– Fixed 12-month treatment with Venclexta plus Gazyva significantly reduced risk of disease progression or death by 67 percent compared to a current standard of care –
– Approval for expanded use of Venclexta offers more adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia a new treatment option –
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA I May 15, 2019 I Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Venclexta® (venetoclax) in combination with Gazyva® (obinutuzumab) for the treatment of people with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).
“Venclexta plus Gazyva is the only chemotherapy-free option of fixed duration that provides durable responses to help people live longer without progression of their disease, compared to a standard of care,” said Sandra Horning, M.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. “Today’s approval represents our long-standing commitment to helping people with blood cancers throughout the course of their disease, and we are excited to provide this new option for untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia.”
The approval is based on the results of the randomized Phase III CLL14 study, which evaluated 12-month, fixed-duration treatment with Venclexta plus Gazyva compared to Gazyva plus chlorambucil. Results showed the combination of Venclexta plus Gazyva produced a durable and significant reduction in the risk of disease worsening or death (progression-free survival (PFS), as assessed by Independent Review Committee) by 67 percent compared to Gazyva plus chlorambucil, a current standard of care (HR=0.33; 95 percent CI 0.22-0.51; p<0.0001). Venclexta plus Gazyva showed deep and clinically meaningful responses characterized by a higher rate of minimal residual disease (MRD)-negativity in the bone marrow compared to Gazyva plus chlorambucil (MRD-negativity of 57 percent vs. 17 percent) and peripheral blood (MRD-negativity of 76 percent vs. 35 percent). MRD-negativity means no cancer can be detected using a specific and highly sensitive test, defined as less than one CLL cell in 10,000 white blood cells.
Results of the study will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in June 2019. The CLL14 study is being conducted in cooperation with the German CLL Study Group (GCLLSG), headed by Michael Hallek, M.D., University of Cologne.
The most common adverse reactions with Venclexta plus Gazyva were low white blood cell count, diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, low red blood cell count, and upper respiratory tract infection.
The FDA rapidly reviewed and approved the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) under the FDA’s Real-Time Oncology Review (RTOR) and Assessment Aid pilot programs. This is the second regimen of Genentech medicines approved under the RTOR pilot program, which is exploring a more efficient review process to ensure safe and effective treatments are available to patients as early as possible. The sNDA was also granted Priority Review, a designation given to medicines that the FDA has determined to have the potential to provide significant improvements in the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of a disease. The FDA previously granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Venclexta in combination with Gazyva for the treatment of previously untreated CLL with co-existing medical conditions. Additional submissions of the CLL14 data to health authorities around the world are ongoing.
Venclexta is being developed by AbbVie and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group. It is jointly commercialized by the companies in the United States and commercialized by AbbVie outside of the United States.
The combination of Venclexta and Gazyva is taken for a fixed duration unlike some other cancer medicines that are taken until disease progression. For those who qualify, Genentech offers patient assistance programs for people prescribed Venclexta and Gazyva by their doctor through Genentech Access Solutions. Please contact Genentech Access Solutions at (866) 422-2377 or visit http://www.Genentech-Access.com for more information.
About the CLL14 Study
CLL14 (NCT02242942) is a randomized Phase III study evaluating the combination of fixed-duration Venclexta plus Gazyva compared to Gazyva plus chlorambucil in patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and co-existing medical conditions. 432 patients with previously untreated CLL were randomly assigned to receive either a 12-month duration of Venclexta alongside six-month duration of Gazyva (Arm A) or six-month duration of Gazyva plus chlorambucil followed by an additional six-month duration of chlorambucil (Arm B). Arm A started with an initial cycle of Gazyva followed by a five-week Venclexta dose ramp-up to help reduce tumor burden. The primary endpoint of the study is investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints include PFS assessed by Independent Review Committee (IRC), minimal residual disease (MRD) status, overall response (OR), complete response (with or without complete blood count recovery, CR/CRi), overall survival (OS), duration of response (DOR), event-free survival (EFS), time to next CLL treatment (TTNT), and safety. The CLL14 study is being conducted in cooperation with the German CLL Study Group (GCLLSG), headed by Michael Hallek, M.D., University of Cologne.
| |
| CLL14 Study Results |
| Treatment arm |
|
Venclexta + Gazyva
(n=216) |
|
Gazyva +
chlorambucil
(n=216) |
| Progression Free Survival (PFS)a |
| Median PFS |
|
Independent Review
Committee (IRC): Not reached |
|
IRC: Not reached |
| Number of Events, n (%) |
|
29 (13) |
|
79 (37) |
| Hazard Ratio |
|
IRC: HR = 0.33 (95% CI 0.22-0.51), p<0.0001 |
| Response Rates |
| ORR % (95% CI) |
|
85 (79-89) |
|
71 (65-77) |
| p value |
|
0.0007 |
| CR/CRi % |
|
50 |
|
23 |
| p value |
|
<0.0001 |
| Minimal Residual Disease (MRD)b |
MRD-negative %, bone
marrow (95% CI) |
|
57 (50-64) |
|
17 (12-23) |
| p value |
|
<0.0001 |
MRD-negative %,
peripheral blood (95% CI) |
|
76 (69-81) |
|
35 (29-42) |
| p value |
|
<0.0001 |
| Overall Survival (OS) |
| OS |
|
Not reached |
|
Not reached |
| a Approval based on secondary endpoint of PFS evaluated by IRC; data at median follow-up of 28 months |
| b Data at 3-months following end of combination treatment |
| |
|
|
|
|
The most common adverse reactions with Venclexta plus Gazyva were low white blood cell count, diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, low red blood cell count, and upper respiratory tract infection.
About CLL/SLL
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common type of adult leukemia. In the United States, it is estimated that more than 20,000 new cases of CLL will be diagnosed in 2019. Although signs of CLL may disappear for a period of time after initial treatment, the disease is considered incurable and many people will require additional treatment due to the return of cancerous cells.
In CLL, the cancer primarily occurs in the blood and bone marrow. Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) is similar to CLL, but primarily occurs in the lymph nodes.
About Venclexta
Venclexta is a first-in-class targeted medicine designed to selectively bind and inhibit the B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) protein. In some blood cancers and other tumors, BCL-2 builds up and prevents cancer cells from dying or self-destructing, a process called apoptosis. Venclexta blocks the BCL-2 protein and works to restore the process of apoptosis.
Venclexta is being developed by AbbVie and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group. It is jointly commercialized by the companies in the United States and commercialized by AbbVie outside of the United States. Together, the companies are committed to research with Venclexta, which is currently being studied in clinical trials across several types of blood and other cancers.
In the United States, Venclexta has been granted five Breakthrough Therapy Designations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): one for previously untreated CLL, two for relapsed or refractory CLL and two for previously untreated acute myeloid leukemia.
About Gazyva
Gazyva is an engineered monoclonal antibody designed to attach to CD20, a protein found only on certain types of B-cells. Gazyva is designed to attack and destroy targeted B-cells both directly and together with the body’s immune system. Gazyva was discovered by Roche Innovation Center Zurich, formerly Roche Glycart AG, a wholly owned, independent research unit of Roche. In the United States, Gazyva is part of a collaboration between Genentech and Biogen.
Additional combination studies investigating Gazyva with other approved or investigational medicines, including cancer immunotherapies and small molecule inhibitors, are underway across a range of blood cancers.
Venclexta Indications
Venclexta is a prescription medicine used:
- To treat adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).
- In combination with azacitidine, or decitabine, or low-dose cytarabine to treat adults with newly-diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who:
‒ Are 75 years of age or older, or
‒ Have other medical conditions that prevent the use of standard chemotherapy.
It is not known if Venclexta is safe and effective in children.
Gazyva Indications
Gazyva® (obinutuzumab) is a prescription medicine used:
- With the chemotherapy drug, chlorambucil, to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in adults who have not had previous CLL treatment.
- With the chemotherapy drug, bendamustine, followed by Gazyva alone for follicular lymphoma (FL) in adults who did not respond to a rituximab-containing regimen, or whose FL returned after such treatment.
- With chemotherapy, followed by Gazyva alone in those who responded, to treat stage II bulky, III, or IV FL in adults who have not had previous FL treatment.
About the German CLL Study Group (GCLLSG)
Founded in 1996 and headed by Michael Hallek, M.D., the GCLLSG has been running various Phase III, Phase II and Phase I trials in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with the goal to provide optimal treatment to patients suffering from this disease. Among those were landmark trials like the CLL8 and the CLL11 trials which led to the current standard of care in CLL. For many years, GCLLSG has been aiming to improve not just the treatment of younger and physically fit patients, but also that of elderly and less fit patients. These patients are generally underrepresented in clinical trials although they constitute the majority of CLL patients treated by doctors in daily practice. The GCLLSG is an independent non-profit research organization supported by the German Cancer Aid (Deutsche Krebshilfe). http://www.dcllsg.de.
About Genentech in Hematology
For more than 20 years, Genentech has been developing medicines with the goal to redefine treatment in hematology. Today, we’re investing more than ever in our effort to bring innovative treatment options to people with diseases of the blood. For more information visit http://www.gene.com/hematology.
About Genentech
Founded more than 40 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious and life-threatening medical conditions. The company, a member of the Roche Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco, California. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.gene.com.
SOURCE: Genentech
Post Views: 23
– Fixed 12-month treatment with Venclexta plus Gazyva significantly reduced risk of disease progression or death by 67 percent compared to a current standard of care –
– Approval for expanded use of Venclexta offers more adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia a new treatment option –
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA, USA I May 15, 2019 I Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Venclexta® (venetoclax) in combination with Gazyva® (obinutuzumab) for the treatment of people with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).
“Venclexta plus Gazyva is the only chemotherapy-free option of fixed duration that provides durable responses to help people live longer without progression of their disease, compared to a standard of care,” said Sandra Horning, M.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. “Today’s approval represents our long-standing commitment to helping people with blood cancers throughout the course of their disease, and we are excited to provide this new option for untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia.”
The approval is based on the results of the randomized Phase III CLL14 study, which evaluated 12-month, fixed-duration treatment with Venclexta plus Gazyva compared to Gazyva plus chlorambucil. Results showed the combination of Venclexta plus Gazyva produced a durable and significant reduction in the risk of disease worsening or death (progression-free survival (PFS), as assessed by Independent Review Committee) by 67 percent compared to Gazyva plus chlorambucil, a current standard of care (HR=0.33; 95 percent CI 0.22-0.51; p<0.0001). Venclexta plus Gazyva showed deep and clinically meaningful responses characterized by a higher rate of minimal residual disease (MRD)-negativity in the bone marrow compared to Gazyva plus chlorambucil (MRD-negativity of 57 percent vs. 17 percent) and peripheral blood (MRD-negativity of 76 percent vs. 35 percent). MRD-negativity means no cancer can be detected using a specific and highly sensitive test, defined as less than one CLL cell in 10,000 white blood cells.
Results of the study will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in June 2019. The CLL14 study is being conducted in cooperation with the German CLL Study Group (GCLLSG), headed by Michael Hallek, M.D., University of Cologne.
The most common adverse reactions with Venclexta plus Gazyva were low white blood cell count, diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, low red blood cell count, and upper respiratory tract infection.
The FDA rapidly reviewed and approved the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) under the FDA’s Real-Time Oncology Review (RTOR) and Assessment Aid pilot programs. This is the second regimen of Genentech medicines approved under the RTOR pilot program, which is exploring a more efficient review process to ensure safe and effective treatments are available to patients as early as possible. The sNDA was also granted Priority Review, a designation given to medicines that the FDA has determined to have the potential to provide significant improvements in the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of a disease. The FDA previously granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Venclexta in combination with Gazyva for the treatment of previously untreated CLL with co-existing medical conditions. Additional submissions of the CLL14 data to health authorities around the world are ongoing.
Venclexta is being developed by AbbVie and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group. It is jointly commercialized by the companies in the United States and commercialized by AbbVie outside of the United States.
The combination of Venclexta and Gazyva is taken for a fixed duration unlike some other cancer medicines that are taken until disease progression. For those who qualify, Genentech offers patient assistance programs for people prescribed Venclexta and Gazyva by their doctor through Genentech Access Solutions. Please contact Genentech Access Solutions at (866) 422-2377 or visit http://www.Genentech-Access.com for more information.
About the CLL14 Study
CLL14 (NCT02242942) is a randomized Phase III study evaluating the combination of fixed-duration Venclexta plus Gazyva compared to Gazyva plus chlorambucil in patients with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and co-existing medical conditions. 432 patients with previously untreated CLL were randomly assigned to receive either a 12-month duration of Venclexta alongside six-month duration of Gazyva (Arm A) or six-month duration of Gazyva plus chlorambucil followed by an additional six-month duration of chlorambucil (Arm B). Arm A started with an initial cycle of Gazyva followed by a five-week Venclexta dose ramp-up to help reduce tumor burden. The primary endpoint of the study is investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints include PFS assessed by Independent Review Committee (IRC), minimal residual disease (MRD) status, overall response (OR), complete response (with or without complete blood count recovery, CR/CRi), overall survival (OS), duration of response (DOR), event-free survival (EFS), time to next CLL treatment (TTNT), and safety. The CLL14 study is being conducted in cooperation with the German CLL Study Group (GCLLSG), headed by Michael Hallek, M.D., University of Cologne.
| |
| CLL14 Study Results |
| Treatment arm |
|
Venclexta + Gazyva
(n=216) |
|
Gazyva +
chlorambucil
(n=216) |
| Progression Free Survival (PFS)a |
| Median PFS |
|
Independent Review
Committee (IRC): Not reached |
|
IRC: Not reached |
| Number of Events, n (%) |
|
29 (13) |
|
79 (37) |
| Hazard Ratio |
|
IRC: HR = 0.33 (95% CI 0.22-0.51), p<0.0001 |
| Response Rates |
| ORR % (95% CI) |
|
85 (79-89) |
|
71 (65-77) |
| p value |
|
0.0007 |
| CR/CRi % |
|
50 |
|
23 |
| p value |
|
<0.0001 |
| Minimal Residual Disease (MRD)b |
MRD-negative %, bone
marrow (95% CI) |
|
57 (50-64) |
|
17 (12-23) |
| p value |
|
<0.0001 |
MRD-negative %,
peripheral blood (95% CI) |
|
76 (69-81) |
|
35 (29-42) |
| p value |
|
<0.0001 |
| Overall Survival (OS) |
| OS |
|
Not reached |
|
Not reached |
| a Approval based on secondary endpoint of PFS evaluated by IRC; data at median follow-up of 28 months |
| b Data at 3-months following end of combination treatment |
| |
|
|
|
|
The most common adverse reactions with Venclexta plus Gazyva were low white blood cell count, diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, low red blood cell count, and upper respiratory tract infection.
About CLL/SLL
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common type of adult leukemia. In the United States, it is estimated that more than 20,000 new cases of CLL will be diagnosed in 2019. Although signs of CLL may disappear for a period of time after initial treatment, the disease is considered incurable and many people will require additional treatment due to the return of cancerous cells.
In CLL, the cancer primarily occurs in the blood and bone marrow. Small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) is similar to CLL, but primarily occurs in the lymph nodes.
About Venclexta
Venclexta is a first-in-class targeted medicine designed to selectively bind and inhibit the B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) protein. In some blood cancers and other tumors, BCL-2 builds up and prevents cancer cells from dying or self-destructing, a process called apoptosis. Venclexta blocks the BCL-2 protein and works to restore the process of apoptosis.
Venclexta is being developed by AbbVie and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group. It is jointly commercialized by the companies in the United States and commercialized by AbbVie outside of the United States. Together, the companies are committed to research with Venclexta, which is currently being studied in clinical trials across several types of blood and other cancers.
In the United States, Venclexta has been granted five Breakthrough Therapy Designations by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): one for previously untreated CLL, two for relapsed or refractory CLL and two for previously untreated acute myeloid leukemia.
About Gazyva
Gazyva is an engineered monoclonal antibody designed to attach to CD20, a protein found only on certain types of B-cells. Gazyva is designed to attack and destroy targeted B-cells both directly and together with the body’s immune system. Gazyva was discovered by Roche Innovation Center Zurich, formerly Roche Glycart AG, a wholly owned, independent research unit of Roche. In the United States, Gazyva is part of a collaboration between Genentech and Biogen.
Additional combination studies investigating Gazyva with other approved or investigational medicines, including cancer immunotherapies and small molecule inhibitors, are underway across a range of blood cancers.
Venclexta Indications
Venclexta is a prescription medicine used:
- To treat adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL).
- In combination with azacitidine, or decitabine, or low-dose cytarabine to treat adults with newly-diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who:
‒ Are 75 years of age or older, or
‒ Have other medical conditions that prevent the use of standard chemotherapy.
It is not known if Venclexta is safe and effective in children.
Gazyva Indications
Gazyva® (obinutuzumab) is a prescription medicine used:
- With the chemotherapy drug, chlorambucil, to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in adults who have not had previous CLL treatment.
- With the chemotherapy drug, bendamustine, followed by Gazyva alone for follicular lymphoma (FL) in adults who did not respond to a rituximab-containing regimen, or whose FL returned after such treatment.
- With chemotherapy, followed by Gazyva alone in those who responded, to treat stage II bulky, III, or IV FL in adults who have not had previous FL treatment.
About the German CLL Study Group (GCLLSG)
Founded in 1996 and headed by Michael Hallek, M.D., the GCLLSG has been running various Phase III, Phase II and Phase I trials in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with the goal to provide optimal treatment to patients suffering from this disease. Among those were landmark trials like the CLL8 and the CLL11 trials which led to the current standard of care in CLL. For many years, GCLLSG has been aiming to improve not just the treatment of younger and physically fit patients, but also that of elderly and less fit patients. These patients are generally underrepresented in clinical trials although they constitute the majority of CLL patients treated by doctors in daily practice. The GCLLSG is an independent non-profit research organization supported by the German Cancer Aid (Deutsche Krebshilfe). http://www.dcllsg.de.
About Genentech in Hematology
For more than 20 years, Genentech has been developing medicines with the goal to redefine treatment in hematology. Today, we’re investing more than ever in our effort to bring innovative treatment options to people with diseases of the blood. For more information visit http://www.gene.com/hematology.
About Genentech
Founded more than 40 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious and life-threatening medical conditions. The company, a member of the Roche Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco, California. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.gene.com.
SOURCE: Genentech
Post Views: 23
