Phase III Clinical Trial Designed to Examine the Use of ADCETRIS as Part of a Front-line Treatment Regimen for Newly Diagnosed MTCL Patients, Including Systemic Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma and Other Types of Peripheral T-cell Lymphomas
BOTHELL, WA & CAMBRIDGE, MA, USA I January 24, 2013 I Seattle Genetics, Inc. (SGEN) and Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502), today announced the initiation of a global phase III clinical trial evaluating ADCETRIS (brentuximab vedotin) in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of newly diagnosed CD30-positive mature T-cell lymphoma (MTCL) patients, including patients with systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL) and other types of peripheral T-cell lymphomas. The trial, also known as ECHELON-2, is being conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) agreement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and also received scientific advice from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). ADCETRIS is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) directed to CD30. ADCETRIS is currently not approved for use in the front-line treatment of MTCL.
“The standard of care for newly diagnosed MTCL, a chemotherapy regimen called CHOP, has not changed in more than three decades, and there is a significant need to identify enhanced treatment options for these patients,” said Clay B. Siegall, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer at Seattle Genetics. “Recent phase I data from 26 patients presented at the ASH annual meeting showed that adding ADCETRIS to CHP resulted in compelling antitumor activity, with 100 percent of the patients experiencing a response, and a manageable safety profile. Our goal with this phase III trial is to redefine the standard of care for front-line treatment of MTCL.”
“This is the third global phase III trial with ADCETRIS to be initiated in the past nine months,” said Karen Ferrante, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Millennium. “This trial represents another major achievement in our aspiration to bring important new therapies to patients with CD30-expressing malignancies by evaluating ADCETRIS in the front-line setting.”
The ECHELON-2 study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multi-center global phase III trial designed to investigate ADCETRIS in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisone (A+CHP) versus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (CHOP) as front-line therapy in patients with CD30-expressing MTCL. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival (PFS) per independent review facility assessment using the Revised Response Criteria for malignant lymphoma (Cheson, 2007). Secondary endpoints include overall survival (OS), complete remission (CR) rate and safety. The trial will be conducted in North America, Europe and Asia and is expected to enroll approximately 300 patients (approximately 150 patients per treatment arm). A molecular companion diagnostic test will be used in this trial to identify eligible patients based on CD30 expression. The companion diagnostic test is being developed under a previously announced collaboration agreement with Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. (Ventana), Millennium and Seattle Genetics.
At the recent 54th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition held December 8-11, 2012 in Atlanta, GA, encouraging phase I data were presented from an abstract titled “Brentuximab Vedotin Administered Concurrently with Multi-Agent Chemotherapy as Front-line Treatment of ALCL and Other CD30-Positive Mature T-Cell and NK-Cell Lymphomas” (Abstract #60). The clinical trial was conducted to evaluate ADCETRIS in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of newly diagnosed MTCL patients, including patients with sALCL. Data were reported from 26 previously untreated patients who received the combination regimen of ADCETRIS plus CHP.
After completing a combination regimen of ADCETRIS plus CHP, 26 of 26 patients (100 percent) treated with ADCETRIS plus CHP had an objective response, including 23 patients (88 percent) with a complete remission. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events of any grade regardless of relationship occurring in more than 30 percent of patients were nausea (62 percent), peripheral sensory neuropathy (62 percent), diarrhea (58 percent), fatigue (54 percent) and alopecia (46 percent). The most common Grade 3 or 4 treatment-emergent adverse events regardless of relationship included Grade 3 febrile neutropenia, peripheral sensory neuropathy, nausea and dyspnea and Grade 4 nausea and diarrhea. The abstract can be found at www.hematology.org.
More information about the ECHELON-2 phase III trial of ADCETRIS in front-line CD30-expressing MTCL, including enrolling centers, will be available by visiting www.clinicaltrials.gov.
About ADCETRIS
ADCETRIS (brentuximab vedotin) is an ADC comprising an anti-CD30 monoclonal antibody attached by a protease-cleavable linker to a microtubule disrupting agent, monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), utilizing Seattle Genetics’ proprietary technology. The ADC employs a linker system that is designed to be stable in the bloodstream but to release MMAE upon internalization into CD30-expressing tumor cells.
ADCETRIS was granted accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 2011 for two indications: (1) the treatment of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma after failure of autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) or after failure of at least two prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimens in patients who are not ASCT candidates, and (2) the treatment of patients with sALCL after failure of at least one prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimen. The indications for ADCETRIS are based on response rate. There are no data available demonstrating improvement in patient-reported outcomes or survival with ADCETRIS. ADCETRIS has not been approved for use in any front-line setting.
ADCETRIS was granted conditional marketing authorization by the European Commission in October 2012 for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory CD30+ Hodgkin lymphoma (HL): (1) following autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT), or (2) following at least two prior therapies when ASCT or multi-agent chemotherapy is not a treatment option. ADCETRIS is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL). See important safety information below.
Seattle Genetics and Millennium are jointly developing ADCETRIS. Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, Seattle Genetics has U.S. and Canadian commercialization rights and the Takeda Group has rights to commercialize ADCETRIS in the rest of the world. Seattle Genetics and the Takeda Group are funding joint development costs for ADCETRIS on a 50:50 basis, except in Japan where the Takeda Group is solely responsible for development costs.
About T-Cell Lymphomas
Lymphoma is a general term for a group of cancers that originate in the lymphatic system. There are two major categories of lymphoma: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are broadly divided into two major groups: B-cell lymphomas, which develop from abnormal B-lymphocytes, and T-cell lymphomas, which develop from abnormal T-lymphocytes. The World Health Organization identifies 22 subtypes of mature T- and NK-cell neoplasms, including systemic ALCL which is an aggressive type of T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that expresses CD30. Other mature T-cell lymphomas include peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma and adult T-cell lymphoma.
About Millennium
Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, a leading biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Mass., markets VELCADE, a first-in-class proteasome inhibitor, and has a robust clinical development pipeline of product candidates. Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was acquired by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. in May, 2008. The Company’s research, development and commercialization activities are focused in oncology. Additional information about Millennium is available through its website, www.millennium.com.
About Seattle Genetics
Seattle Genetics is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of monoclonal antibody-based therapies for the treatment of cancer. The company’s lead program, ADCETRIS, received accelerated approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in August 2011 for two indications. In addition, under a collaboration with Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, ADCETRIS received conditional approval from the European Commission in October 2012. Seattle Genetics also has three other clinical-stage antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) programs: SGN-75, ASG-5ME and ASG-22ME. Seattle Genetics has collaborations for its ADC technology with a number of leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, including Abbott, Agensys (an affiliate of Astellas), Bayer, Celldex Therapeutics, Daiichi Sankyo, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Millennium, Pfizer and Progenics, as well as ADC co-development agreements with Agensys and Genmab. More information can be found at www.seattlegenetics.com.
U.S. Important Safety Information
BOXED WARNING
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML): JC virus infection resulting in PML and death can occur in patients receiving ADCETRIS.
Contraindication:
Concomitant use of ADCETRIS and bleomycin is contraindicated due to pulmonary toxicity.
Warnings and Precautions:
Peripheral neuropathy: ADCETRIS treatment causes a peripheral neuropathy that is predominantly sensory. Cases of peripheral motor neuropathy have also been reported. ADCETRIS-induced peripheral neuropathy is cumulative. Treating physicians should monitor patients for symptoms of neuropathy, such as hypoesthesia, hyperesthesia, paresthesia, discomfort, a burning sensation, neuropathic pain or weakness and institute dose modifications accordingly.
Infusion reactions: Infusion-related reactions, including anaphylaxis, have occurred with ADCETRIS. Monitor patients during infusion. If an infusion reaction occurs, the infusion should be interrupted and appropriate medical management instituted. If anaphylaxis occurs, the infusion should be immediately and permanently discontinued and appropriate medical management instituted.
Neutropenia: Monitor complete blood counts prior to each dose of ADCETRIS and consider more frequent monitoring for patients with Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia. If Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia develops, manage by dose delays, reductions or discontinuation. Prolonged (≥1 week) severe neutropenia can occur with ADCETRIS.
Tumor lysis syndrome: Patients with rapidly proliferating tumor and high tumor burden are at risk of tumor lysis syndrome and these patients should be monitored closely and appropriate measures taken.
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML): JC virus infection resulting in PML and death has been reported in ADCETRIS-treated patients. In addition to ADCETRIS therapy, other possible contributory factors include prior therapies and underlying disease that may cause immunosuppression. Consider the diagnosis of PML in any patient presenting with new-onset signs and symptoms of central nervous system abnormalities. Evaluation of PML includes, but is not limited to, consultation with a neurologist, brain MRI, and lumbar puncture or brain biopsy. Hold ADCETRIS if PML is suspected and discontinue ADCETRIS if PML is confirmed.
Stevens-Johnson syndrome: Stevens-Johnson syndrome has been reported with ADCETRIS. If Stevens-Johnson syndrome occurs, discontinue ADCETRIS and administer appropriate medical therapy.
Use in pregnancy: Fetal harm can occur. Pregnant women should be advised of the potential hazard to the fetus.
Adverse Reactions:
ADCETRIS was studied as monotherapy in 160 patients in two phase 2 trials. Across both trials, the most common adverse reactions (≥20%), regardless of causality, were neutropenia, peripheral sensory neuropathy, fatigue, nausea, anemia, upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, pyrexia, rash, thrombocytopenia, cough and vomiting.
Drug Interactions:
Patients who are receiving strong CYP3A4 inhibitors concomitantly with ADCETRIS should be closely monitored for adverse reactions.
SOURCE: Seattle Genetics
Post Views: 64
Phase III Clinical Trial Designed to Examine the Use of ADCETRIS as Part of a Front-line Treatment Regimen for Newly Diagnosed MTCL Patients, Including Systemic Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma and Other Types of Peripheral T-cell Lymphomas
BOTHELL, WA & CAMBRIDGE, MA, USA I January 24, 2013 I Seattle Genetics, Inc. (SGEN) and Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502), today announced the initiation of a global phase III clinical trial evaluating ADCETRIS (brentuximab vedotin) in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of newly diagnosed CD30-positive mature T-cell lymphoma (MTCL) patients, including patients with systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL) and other types of peripheral T-cell lymphomas. The trial, also known as ECHELON-2, is being conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) agreement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and also received scientific advice from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). ADCETRIS is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) directed to CD30. ADCETRIS is currently not approved for use in the front-line treatment of MTCL.
“The standard of care for newly diagnosed MTCL, a chemotherapy regimen called CHOP, has not changed in more than three decades, and there is a significant need to identify enhanced treatment options for these patients,” said Clay B. Siegall, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer at Seattle Genetics. “Recent phase I data from 26 patients presented at the ASH annual meeting showed that adding ADCETRIS to CHP resulted in compelling antitumor activity, with 100 percent of the patients experiencing a response, and a manageable safety profile. Our goal with this phase III trial is to redefine the standard of care for front-line treatment of MTCL.”
“This is the third global phase III trial with ADCETRIS to be initiated in the past nine months,” said Karen Ferrante, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Millennium. “This trial represents another major achievement in our aspiration to bring important new therapies to patients with CD30-expressing malignancies by evaluating ADCETRIS in the front-line setting.”
The ECHELON-2 study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multi-center global phase III trial designed to investigate ADCETRIS in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisone (A+CHP) versus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (CHOP) as front-line therapy in patients with CD30-expressing MTCL. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival (PFS) per independent review facility assessment using the Revised Response Criteria for malignant lymphoma (Cheson, 2007). Secondary endpoints include overall survival (OS), complete remission (CR) rate and safety. The trial will be conducted in North America, Europe and Asia and is expected to enroll approximately 300 patients (approximately 150 patients per treatment arm). A molecular companion diagnostic test will be used in this trial to identify eligible patients based on CD30 expression. The companion diagnostic test is being developed under a previously announced collaboration agreement with Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. (Ventana), Millennium and Seattle Genetics.
At the recent 54th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition held December 8-11, 2012 in Atlanta, GA, encouraging phase I data were presented from an abstract titled “Brentuximab Vedotin Administered Concurrently with Multi-Agent Chemotherapy as Front-line Treatment of ALCL and Other CD30-Positive Mature T-Cell and NK-Cell Lymphomas” (Abstract #60). The clinical trial was conducted to evaluate ADCETRIS in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of newly diagnosed MTCL patients, including patients with sALCL. Data were reported from 26 previously untreated patients who received the combination regimen of ADCETRIS plus CHP.
After completing a combination regimen of ADCETRIS plus CHP, 26 of 26 patients (100 percent) treated with ADCETRIS plus CHP had an objective response, including 23 patients (88 percent) with a complete remission. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events of any grade regardless of relationship occurring in more than 30 percent of patients were nausea (62 percent), peripheral sensory neuropathy (62 percent), diarrhea (58 percent), fatigue (54 percent) and alopecia (46 percent). The most common Grade 3 or 4 treatment-emergent adverse events regardless of relationship included Grade 3 febrile neutropenia, peripheral sensory neuropathy, nausea and dyspnea and Grade 4 nausea and diarrhea. The abstract can be found at www.hematology.org.
More information about the ECHELON-2 phase III trial of ADCETRIS in front-line CD30-expressing MTCL, including enrolling centers, will be available by visiting www.clinicaltrials.gov.
About ADCETRIS
ADCETRIS (brentuximab vedotin) is an ADC comprising an anti-CD30 monoclonal antibody attached by a protease-cleavable linker to a microtubule disrupting agent, monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), utilizing Seattle Genetics’ proprietary technology. The ADC employs a linker system that is designed to be stable in the bloodstream but to release MMAE upon internalization into CD30-expressing tumor cells.
ADCETRIS was granted accelerated approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August 2011 for two indications: (1) the treatment of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma after failure of autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) or after failure of at least two prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimens in patients who are not ASCT candidates, and (2) the treatment of patients with sALCL after failure of at least one prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimen. The indications for ADCETRIS are based on response rate. There are no data available demonstrating improvement in patient-reported outcomes or survival with ADCETRIS. ADCETRIS has not been approved for use in any front-line setting.
ADCETRIS was granted conditional marketing authorization by the European Commission in October 2012 for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory CD30+ Hodgkin lymphoma (HL): (1) following autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT), or (2) following at least two prior therapies when ASCT or multi-agent chemotherapy is not a treatment option. ADCETRIS is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL). See important safety information below.
Seattle Genetics and Millennium are jointly developing ADCETRIS. Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, Seattle Genetics has U.S. and Canadian commercialization rights and the Takeda Group has rights to commercialize ADCETRIS in the rest of the world. Seattle Genetics and the Takeda Group are funding joint development costs for ADCETRIS on a 50:50 basis, except in Japan where the Takeda Group is solely responsible for development costs.
About T-Cell Lymphomas
Lymphoma is a general term for a group of cancers that originate in the lymphatic system. There are two major categories of lymphoma: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are broadly divided into two major groups: B-cell lymphomas, which develop from abnormal B-lymphocytes, and T-cell lymphomas, which develop from abnormal T-lymphocytes. The World Health Organization identifies 22 subtypes of mature T- and NK-cell neoplasms, including systemic ALCL which is an aggressive type of T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma that expresses CD30. Other mature T-cell lymphomas include peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma and adult T-cell lymphoma.
About Millennium
Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, a leading biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Mass., markets VELCADE, a first-in-class proteasome inhibitor, and has a robust clinical development pipeline of product candidates. Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was acquired by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. in May, 2008. The Company’s research, development and commercialization activities are focused in oncology. Additional information about Millennium is available through its website, www.millennium.com.
About Seattle Genetics
Seattle Genetics is a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of monoclonal antibody-based therapies for the treatment of cancer. The company’s lead program, ADCETRIS, received accelerated approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in August 2011 for two indications. In addition, under a collaboration with Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, ADCETRIS received conditional approval from the European Commission in October 2012. Seattle Genetics also has three other clinical-stage antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) programs: SGN-75, ASG-5ME and ASG-22ME. Seattle Genetics has collaborations for its ADC technology with a number of leading biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, including Abbott, Agensys (an affiliate of Astellas), Bayer, Celldex Therapeutics, Daiichi Sankyo, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Millennium, Pfizer and Progenics, as well as ADC co-development agreements with Agensys and Genmab. More information can be found at www.seattlegenetics.com.
U.S. Important Safety Information
BOXED WARNING
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML): JC virus infection resulting in PML and death can occur in patients receiving ADCETRIS.
Contraindication:
Concomitant use of ADCETRIS and bleomycin is contraindicated due to pulmonary toxicity.
Warnings and Precautions:
Peripheral neuropathy: ADCETRIS treatment causes a peripheral neuropathy that is predominantly sensory. Cases of peripheral motor neuropathy have also been reported. ADCETRIS-induced peripheral neuropathy is cumulative. Treating physicians should monitor patients for symptoms of neuropathy, such as hypoesthesia, hyperesthesia, paresthesia, discomfort, a burning sensation, neuropathic pain or weakness and institute dose modifications accordingly.
Infusion reactions: Infusion-related reactions, including anaphylaxis, have occurred with ADCETRIS. Monitor patients during infusion. If an infusion reaction occurs, the infusion should be interrupted and appropriate medical management instituted. If anaphylaxis occurs, the infusion should be immediately and permanently discontinued and appropriate medical management instituted.
Neutropenia: Monitor complete blood counts prior to each dose of ADCETRIS and consider more frequent monitoring for patients with Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia. If Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia develops, manage by dose delays, reductions or discontinuation. Prolonged (≥1 week) severe neutropenia can occur with ADCETRIS.
Tumor lysis syndrome: Patients with rapidly proliferating tumor and high tumor burden are at risk of tumor lysis syndrome and these patients should be monitored closely and appropriate measures taken.
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML): JC virus infection resulting in PML and death has been reported in ADCETRIS-treated patients. In addition to ADCETRIS therapy, other possible contributory factors include prior therapies and underlying disease that may cause immunosuppression. Consider the diagnosis of PML in any patient presenting with new-onset signs and symptoms of central nervous system abnormalities. Evaluation of PML includes, but is not limited to, consultation with a neurologist, brain MRI, and lumbar puncture or brain biopsy. Hold ADCETRIS if PML is suspected and discontinue ADCETRIS if PML is confirmed.
Stevens-Johnson syndrome: Stevens-Johnson syndrome has been reported with ADCETRIS. If Stevens-Johnson syndrome occurs, discontinue ADCETRIS and administer appropriate medical therapy.
Use in pregnancy: Fetal harm can occur. Pregnant women should be advised of the potential hazard to the fetus.
Adverse Reactions:
ADCETRIS was studied as monotherapy in 160 patients in two phase 2 trials. Across both trials, the most common adverse reactions (≥20%), regardless of causality, were neutropenia, peripheral sensory neuropathy, fatigue, nausea, anemia, upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, pyrexia, rash, thrombocytopenia, cough and vomiting.
Drug Interactions:
Patients who are receiving strong CYP3A4 inhibitors concomitantly with ADCETRIS should be closely monitored for adverse reactions.
SOURCE: Seattle Genetics
Post Views: 64
