine versus placebo in combination with azacitidine by comparing the proportion of subjects receiving eltrombopag plus azacitidine who are platelet transfusion free during the first 4 cycles of azacitidine, versus those treated with placebo plus azacitidine. Secondary objectives will compare the following between treatment arms: overall survival, disease response, hematologic improvement, platelet and red blood cell transfusions, adverse events (≥ Grade 3), safety and tolerability, health-related quality of life and medical resource utilization.
About Eltrombopag (Promacta™/Revolade™)
Eltrombopag – marketed as Promacta™ in the U.S. and as Revolade™ in Europe and other countries around the world – works by interacting with the TPO receptor leading to increased platelet production. Eltrombopag is not approved or licensed anywhere in the world for use in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.
For full U.S. Prescribing Information for Promacta® (eltrombopag), including Boxed Warning, please visit: https://www.gsksource.com/gskprm/htdocs/documents/PROMACTA-PI-MG-COMBINED.PDF. For the European Union (EU) Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) for Revolade® (eltrombopag) in approved indications, please visit http://health.gsk.com/.
Promacta™ and Revolade™ are trademarks of the GSK group of companies.
About Ligand Pharmaceuticals
Ligand is a biopharmaceutical company with a business model that is based upon the concept of developing or acquiring royalty revenue generating assets and coupling them to a lean corporate cost structure. Ligand’s goal is to produce a bottom line that supports a sustainably profitable business. By diversifying our portfolio of assets across numerous technology types, therapeutic areas, drug targets and industry partners, we offer investors an opportunity to invest in the increasingly complicated and unpredictable pharmaceutical industry. In comparison to its peers, we believe Ligand has assembled one of the largest and most diversified asset portfolios in the industry with the potential to generate revenue in the future. These therapies address the unmet medical needs of patients for a broad spectrum of diseases including diabetes, hepatitis, muscle wasting, Alzheimer’s disease, dyslipidemia, anemia, asthma and osteoporosis. Ligand’s Captisol platform technology is a patent protected, chemically modified cyclodextrin with a structure designed to optimize the solubility and stability of drugs. Ligand has established multiple alliances with the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies including GlaxoSmithKline, Onyx Pharmaceuticals (a subsidiary of Amgen Inc.), Merck, Pfizer, Baxter International, Eli Lilly & Co. and Spectrum Pharmaceuticals. Please visit www.captisol.com for more information on Captisol. For more information on Ligand, please visit www.ligand.com.
Follow Ligand on Twitter @Ligand_LGND.
References
1 National Cancer Institute. Myelodysplastic Syndromes Treatment (PDQ®). Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/myelodysplastic/Patient/page1. Accessed June 12, 2014.
2 Faderl S, Kantarjian H. Myelodysplastic Syndromes. In: Devita V, Hellman S, Rosenberg S, editor. Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology 7th Edition. Philadelphia, PA:Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 2005:2144-2154.
3 Greenberg P, Cox C, LeBeau MM, Fenaux P, Morel P, Sanz G, Sanz M, Vallespi T, Hamblin T, Oscier D, Ohyashiki K, Toyama K, Aul C, Mufti G, Bennett J. International scoring system for evaluating prognosis in myelodysplastic syndromes. Blood. 1997; 89: 2079-2088.
SOURCE: Ligand Pharmaceuticals
Post Views: 177
