On June 21, 2021 Innovent Biologics, Inc. (Innovent) (HKEX: 01801), a world-class biopharmaceutical company that develops, manufactures and commercializes high-quality medicines for the treatment of cancer, metabolic, autoimmune and other major diseases reported that the Taiwan market has approved Pemazyre (pemigatinib) for the treatment of adults with previously treated, unresectable locally advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma with a fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) fusion or rearrangement (Press release, Innovent Biologics, JUN 21, 2021, View Source [SID1234584197]). Pemazyre, discovered by Incyte and licensed to Innovent for development and commercialization in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, is the first tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved for the treatment of cholangiocarcinoma, a type of biliary tract cancer, in Taiwan market. This is Innovent’s first approved small molecule drug and is also its fifth approved innovative drug.
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The approval was based on the FIGHT-202 study, which is a Phase 2, multi-center, open-label, single-arm study (NCT02924376) evaluating the safety and efficacy of Pemazyre – a selective fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) inhibitor – in adult (age ≥18 years) patients with previously treated, locally advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma with documented FGFR2 fusion or rearrangement. The major efficacy outcome measure was overall response rate (ORR) determined by an independent review committee Per RECIST V1.1. Among the 107 patients with FGFR 2 fusion/rearrangement, the ORR was 35.5% (95% CI: 27%, 45%), including 3 complete responses. The median duration of response (DOR) was 9.1 months with responses lasting ≥ 6 months in 24 of the 38 (63%) responding patients and ≥ 12 months in 7 (18%) patients. The safety analysis, including 146 patients, demonstrated that pemigatinib was generally well tolerated. Hyperphosphatemia was the most common (60%) treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE). TEAEs grade 3 or higher were reported in 64% of patients; the most frequent of which were hypophosphataemia (12%), arthralgia (6%), stomatitis (5%), hyponatraemia (5%), abdominal pain (5%) and fatigue (5%). For more information FIGHT-202, please visit View Source or https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(20)30109-1/fulltext.
Dr. Yongjun Liu, President of Innovent, stated: ‘The approval of Pemazyre in Taiwan market represents that Innovent has further broadened our product portfolio. In the future, Innovent will leverage the synergies of innovative drugs to explore more combination therapy opportunities to address unmet medical needs. ‘
Dr. Hui Zhou, Senior Vice President of Clinical Development of Innovent, stated: ‘Cholangiocarcinoma is the second most common primary liver cancer with a high incidence in Asia due to relatively widespread infection of HBV and parasites.’ He emphasized that a significant portion of patients receive an initial diagnosis of unresectable and/or metastatic status with limited therapy choice. Data from previous clinical trials of Pemazyre in participants with advanced cholangiocarcinoma with FGFR2 fusion as second line or later treatment has not only shown satisfactory safety results but also revealed compelling efficacy signals. With the refractory subjects being seen as the more challenging population and based on the promising data, we believe that patients with FGFR2 fusion or rearrangement may benefit from targeted therapies. The approval is a great clinical milestone, and we are looking forward to see the therapeutic contribution of Pemazyre in the treatment of eligible patients with cholangiocarcinoma in Taiwan market’, Dr. Zhou highlighted.
About Advanced Cholangiocarcinoma and FGFR2 Rearrangement
Cholangiocarcinoma is a malignant tumour originated from biliary epithelium cells and it is categorized as intrahepatic or extrahepatic based on anatomical location of origin. The incidence of cholangiocarcinoma has been increasing progressively over the past decade. Surgery is the first priority for patients with resectable disease. However, most cholangiocarcinomas has been in advanced and/or metastatic status at diagnosis and lost the chance for surgical resection. The treatment options for patient who relapse after surgery or have advanced / metastatic disease are limited and the recommended therapy method is systemic chemotherapy with gemicitabine plus cisplatin, which has a medium overall survival of less than a year.
Aberrant signaling through FGFR resulting from gene amplification or mutation, chromosomal translocation, and ligand-dependent activation of the receptors has been demonstrated in multiple types of human cancers. Fibroblast growth factor receptor signaling contributes to the development of malignancies by promoting tumor cell proliferation, survival, migration, and angiogenesis. Results from early clinical studies of selective FGFR inhibitors, including Pemazyre, have shown a tolerable safety profile for the class and preliminary signs of clinical benefit in participants with FGF/FGFR alterations.
About Pemazyre (pemigatinib)
In April 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Incyte’s Pemazyre (pemigatinib), a selective, oral inhibitor of FGFR isoforms 1, 2 and 3, for the treatment of adults with previously treated, unresectable locally advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma with a fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) fusion or rearrangement as detected by an FDA-approved test. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial(s).
In Japan, Pemazyre is approved for the treatment of patients with unresectable biliary tract cancer with a FGFR2 fusion gene, worsening after cancer chemotherapy. In Europe, Pemazyre is approved for the treatment of adults with locally advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma with a FGFR2 fusion or rearrangement that have progressed after at least one prior line of systemic therapy. Pemazyre is marketed by Incyte in the United States, Europe and Japan.
In December 2018, Innovent and Incyte entered into a strategic collaboration for three clinical-stage product candidates discovered and developed by Incyte, including pemigatinib (FGFR1/2/3 inhibitor). Under the terms of the agreement, Innovent has received the rights to develop and commercialize the three assets in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. In March 2020, Innovent announced that the first patient was dosed in the pivotal registrational trial evaluating pemigatinib in patients with advanced cholangiocarcinoma in mainland China. In June 2021, Taiwan market approved Pemazyre (pemigatinib) for the treatment of adults with previously treated, unresectable locally advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma with a FGFR2 fusion or rearrangement.
Pemazyre is a trademark of Incyte Corporation.