• In the Phase III ARANOTE trial, NUBEQA® (darolutamide) plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) demonstrated an improvement in radiological progression-free survival (rPFS) with a 46% statistically significant reduction in the risk of progression or death (HR 0.54; 95% CI 0.41-0.71; P<0.0001) compared to placebo plus ADT
  • With these results, NUBEQA plus ADT now has demonstrated efficacy data in metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) both with and without docetaxel in the pivotal Phase III ARANOTE and ARASENS trials
  • Results were consistent with the established safety profile of NUBEQA with no new safety signals observed
  • ARANOTE results have been published simultaneously in The Journal of Clinical Oncology

Abstract: LBA68

WHIPPANY, NJ, USA I September 16, 2024 I Results from the investigational pivotal Phase III ARANOTE trial demonstrated that NUBEQA® (darolutamide) plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) showed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in radiological progression-free survival (rPFS) compared to placebo plus ADT in patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC).1 The results were presented today as a late-breaking oral presentation at the 2024 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Barcelona, Spain and published simultaneously in The Journal of Clinical Oncology.

The results were consistent with the established safety profile of NUBEQA, with no new safety signals observed. Rates of serious adverse events were similar between the treatment arms (23.6% for NUBEQA plus ADT compared to 23.5% for placebo plus ADT), while discontinuation due to treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) was 6.1% in patients treated with NUBEQA plus ADT compared to 9% in patients receiving placebo plus ADT.1

NUBEQA is indicated in the U.S. for the treatment of adult patients with mHSPC in combination with docetaxel and for the treatment of adult patients with non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC).2

The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III ARANOTE trial was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of NUBEQA plus ADT in patients with mHSPC. A total of 669 patients were randomized 2:1 to receive either 600 mg of NUBEQA (N=446) or placebo (N=223) twice daily in addition to ADT.1

“Each diagnosis of metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer is unique, shaped by factors such as age, comorbidities and patient preferences. Each patient therefore requires a tailored treatment approach that thoughtfully addresses these key considerations,” said Fred Saad, Professor and Chairman of Surgery and Director of Genitourinary Oncology at the University of Montreal Hospital Center (CHUM), and Principal Investigator of the ARANOTE trial. “With the positive results from ARANOTE, in addition to the ARASENS data, darolutamide has now demonstrated efficacy and safety data both with and without chemotherapy in mHSPC.”

“The positive outcomes from the ARANOTE trial provide physicians with additional data that could broaden the use of NUBEQA as a treatment option for more patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer, which accounts for approximately 10% of prostate cancer diagnoses in the United States,” said Neal Shore, M.D., FACS, Medical Director, Carolina Urologic Research Center. “These data demonstrate the potential of this therapy to provide significant benefits to patients with mHSPC, regardless of chemotherapy use.”

“The ARANOTE trial was designed to investigate NUBEQA plus ADT compared to placebo plus ADT to provide an additional treatment option for patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer,” said Christian Rommel, Ph.D., Head of Research and Development at Bayer’s Pharmaceuticals Division. “Supported by our robust clinical development program, our goal is to expand the option of NUBEQA to as many patients as possible.”

Bayer plans to submit the data from the ARANOTE trial to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to support the expanded use of NUBEQA in patients with mHSPC.

Detailed Results from ARANOTE1

Results of the rPFS analysis were consistent across prespecified subgroups, including 40% risk reduction (HR 0.60, 95% CI: 0.44-0.80) in patients with high-volume mHSPC and 70% risk reduction (HR 0.30, 95% CI: 0.15-0.60) in patients with low-volume disease. An analysis of immature overall survival data (OS), which measures the time from treatment until death from any cause, showed an HR of 0.81 (95% CI 0.59-1.12) versus placebo plus ADT. The ARANOTE data also suggested clinical benefits across all other secondary endpoints, including delaying the time to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) (HR 0.40; 95% CI, 0.32-0.51), time to PSA progression (HR 0.31; 95% CI 0.23-0.41), time to pain progression (HR 0.72; 95% CI 0.54-0.96), and time to initiation of subsequent systemic therapy (HR 0.40; 95% CI 0.29-0.56), compared to placebo plus ADT, though not assessed for statistical significance.

Incidence rates for adverse events Grade 3 or higher were similar between the two groups (35.5% and 35.7%, respectively). The incidence of fatigue was lower with NUBEQA plus ADT than with placebo plus ADT (5.6% and 8.1%, respectively).

About the ARANOTE Trial1

The primary endpoint of the ARANOTE trial is rPFS, measured as time from randomization to date of first documented radiological disease progression or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first. Secondary endpoints include overall survival (time to death from any cause), time to first castration-resistant event, time to initiation of subsequent anti-cancer therapy, time to prostate-specific antigen (PSA) progression, PSA undetectable rates, time to pain progression, and safety assessments.

About the ARASENS Trial3

The ARASENS trial (NCT02799602) is the only randomized Phase III, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial prospectively designed to compare the use of a second-generation androgen receptor inhibitor (ARi) (NUBEQA) plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and the chemotherapy docetaxel to ADT plus docetaxel in patients with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC). A total of 1,306 newly diagnosed patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive 600 mg of NUBEQA twice a day or matching placebo plus ADT and docetaxel.

The primary endpoint of the trial was overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints included time to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), time to pain progression, time to first symptomatic skeletal event (SSE), and time to initiation of subsequent anticancer therapy, all measured at 12-week intervals, as well as adverse events (AEs) as a measure of safety and tolerability.

About NUBEQA® (darolutamide)2

NUBEQA® (darolutamide) is an androgen receptor inhibitor (ARi) with a distinct chemical structure that competitively inhibits androgen binding, AR nuclear translocation, and AR-mediated transcription.

In addition to the ARANOTE trial, darolutamide is being evaluated in a robust clinical development program, which includes studies across various stages of prostate cancer, including in the ARASTEP Phase III trial evaluating darolutamide plus ADT versus ADT alone in HSPC patients with high-risk biochemical recurrence (BCR), no evidence of metastatic disease by conventional imaging, and a positive PSMA PET/CT at baseline, as well as in the Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate Cancer Trials Group (ANZUP) led international Phase III co-operative group DASL-HiCaP (ANZUP1801) trial evaluating NUBEQA as an adjuvant treatment for localized prostate cancer with very high risk of recurrence. Information about these trials can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov.

NUBEQA is developed jointly by Bayer and Orion Corporation, a globally operating Finnish pharmaceutical company.

INDICATIONS

NUBEQA® (darolutamide) is an androgen receptor inhibitor indicated for the treatment of adult patients with:

  • Non-metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC)
  • Metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) in combination with docetaxel

For important risk and use information about NUBEQA, please see the full Prescribing Information.

About Metastatic Hormone-Sensitive Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men and the fifth most common cause of cancer death in men worldwide.4 In 2020, an estimated 1.4 million men were diagnosed with prostate cancer, including almost 300,000 cases in the U.S., and about 375,000 died from the disease worldwide.5,6

At the time of diagnosis, most men have localized prostate cancer, meaning their cancer is confined to the prostate gland and can be treated with curative surgery or radiotherapy. Upon relapse when the disease will metastasize or spread, androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) is the cornerstone of treatment for this hormone-sensitive disease. Approximately 10% of men will already present with mHSPC when first diagnosed.7,8,9 Men with metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) will start their treatment with hormone therapy, such as ADT, androgen receptor inhibitor (ARi) plus ADT, or a combination of the chemotherapy docetaxel and ADT. Despite this treatment, most men with mHSPC will eventually progress to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), a condition with limited survival.

About Oncology at Bayer

Bayer is committed to delivering science for a better life by advancing a portfolio of innovative treatments. The oncology franchise at Bayer includes six marketed products and several other assets in various stages of clinical development. Together, these products reflect the company’s approach to research, which prioritizes targets and pathways with the potential to impact the way that cancer is treated.

About Bayer

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. In line with its mission, “Health for all, Hunger for none,” the company’s products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2023, the Group employed around 100,000 people and had sales of 47.6 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 5.8 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

©2024 Bayer
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References

  1. Data on file.
  2. NUBEQA (darolutamide) [Prescribing Information]. Whippany, NJ: Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; October 2023.
  3. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02799602. ODM-201 in Addition to Standard ADT and Docetaxel in Metastatic Castration Sensitive Prostate Cancer (ARASENS). https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02799602. September 2024
  4. Hyuna S, et al. Ca Cancer J Clin. 2021;71:209-249.
  5. Prostate Cancer: Statistic. Cancer.Net. https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/prostate-cancer/statistics. September 2024.
  6. American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2024. https://www.cancer.org/research/cancer-facts-statistics/all-cancer-facts-figures/2024-cancer-facts-figures.html. September 2024.
  7. Piombino C, et al. Cancers (Basel). 2023;15(20):4945.
  8. Helgstrand, JT et al. Cancer. 2018;124(14):2931-2938.
  9. Buzzoni, C et al. Eur. Urol. 2015;68:885-890.

SOURCE: Bayer