Amgen Announces Positive Topline Phase 2 Results For Investigational KRAS G12C Inhibitor Sotorasib In Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

On October 5, 2020 Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN) reported positive topline Phase 2 results from the CodeBreaK 100 clinical study, evaluating sotorasib (proposed INN for AMG 510) in 126 patients with KRAS G12C-mutant advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), who had failed a median of two prior lines of anti-cancer therapies (immunotherapy and/or chemotherapy) (Press release, Amgen, OCT 5, 2020, View Source [SID1234568123]).

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Sotorasib demonstrated an objective response rate (primary end point) consistent with previously reported Phase 1 data in patients with advanced NSCLC taking the 960 mg daily dose. Other measures of efficacy, including duration of response, were promising and more than half of the responders were still on treatment and continuing to respond as of the data cutoff date. Safety and tolerability were similar to previously reported data in Phase 1 in patients with advanced NSCLC.

"Targeting KRAS has been a 40-year quest that has left patients with limited options. These topline data underscore our belief in the potential for sotorasib to become the standard of care for non-small cell lung cancer patients with the KRAS G12C mutation who remain in need of new treatment options," said David M. Reese, M.D., executive vice president of Research and Development at Amgen. "We now have more than 500 patients who have been enrolled across clinical studies, and we are rapidly moving forward with a broad-based development program, which includes monotherapy studies in non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer and other solid tumors harboring the KRAS G12C mutation, as well as a suite of combination studies. We look forward to discussing the current results with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory agencies, to determine the best path forward for sotorasib as a potential treatment for patients with NSCLC harboring the KRAS G12C mutation."

Detailed results of this potentially registrational Phase 2 clinical study in patients with advanced NSCLC will be submitted to the IASLC 2020 World Congress on Lung Cancer taking place January 2021. A global Phase 3 randomized active-controlled confirmatory study comparing sotorasib to docetaxel in KRAS G12C-mutant NSCLC patients (CodeBreaK 200) has begun recruiting.

About KRAS
The RAS gene family, which has been the subject of almost four decades of research, contains some of the most frequently mutated oncogenes in human cancers.1,2 Targeting the KRAS protein, the most commonly altered family member in solid tumors, has been one of the toughest challenges in cancer research.1 A specific mutation known as KRAS G12C, is a major driver of tumor growth, occurring broadly across solid tumor indications. In the U.S., about 13% of patients with non-small cell lung cancer harbor the KRAS G12C mutation.3,4 It is also found in approximately 3-5% of colorectal cancers and 1-2% of numerous other solid tumors, making this among the most broadly represented mutations across cancer patient subgroups.5,6,7,8,9. With the discovery of a unique surface groove in the KRASG12C protein, Amgen developed and advanced the first investigational KRASG12C inhibitor into the clinic and is exploring the potential of KRASG12C inhibition across multiple tumor types for patients who remain in dire need of treatment options.1,10

About CodeBreaK
The CodeBreaK clinical development program for Amgen’s investigational drug sotorasib is designed to treat patients with an advanced solid tumor with the KRAS G12C mutation and address the longstanding unmet medical need for these cancers. As the most advanced KRAS G12C clinical development program, CodeBreaK has enrolled more than 500 patients across 13 tumor types since its inception.

CodeBreaK 100, the Phase 1 and 2, first-in-human, open-label multicenter study, enrolled patients with KRAS G12C-mutant solid tumors. Eligible patients must have received a prior line of systemic anticancer therapy, consistent with their tumor type and stage of disease. The primary endpoint for the Phase 2 study was centrally assessed objective response rate. The study enrolled 126 patients, 123 of whom had centrally evaluable lesions by RECIST at baseline.

Amgen’s single-arm Phase 2 trial in colorectal cancer (CRC) (also part of CodeBreaK 100) is fully enrolled and topline results are expected in 2021. A global Phase 3 randomized active-controlled confirmatory study comparing sotorasib to docetaxel in KRAS G12C-mutant NSCLC patients (CodeBreaK 200) has begun recruiting. Amgen is also enrolling several Phase 1b combination studies across various advanced solid tumors (CodeBreaK 101).

About Amgen Oncology
Amgen Oncology is searching for and finding answers to incredibly complex questions that will advance care and improve lives for cancer patients and their families. Our research drives us to understand the disease in the context of the patient’s life – not just their cancer journey – so they can take control of their lives.

For the last four decades, we have been dedicated to discovering the firsts that matter in oncology and to finding ways to reduce the burden of cancer. Building on our heritage, Amgen continues to advance the largest pipeline in the Company’s history, moving with great speed to advance those innovations for the patients who need them.

At Amgen, we are driven by our commitment to transform the lives of cancer patients and keep them at the center of everything we do.

To learn more about Amgen’s innovative pipeline with diverse modalities and genetically validated targets, please visit AmgenOncology.com. For more information, follow us on www.twitter.com/amgenoncology.

Medtronic Announces Virtual 2020 Institutional Investor and Analyst Event and Webcast

On October 5, 2020 Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) reported that the company will host its biennial Institutional Investor and Analyst Event on Wednesday, October 14, 2020, from 8:00 a.m. to approximately 2:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (7:00 a.m. to approximately 1:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time) (Press release, Medtronic, OCT 5, 2020, View Source [SID1234568122]). The event, to be held virtually, will include presentations from company leadership focused on Medtronic’s long-range strategies to accelerate revenue growth with its innovation pipeline, become a more nimble and competitive organization, and create long-term value for its shareholders.

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Medtronic will host a live webcast of the event to provide access to all interested parties. The live audio and video webcast can be accessed by clicking on the Investor Events link at View Source on October 14, 2020. Within 24 hours of the event, a replay including presentation slides will be available by clicking on the Investor Events link at View Source.

Invitation to presentation of BioArctic’s Interim Report for the period January – September 2020 on October 14 at 9.30 a.m. CET

On October 5, 2020 BioArctic AB (publ) (Nasdaq Stockholm: BIOA B) reported to publish the company’s Interim Report for the period January – September 2020 on Wednesday, October 14, 2020, at 08:00 a.m. CET (Press release, BioArctic Neuroscience, OCT 5, 2020, View Source;september-2020-on-october-14-at-9-30-am-cet-301146256.html [SID1234568120]).

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BioArctic invites to an audiocast with teleconference (in English) for investors, analysts and media on October 14, at 09:30 CET, where Gunilla Osswald, CEO, and Jan Mattsson, CFO, will present BioArctic and comment on the Interim Report for the period January – September 2020 followed by a Q&A-session.

Webcast: View Source

The webcast will afterwards also be available on demand at BioArctic’s corporate website View Source

Puma Biotechnology Announces Publication of Overall Survival Results from Phase III ExteNET Trial Evaluating Neratinib in HER2-Positive, Hormone Receptor-Positive, Early Stage Breast Cancer

On October 5, 2020 Puma Biotechnology, Inc. (NASDAQ: PBYI), a biopharmaceutical company, reported that efficacy results of neratinib in HER2-positive, hormone receptor-positive (HR+), early stage breast cancer (eBC) from the Phase III ExteNET trial were published in Clinical Breast Cancer (Press release, Puma Biotechnology, OCT 5, 2020, View Source [SID1234568118]). The manuscript appears in the October 5, 2020 online issue accessible at View Source(20)30258-5/fulltext.

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ExteNET was a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, Phase III trial of 2,840 HER2-positive eBC patients who received neratinib after neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant therapy with chemotherapy and trastuzumab. Patients were stratified by hormone receptor status and randomly assigned to one year of treatment with either oral neratinib 240 mg/day or placebo. The primary endpoint of the trial was invasive disease-free survival (iDFS) with overall survival as a key secondary endpoint. Within the European Union, neratinib is approved in patients with HR+ breast cancer who initiated treatment within one year of completing an adjuvant trastuzumab containing regimen.

The manuscript presents data focusing on HR+ patients who initiated treatment within a year of completing an adjuvant trastuzumab containing treatment (HR+ /< 1 yr) and subgroups of clinical interest including patients who did not achieve a pathological complete response (no pCR) after neoadjuvant treatment and therefore were at a high risk of disease recurrence. (HR+/ <1 yr, no pCR)

In the HR+ /< 1 yr patient population, the absolute 5-year invasive disease-free survival benefit versus placebo was 5.1% (HR=0.58, 95% CI 0.41‒0.82) and absolute 8-year overall survival benefit was 2.1%. (HR=0.79, 95% CI 0.55‒1.13). The 5-year cumulative incidence of CNS metastases was 0.7% in the neratinib arm and 2.1% in the placebo arm.

In the HR+/ <1 yr, no pCR subgroup of patients that were at a high risk of disease recurrence the absolute 5-year iDFS benefit in the neratinib arm versus placebo was 7.4% (HR=0.60; 95% CI 0.33‒1.07) and the 8-year overall survival benefit was 9.1% (HR=0.47; 95% CI 0.23–0.92).

Most common grade 3 adverse events were diarrhea (39% vs placebo, 1%; without mandatory anti-diarrheal prophylaxis), vomiting (4% vs <1%), and fatigue (2% vs <1%).

Professor Arlene Chan, Vice Chair Breast Cancer Research Centre – WA, said, "Deciding on which patients benefit most from a given therapy is an important goal for clinicians. This newly published study provides consistent and durable benefits of neratinib in a subset of HER2-positive early stage breast cancer patients who are considered to be at greater risk of relapse: namely patients with HR+ tumors that did not achieve a pCR after neoadjuvant treatment (no pCR). The benefits demonstrated are meaningful in all endpoints evaluated, including iDFS, OS and CNS recurrence, and thus should help guide future clinical decisions."

Hope S. Rugo, MD, Professor of Medicine, University of California San Francisco Comprehensive Cancer Center, said, "HER2-positive HR+ patients who do not achieve a pCR are at increased risk of recurrence, even after receiving current standard of care treatment. In a descriptive subset analysis, extended adjuvant therapy with neratinib demonstrated a positive benefit in these patients not only in iDFS, but also in OS. In addition, the trend toward lower CNS involvement is a very important consideration, given the profound impact of CNS metastasis on future prognosis. These data coupled with the recently published data from the CONTROL study, which shows improved tolerability with dose escalation, should allow more patients to benefit from this important therapy."

Alan H. Auerbach, Chief Executive Officer and President of Puma, added, "Although there have been many new treatment options for patients with early stage HER2-positive breast cancer, the risk of disease recurrence remains significant and more must be done. These newly published data demonstrate that neratinib provides a clinically meaningful reduction in the risk of recurrence and provides a very important option for these high risk patients."

About HER2-Positive Breast Cancer

Up to 20% of patients with breast cancer tumors over-express the HER2 protein (HER2-positive disease) and in the ExteNET study, 57% of patients were found to have tumors that were hormone-receptor positive. HER2-positive breast cancer is often more aggressive than other types of breast cancer, increasing the risk of disease progression and death. Although research has shown that trastuzumab can reduce the risk of early stage HER2-positive breast cancer recurring, up to 25% of patients treated with trastuzumab experience recurrence within 10 years, the majority of which are metastatic recurrences.

McKesson Corporation to Announce Second Quarter Fiscal 2021 Results on November 3, 2020

On October 5, 2020 McKesson Corporation (NYSE:MCK) reported that it will release its second quarter fiscal 2021 financial results before market open on Tuesday, November 3, 2020 (Press release, McKesson, OCT 5, 2020, View Source [SID1234568117]). The company will host a live webcast of the earnings conference call for investors at 8:00 AM Eastern Time to review its financial results.

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The live webcast will be available on McKesson’s Investor Relations website at View Source, along with the company’s earnings press release, financial tables and slide presentation.