Application Includes Overall Survival Data From Phase 3 TOWER Study to Support Conversion From Accelerated Approval to Full Approval
Additional Data Support Treatment of Patients With Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive Relapsed or Refractory B-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
BLINCYTO is the First Approved Bispecific CD19-Directed CD3 T Cell Engager (BiTE®) Antibody and First Immunotherapy to Demonstrate Overall Survival Benefit Versus Standard of Care Chemotherapy
THOUSAND OAKS, CA, USA I February 14, 2017 I Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) today announced the submission of a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for BLINCYTO® (blinatumomab) to include overall survival (OS) data from the Phase 3 TOWER study, supporting the conversion of BLINCYTO’s accelerated approval to full approval. The sBLA also includes new data supporting the treatment of patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The application aims to broaden BLINCYTO’s indication for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL.
BLINCYTO was previously granted breakthrough therapy designation and accelerated approval in December 2014. It is also the first FDA-approved bispecific CD19-directed CD3 T cell engager (BiTE®) antibody, and the first single-agent immunotherapy to treat patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative (Ph-) relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL.
“Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is one of the most aggressive B-cell malignancies, and adult patients who relapse or are refractory to treatment often go through multiple lines of therapy,” said Sean E. Harper, M.D., executive vice president of Research and Development at Amgen. “We are excited to potentially receive full approval for BLINCYTO, the first immunotherapy to demonstrate an overall survival benefit versus standard of care chemotherapy in patients with relapsed or refractory Ph- B-cell precursor ALL, and bring a much needed new treatment option to those who are Ph+.”
Results from the TOWER study, investigating the efficacy of BLINCYTO versus standard of care (SOC) chemotherapy in adult patients with Ph- relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL, were presented during the Presidential Symposium at the 21st Congress of the European Hematology Association. BLINCYTO has a BOXED WARNING in its product label regarding Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) and Neurological Toxicities.
ALL is a rare and rapidly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow.1,2 In adult patients with relapsed or refractory ALL, median OS is just three to five months.3 Currently, there is no broadly accepted standard treatment regimen for adult patients with relapsed or refractory ALL beyond chemotherapy.4 In adult ALL, approximately 75 percent is B-cell precursor ALL, of which 75-80 percent is Ph- and roughly half will be refractory to treatment or experience relapse.5
About the TOWER Study
The TOWER study was a Phase 3, randomized, active-controlled, open-label study investigating the efficacy of BLINCYTO versus SOC chemotherapy in 405 adult patients with Ph- relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL. The study enrolled a difficult-to-treat patient population which included patients from several stages of relapse, 17 percent of whom had relapsed post-allogenic stem cell transplant (alloSCT), and excluded those with late first relapse (≥ 12 months after initial remission). Patients were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive BLINCYTO (n=271) or treatment with investigator choice of one of four protocol-defined SOC chemotherapy regimens (n=134). The primary endpoint was OS. Key secondary endpoints included complete remission within 12 weeks, the combined endpoint of complete remission plus complete remission with partial or incomplete hematologic recovery and event-free survival. Other secondary endpoints included remission duration, minimal residual disease (MRD) remission (<10–4), alloSCT rate and adverse event rates.
The TOWER study is the confirmatory trial for BLINCYTO. Click here to read about the trial on ClinicalTrials.gov.
About the ALCANTARA Study
The ALCANTARA study was a Phase 2, single-arm, multicenter, open-label study investigating the efficacy and tolerability of BLINCYTO in 45 adult patients with Ph+ B-cell precursor ALL who had relapsed after or were refractory to at least one second or later (2+)-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), or were intolerant to 2+-generation TKI and intolerant or refractory to imatinib. BLINCYTO was administered in 28-day cycles by continuous intravenous infusion. The primary endpoint was complete remission or complete remission with partial hematologic recovery during the first two cycles. Key secondary endpoints included MRD response, rate of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT), relapse-free survival, OS and adverse events.
About BLINCYTO® (blinatumomab)
BLINCYTO is a bispecific CD19-directed CD3 T cell engager (BiTE®) antibody construct that binds specifically to CD19 expressed on the surface of cells of B-lineage origin and CD3 expressed on the surface of T cells.
BLINCYTO was granted breakthrough therapy and priority review designations by the FDA, and is now approved in the U.S. for the treatment of Ph- relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL. This indication is approved under accelerated approval. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification of clinical benefit in subsequent trials.
In November 2015, BLINCYTO was granted conditional marketing authorization in the EU for the treatment of adults with Ph- relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL.
About BiTE® Technology
Bispecific T cell engager (BiTE®) antibody constructs are a type of immunotherapy being investigated for fighting cancer by helping the body’s immune system to detect and target malignant cells. The modified antibodies are designed to engage two different targets simultaneously, thereby juxtaposing T cells (a type of white blood cell capable of killing other cells perceived as threats) to cancer cells. BiTE® antibody constructs help place the T cells within reach of the targeted cell, with the intent of allowing T cells to inject toxins and trigger the cancer cell to die (apoptosis). BiTE® antibody constructs are currently being investigated for their potential to treat a wide variety of cancers. For more information, visit www.biteantibodies.com.
About Amgen’s Commitment to Oncology
Amgen Oncology is committed to helping patients take on some of the toughest cancers, such as those that have been resistant to drugs, those that progress rapidly through the body and those where limited treatment options exist. Amgen’s supportive care treatments help patients combat certain side effects of strong chemotherapy, and our targeted medicines and immunotherapies focus on more than a dozen different malignancies, ranging from blood cancers to solid tumors. With decades of experience providing therapies for cancer patients, Amgen continues to grow its portfolio of innovative and biosimilar oncology medicines.
About Amgen
Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.
Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people’s lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world’s leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential.
SOURCE: Amgen
Post Views: 190
Application Includes Overall Survival Data From Phase 3 TOWER Study to Support Conversion From Accelerated Approval to Full Approval
Additional Data Support Treatment of Patients With Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive Relapsed or Refractory B-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
BLINCYTO is the First Approved Bispecific CD19-Directed CD3 T Cell Engager (BiTE®) Antibody and First Immunotherapy to Demonstrate Overall Survival Benefit Versus Standard of Care Chemotherapy
THOUSAND OAKS, CA, USA I February 14, 2017 I Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) today announced the submission of a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for BLINCYTO® (blinatumomab) to include overall survival (OS) data from the Phase 3 TOWER study, supporting the conversion of BLINCYTO’s accelerated approval to full approval. The sBLA also includes new data supporting the treatment of patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The application aims to broaden BLINCYTO’s indication for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL.
BLINCYTO was previously granted breakthrough therapy designation and accelerated approval in December 2014. It is also the first FDA-approved bispecific CD19-directed CD3 T cell engager (BiTE®) antibody, and the first single-agent immunotherapy to treat patients with Philadelphia chromosome-negative (Ph-) relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL.
“Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is one of the most aggressive B-cell malignancies, and adult patients who relapse or are refractory to treatment often go through multiple lines of therapy,” said Sean E. Harper, M.D., executive vice president of Research and Development at Amgen. “We are excited to potentially receive full approval for BLINCYTO, the first immunotherapy to demonstrate an overall survival benefit versus standard of care chemotherapy in patients with relapsed or refractory Ph- B-cell precursor ALL, and bring a much needed new treatment option to those who are Ph+.”
Results from the TOWER study, investigating the efficacy of BLINCYTO versus standard of care (SOC) chemotherapy in adult patients with Ph- relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL, were presented during the Presidential Symposium at the 21st Congress of the European Hematology Association. BLINCYTO has a BOXED WARNING in its product label regarding Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) and Neurological Toxicities.
ALL is a rare and rapidly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow.1,2 In adult patients with relapsed or refractory ALL, median OS is just three to five months.3 Currently, there is no broadly accepted standard treatment regimen for adult patients with relapsed or refractory ALL beyond chemotherapy.4 In adult ALL, approximately 75 percent is B-cell precursor ALL, of which 75-80 percent is Ph- and roughly half will be refractory to treatment or experience relapse.5
About the TOWER Study
The TOWER study was a Phase 3, randomized, active-controlled, open-label study investigating the efficacy of BLINCYTO versus SOC chemotherapy in 405 adult patients with Ph- relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL. The study enrolled a difficult-to-treat patient population which included patients from several stages of relapse, 17 percent of whom had relapsed post-allogenic stem cell transplant (alloSCT), and excluded those with late first relapse (≥ 12 months after initial remission). Patients were randomized in a 2:1 ratio to receive BLINCYTO (n=271) or treatment with investigator choice of one of four protocol-defined SOC chemotherapy regimens (n=134). The primary endpoint was OS. Key secondary endpoints included complete remission within 12 weeks, the combined endpoint of complete remission plus complete remission with partial or incomplete hematologic recovery and event-free survival. Other secondary endpoints included remission duration, minimal residual disease (MRD) remission (<10–4), alloSCT rate and adverse event rates.
The TOWER study is the confirmatory trial for BLINCYTO. Click here to read about the trial on ClinicalTrials.gov.
About the ALCANTARA Study
The ALCANTARA study was a Phase 2, single-arm, multicenter, open-label study investigating the efficacy and tolerability of BLINCYTO in 45 adult patients with Ph+ B-cell precursor ALL who had relapsed after or were refractory to at least one second or later (2+)-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), or were intolerant to 2+-generation TKI and intolerant or refractory to imatinib. BLINCYTO was administered in 28-day cycles by continuous intravenous infusion. The primary endpoint was complete remission or complete remission with partial hematologic recovery during the first two cycles. Key secondary endpoints included MRD response, rate of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT), relapse-free survival, OS and adverse events.
About BLINCYTO® (blinatumomab)
BLINCYTO is a bispecific CD19-directed CD3 T cell engager (BiTE®) antibody construct that binds specifically to CD19 expressed on the surface of cells of B-lineage origin and CD3 expressed on the surface of T cells.
BLINCYTO was granted breakthrough therapy and priority review designations by the FDA, and is now approved in the U.S. for the treatment of Ph- relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL. This indication is approved under accelerated approval. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification of clinical benefit in subsequent trials.
In November 2015, BLINCYTO was granted conditional marketing authorization in the EU for the treatment of adults with Ph- relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL.
About BiTE® Technology
Bispecific T cell engager (BiTE®) antibody constructs are a type of immunotherapy being investigated for fighting cancer by helping the body’s immune system to detect and target malignant cells. The modified antibodies are designed to engage two different targets simultaneously, thereby juxtaposing T cells (a type of white blood cell capable of killing other cells perceived as threats) to cancer cells. BiTE® antibody constructs help place the T cells within reach of the targeted cell, with the intent of allowing T cells to inject toxins and trigger the cancer cell to die (apoptosis). BiTE® antibody constructs are currently being investigated for their potential to treat a wide variety of cancers. For more information, visit www.biteantibodies.com.
About Amgen’s Commitment to Oncology
Amgen Oncology is committed to helping patients take on some of the toughest cancers, such as those that have been resistant to drugs, those that progress rapidly through the body and those where limited treatment options exist. Amgen’s supportive care treatments help patients combat certain side effects of strong chemotherapy, and our targeted medicines and immunotherapies focus on more than a dozen different malignancies, ranging from blood cancers to solid tumors. With decades of experience providing therapies for cancer patients, Amgen continues to grow its portfolio of innovative and biosimilar oncology medicines.
About Amgen
Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.
Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people’s lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world’s leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential.
SOURCE: Amgen
Post Views: 190
