Landmark 5-Year monarchE Outcome Data Demonstrate Verzenio® (abemaciclib)’s Long-Term Impact on Cancer Recurrence in High-Risk Early Breast Cancer

On October 20, 2023 Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) reported five-year outcomes from a pre-planned analysis of the Phase 3 monarchE study evaluating two years of adjuvant Verzenio (abemaciclib) in combination with endocrine therapy (ET) compared with ET alone in patients with HR+, HER2-, node-positive early breast cancer (EBC) at a high risk of recurrence (Press release, Eli Lilly, OCT 20, 2023, View Source [SID1234636175]). These data were shared in a late-breaking presentation at the 2023 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress.

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"The five-year time period is an established landmark for adjuvant breast cancer clinical trials and is an important milestone for patients and physicians in this curative setting," said Nadia Harbeck, M.D., Ph.D, Director of the Breast Center and Chair for Conservative Oncology, Department of OB&GYN, LMU University Hospital (Munich, Germany), monarchE investigator, and presenter of the results at the 2023 ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress. "These five-year monarchE data clearly demonstrate a carryover effect beyond the completion of two years of abemaciclib treatment, with the IDFS and DRFS curves continuing to separate, reinforcing confidence in the role of abemaciclib added to endocrine therapy in the adjuvant setting for those with a high risk of recurrence."

The data presented include results from a pre-specified analysis reflecting a median follow-up of 4.5 years. All patients have completed the Verzenio treatment course, with more than 80% of patients having been followed for at least two years after completion. In the intent-to-treat (ITT) population, the risk of developing invasive disease was reduced by 32% (HR=0.680, 95% CI: 0.599, 0.772; nominal p<0.001). The absolute increase in invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) and distant relapse-free survival (DRFS) continued to deepen in magnitude at five years, to 7.6% and 6.7%, respectively, reflecting improvements from the two-, three-, and four-year rates. With the majority of the IDFS events being DRFS events, the DRFS benefit was also maintained with Verzenio reducing the risk of developing distant recurrence or death by 32.5% (HR=0.675, 95% CI: 0.588, 0.774; nominal p<0.001). In this five-year outcome analysis, the Kaplan-Meier curves continued to separate, confirming a sustained benefit beyond the two-year treatment period. IDFS and DRFS results for Cohort 1 were consistent with those for the ITT population. As reported previously, IDFS and DRFS benefit was seen across subgroups.

While overall survival (OS) data remain immature, fewer deaths were observed in the Verzenio arm (208 [7.4%] of 2,808 patients) compared to the control arm (234 [8.3%] of 2,829 patients) (HR=0.903, 95% CI: 0.749, 1.088; p = 0.284). Nearly twice as many patients receiving ET alone (n=269) developed and are living with metastatic disease compared to those receiving Verzenio (n=138).

There were no new safety findings, and overall results are consistent with the well-established safety profile for Verzenio. The most frequent adverse events (AEs) were diarrhea, neutropenia, and fatigue in the Verzenio-plus-ET arm, and arthralgia, hot flush, and fatigue in the ET-alone arm. The most common Grade 3-4 AEs were neutropenia, leucopenia, and diarrhea in the Verzenio arm and arthralgia, neutropenia, and ALT increased in the control arm.

Additionally, Lilly presented analyses showing that dose reductions did not compromise the efficacy of Verzenio in monarchE, which is consistent with published results of Verzenio in the metastatic setting. Dose reductions, when needed, can be an effective strategy in managing side effects and support the goal of maximizing treatment adherence for the two years of Verzenio treatment in high-risk early breast cancer.

"The mature recurrence efficacy benefit demonstrated in monarchE, achieved with a two-year treatment duration, reinforce Verzenio as the standard of care in this curative setting, where Verzenio is the only CDK4/6 inhibitor approved to treat people with HR+, HER2-, node-positive, high risk early breast cancer," said David Hyman, M.D., chief medical officer, Lilly. "Reaching the 5-year outcomes benchmark with adjuvant Verzenio should provide further confidence for those patients where treatment intensification is needed to help them achieve their goal of remaining cancer-free."

Updates from the Imlunestrant Clinical Development Program
In a separate mini oral presentation on Sunday, October 22, Lilly will share data from the Phase 1a/b EMBER study, evaluating imlunestrant – an investigational, oral selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) – as a monotherapy and in combination with everolimus or alpelisib for people with estrogen receptor positive (ER+), HER2- advanced breast cancer. These are the first clinical data on these combinations. Results demonstrated that single agent imlunestrant had a clinical benefit rate of 42% and this increased to 62% when given in combination with everolimus or alpelisib (both approved agents in the second-line setting). Side effects were mostly low grade for single agent imlunestrant, and the combination regimens had a similar side effect profile to everolimus or alpelisib given in combination with standard endocrine therapy.

About the monarchE Study
monarchE was a global, randomized, open-label, two cohort, multicenter Phase 3 clinical trial that enrolled 5,637 adults with HR+, HER2-, node-positive EBC at high risk of recurrence. The study enrolled patients across more than 600 sites in 38 countries and is the only adjuvant study designed to investigate a CDK4/6 inhibitor specifically in a node-positive, high risk EBC population. To be enrolled in Cohort 1 (n=5,120), which is the FDA-approved population, patients had to have 4+ positive nodes or 1-3 positive nodes and at least one of the following: tumors that were ≥5 cm or Grade 3. Patients enrolled in Cohort 2 could not have met the eligibility criteria for Cohort 1. To be enrolled in Cohort 2 (n=517), patients had to have 1-3 positive nodes and Ki-67 score ≥20%. Patients in each cohort were randomized 1:1 to receive either Verzenio 150 mg twice daily plus standard-of-care adjuvant ET (Cohort 1, n=2,555; Cohort 2, n=253) or standard-of-care adjuvant ET alone (Cohort 1, n=2,565; Cohort 2, n=264) for 2 years. ET continued for at least 5 years if deemed medically appropriate. The primary endpoint was IDFS. Consistent with expert guidelines, IDFS was defined as the length of time before breast cancer comes back, any new cancer develops, or death.

About Early Breast Cancer and Risk of Recurrence
It is estimated that 90% of all breast cancers are detected at an early stage.1 Approximately 70% of all breast cancer cases are the HR+, HER2- subtype.2 Although the prognosis for HR+, HER2- EBC is generally favorable, high risk patients are three times more likely than those with low risk characteristics to experience recurrence – with the majority being incurable metastatic disease.3 These patients have an increased risk of recurrence during the first two years of endocrine therapy.

Factors associated with high risk of recurrence in HR+, HER2- early breast cancer include: positive nodal status, the number of positive nodes, large tumor size (≥5 cm), and high tumor grade (Grade 3). Node-positive means that cancer cells from the tumor in the breast have been found in the lymph nodes near the breast. Although breast cancer is removed through surgery, the presence of cancer cells in the lymph nodes signifies that there is a higher chance of developing recurrence and distant metastatic disease.

About Breast Cancer
Breast cancer has surpassed lung cancer as the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide, according to GLOBOCAN. The estimated 2.3 million new cases indicate that 1 in every 8 cancers diagnosed in 2020 is breast cancer. With approximately 685,000 deaths in 2020, breast cancer is the fifth-leading cause of cancer death worldwide.4 In the U.S., it is estimated that there will be more than 300,000 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in 2023. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the U.S.5

About Verzenio (abemaciclib)
Verzenio (abemaciclib) is approved to treat people with certain HR+, HER2- breast cancers in the adjuvant and advanced or metastatic setting. Verzenio is the first and only CDK4/6 inhibitor approved to treat node-positive, high risk early breast cancer (EBC) patients.6 The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommends consideration of two years of abemaciclib (Verzenio) added to endocrine therapy as a Category 1 treatment option in the adjuvant setting.7 NCCN also includes Verzenio plus endocrine therapy as a preferred treatment option for metastatic breast cancer.7

The collective results of Lilly’s clinical development program continue to differentiate Verzenio as a CDK4/6 inhibitor. In high risk EBC, Verzenio has shown a persistent and deepening benefit beyond the two-year treatment period in the monarchE trial, the only adjuvant study designed to investigate a CDK4/6 inhibitor specifically in a node-positive, high risk EBC population.8 In metastatic breast cancer, Verzenio has demonstrated statistically significant overall survival in the Phase 3 MONARCH 2 study.9 Verzenio has shown a consistent and generally manageable safety profile across clinical trials. In addition to breast cancer, Lilly is studying Verzenio in different forms of difficult-to-treat prostate cancer.

Verzenio is an oral tablet taken twice daily and available in strengths of 50 mg, 100 mg, 150 mg, and 200 mg. Discovered and developed by Lilly researchers, Verzenio was first approved in 2017 and is currently authorized for use in more than 90 counties around the world. For full details on indicated uses of Verzenio in HR+, HER2- breast cancer, please see full Prescribing Information, available at www.Verzenio.com.

INDICATIONS FOR VERZENIO
VERZENIO is a kinase inhibitor indicated:

in combination with endocrine therapy (tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor) for the adjuvant treatment of adult patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative, node-positive, early breast cancer at high risk of recurrence.
in combination with an aromatase inhibitor as initial endocrine-based therapy for the treatment of adult patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer.
in combination with fulvestrant for the treatment of adult patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer with disease progression following endocrine therapy.
as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced or metastatic breast cancer with disease progression following endocrine therapy and prior chemotherapy in the metastatic setting.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FOR VERZENIO (abemaciclib)
Severe diarrhea associated with dehydration and infection occurred in patients treated with Verzenio. Across four clinical trials in 3691 patients, diarrhea occurred in 81 to 90% of patients who received Verzenio. Grade 3 diarrhea occurred in 8 to 20% of patients receiving Verzenio. Most patients experienced diarrhea during the first month of Verzenio treatment. The median time to onset of the first diarrhea event ranged from 6 to 8 days; and the median duration of Grade 2 and Grade 3 diarrhea ranged from 6 to 11 days and 5 to 8 days, respectively. Across trials, 19 to 26% of patients with diarrhea required a Verzenio dose interruption and 13 to 23% required a dose reduction.

Instruct patients to start antidiarrheal therapy, such as loperamide, at the first sign of loose stools, increase oral fluids, and notify their healthcare provider for further instructions and appropriate follow-up. For Grade 3 or 4 diarrhea, or diarrhea that requires hospitalization, discontinue Verzenio until toxicity resolves to ≤Grade 1, and then resume Verzenio at the next lower dose.

Neutropenia, including febrile neutropenia and fatal neutropenic sepsis, occurred in patients treated with Verzenio. Across four clinical trials in 3691 patients, neutropenia occurred in 37 to 46% of patients receiving Verzenio. A Grade ≥3 decrease in neutrophil count (based on laboratory findings) occurred in 19 to 32% of patients receiving Verzenio. Across trials, the median time to first episode of Grade ≥3 neutropenia ranged from 29 to 33 days, and the median duration of Grade ≥3 neutropenia ranged from 11 to 16 days. Febrile neutropenia has been reported in <1% of patients exposed to Verzenio across trials. Two deaths due to neutropenic sepsis were observed in MONARCH 2. Inform patients to promptly report any episodes of fever to their healthcare provider.

Monitor complete blood counts prior to the start of Verzenio therapy, every 2 weeks for the first 2 months, monthly for the next 2 months, and as clinically indicated. Dose interruption, dose reduction, or delay in starting treatment cycles is recommended for patients who develop Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia.

Severe, life-threatening, or fatal interstitial lung disease (ILD) or pneumonitis can occur in patients treated with Verzenio and other CDK4/6 inhibitors. In Verzenio-treated patients in EBC (monarchE), 3% of patients experienced ILD or pneumonitis of any grade: 0.4% were Grade 3 or 4 and there was one fatality (0.1%). In Verzenio-treated patients in MBC (MONARCH 1, MONARCH 2, MONARCH 3), 3.3% of Verzenio-treated patients had ILD or pneumonitis of any grade: 0.6% had Grade 3 or 4, and 0.4% had fatal outcomes. Additional cases of ILD or pneumonitis have been observed in the postmarketing setting, with fatalities reported.

Monitor patients for pulmonary symptoms indicative of ILD or pneumonitis. Symptoms may include hypoxia, cough, dyspnea, or interstitial infiltrates on radiologic exams. Infectious, neoplastic, and other causes for such symptoms should be excluded by means of appropriate investigations. Dose interruption or dose reduction is recommended in patients who develop persistent or recurrent Grade 2 ILD or pneumonitis. Permanently discontinue Verzenio in all patients with Grade 3 or 4 ILD or pneumonitis.

Grade ≥3 increases in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (2 to 6%) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (2 to 3%) were reported in patients receiving Verzenio. Across three clinical trials in 3559 patients (monarchE, MONARCH 2, MONARCH 3), the median time to onset of Grade ≥3 ALT increases ranged from 57 to 87 days and the median time to resolution to Grade <3 was 13 to 14 days. The median time to onset of Grade ≥3 AST increases ranged from 71 to 185 days and the median time to resolution to Grade <3 ranged from 11 to 15 days.

Monitor liver function tests (LFTs) prior to the start of Verzenio therapy, every 2 weeks for the first 2 months, monthly for the next 2 months, and as clinically indicated. Dose interruption, dose reduction, dose discontinuation, or delay in starting treatment cycles is recommended for patients who develop persistent or recurrent Grade 2, or any Grade 3 or 4 hepatic transaminase elevation.

Venous thromboembolic events (VTE) were reported in 2 to 5% of patients across three clinical trials in 3559 patients treated with Verzenio (monarchE, MONARCH 2, MONARCH 3). VTE included deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, pelvic venous thrombosis, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, subclavian and axillary vein thrombosis, and inferior vena cava thrombosis. In clinical trials, deaths due to VTE have been reported in patients treated with Verzenio.

Verzenio has not been studied in patients with early breast cancer who had a history of VTE. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism and treat as medically appropriate. Dose interruption is recommended for EBC patients with any grade VTE and for MBC patients with a Grade 3 or 4 VTE.

Verzenio can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman, based on findings from animal studies and the mechanism of action. In animal reproduction studies, administration of abemaciclib to pregnant rats during the period of organogenesis caused teratogenicity and decreased fetal weight at maternal exposures that were similar to the human clinical exposure based on area under the curve (AUC) at the maximum recommended human dose. Advise pregnant women of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with Verzenio and for 3 weeks after the last dose. Based on findings in animals, Verzenio may impair fertility in males of reproductive potential. There are no data on the presence of Verzenio in human milk or its effects on the breastfed child or on milk production. Advise lactating women not to breastfeed during Verzenio treatment and for at least 3 weeks after the last dose because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in breastfed infants.

The most common adverse reactions (all grades, ≥10%) observed in monarchE for Verzenio plus tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor vs tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor, with a difference between arms of ≥2%, were diarrhea (84% vs 9%), infections (51% vs 39%), neutropenia (46% vs 6%), fatigue (41% vs 18%), leukopenia (38% vs 7%), nausea (30% vs 9%), anemia (24% vs 4%), headache (20% vs 15%), vomiting (18% vs 4.6%), stomatitis (14% vs 5%), lymphopenia (14% vs 3%), thrombocytopenia (13% vs 2%), decreased appetite (12% vs 2.4%), ALT increased (12% vs 6%), AST increased (12% vs 5%), dizziness (11% vs 7%), rash (11% vs 4.5%), and alopecia (11% vs 2.7 %).

The most frequently reported ≥5% Grade 3 or 4 adverse reaction that occurred in the Verzenio arm vs the tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor arm of monarchE were neutropenia (19.6% vs 1%), leukopenia (11% vs <1%), diarrhea (8% vs 0.2%), and lymphopenia (5% vs <1%).

Lab abnormalities (all grades; Grade 3 or 4) for monarchE in ≥10% for Verzenio plus tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor with a difference between arms of ≥2% were increased serum creatinine (99% vs 91%; .5% vs <.1%), decreased white blood cells (89% vs 28%; 19.1% vs 1.1%), decreased neutrophil count (84% vs 23%; 18.7% vs 1.9%), anemia (68% vs 17%; 1% vs .1%), decreased lymphocyte count (59% vs 24%; 13.2 % vs 2.5%), decreased platelet count (37% vs 10%; .9% vs .2%), increased ALT (37% vs 24%; 2.6% vs 1.2%), increased AST (31% vs 18%; 1.6% vs .9%), and hypokalemia (11% vs 3.8%; 1.3% vs 0.2%).

The most common adverse reactions (all grades, ≥10%) observed in MONARCH 3 for Verzenio plus anastrozole or letrozole vs anastrozole or letrozole, with a difference between arms of ≥2%, were diarrhea (81% vs 30%), fatigue (40% vs 32%), neutropenia (41% vs 2%), infections (39% vs 29%), nausea (39% vs 20%), abdominal pain (29% vs 12%), vomiting (28% vs 12%), anemia (28% vs 5%), alopecia (27% vs 11%), decreased appetite (24% vs 9%), leukopenia (21% vs 2%), creatinine increased (19% vs 4%), constipation (16% vs 12%), ALT increased (16% vs 7%), AST increased (15% vs 7%), rash (14% vs 5%), pruritus (13% vs 9%), cough (13% vs 9%), dyspnea (12% vs 6%), dizziness (11% vs 9%), weight decreased (10% vs 3.1%), influenza-like illness (10% vs 8%), and thrombocytopenia (10% vs 2%).

The most frequently reported ≥5% Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions that occurred in the Verzenio arm vs the placebo arm of MONARCH 3 were neutropenia (22% vs 1%), diarrhea (9% vs 1.2%), leukopenia (7% vs <1%)), increased ALT (6% vs 2%), and anemia (6% vs 1%).

Lab abnormalities (all grades; Grade 3 or 4) for MONARCH 3 in ≥10% for Verzenio plus anastrozole or letrozole with a difference between arms of ≥2% were increased serum creatinine (98% vs 84%; 2.2% vs 0%), decreased white blood cells (82% vs 27%; 13% vs 0.6%), anemia (82% vs 28%; 1.6% vs 0%), decreased neutrophil count (80% vs 21%; 21.9% vs 2.6%), decreased lymphocyte count (53% vs 26%; 7.6% vs 1.9%), decreased platelet count (36% vs 12%; 1.9% vs 0.6%), increased ALT (48% vs 25%; 6.6% vs 1.9%), and increased AST (37% vs 23%; 3.8% vs 0.6%).

The most common adverse reactions (all grades, ≥10%) observed in MONARCH 2 for Verzenio plus fulvestrant vs fulvestrant, with a difference between arms of ≥2%, were diarrhea (86% vs 25%), neutropenia (46% vs 4%), fatigue (46% vs 32%), nausea (45% vs 23%), infections (43% vs 25%), abdominal pain (35% vs 16%), anemia (29% vs 4%), leukopenia (28% vs 2%), decreased appetite (27% vs 12%), vomiting (26% vs 10%), headache (20% vs 15%), dysgeusia (18% vs 2.7%), thrombocytopenia (16% vs 3%), alopecia (16% vs 1.8%), stomatitis (15% vs 10%), ALT increased (13% vs 5%), pruritus (13% vs 6%), cough (13% vs 11%), dizziness (12% vs 6%), AST increased (12% vs 7%), peripheral edema (12% vs 7%), creatinine increased (12% vs <1%), rash (11% vs 4.5%), pyrexia (11% vs 6%), and weight decreased (10% vs 2.2%).

The most frequently reported ≥5% Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions that occurred in the Verzenio arm vs the placebo arm of MONARCH 2 were neutropenia (25% vs 1%), diarrhea (13% vs 0.4%), leukopenia (9% vs 0%), anemia (7% vs 1%), and infections (5.7% vs 3.5%).

Lab abnormalities (all grades; Grade 3 or 4) for MONARCH 2 in ≥10% for Verzenio plus fulvestrant with a difference between arms of ≥2% were increased serum creatinine (98% vs 74%; 1.2% vs 0%), decreased white blood cells (90% vs 33%; 23.7% vs .9%), decreased neutrophil count (87% vs 30%; 32.5% vs 4.2%), anemia (84% vs 34%; 2.6% vs .5%), decreased lymphocyte count (63% vs 32%; 12.2% vs 1.8%), decreased platelet count (53% vs 15%; 2.1% vs 0%), increased ALT (41% vs 32%; 4.6% vs 1.4%), and increased AST (37% vs 25%; 3.9% vs 4.2%).

The most common adverse reactions (all grades, ≥10%) observed in MONARCH 1 with Verzenio were diarrhea (90%), fatigue (65%), nausea (64%), decreased appetite (45%), abdominal pain (39%), neutropenia (37%), vomiting (35%), infections (31%), anemia (25%), thrombocytopenia (20%), headache (20%), cough (19%), constipation (17%), leukopenia (17%), arthralgia (15%), dry mouth (14%), weight decreased (14%), stomatitis (14%), creatinine increased (13%), alopecia (12%), dysgeusia (12%), pyrexia (11%), dizziness (11%), and dehydration (10%).

The most frequently reported ≥5% Grade 3 or 4 adverse reactions from MONARCH 1 with Verzenio were diarrhea (20%), neutropenia (24%), fatigue (13%), and leukopenia (5%).

Lab abnormalities (all grades; Grade 3 or 4) for MONARCH 1 with Verzenio were increased serum creatinine (99%; .8%), decreased white blood cells (91%; 28%), decreased neutrophil count (88%; 26.6%), anemia (69%; 0%), decreased lymphocyte count (42%; 13.8%), decreased platelet count (41%; 2.3%), increased ALT (31%; 3.1%), and increased AST (30%; 3.8%).

Strong and moderate CYP3A inhibitors increased the exposure of abemaciclib plus its active metabolites to a clinically meaningful extent and may lead to increased toxicity. Avoid concomitant use of ketoconazole. Ketoconazole is predicted to increase the AUC of abemaciclib by up to 16-fold. In patients with recommended starting doses of 200 mg twice daily or 150 mg twice daily, reduce the Verzenio dose to 100 mg twice daily with concomitant use of strong CYP3A inhibitors other than ketoconazole. In patients who have had a dose reduction to 100 mg twice daily due to adverse reactions, further reduce the Verzenio dose to 50 mg twice daily with concomitant use of strong CYP3A inhibitors. If a patient taking Verzenio discontinues a strong CYP3A inhibitor, increase the Verzenio dose (after 3 to 5 half-lives of the inhibitor) to the dose that was used before starting the inhibitor. With concomitant use of moderate CYP3A inhibitors, monitor for adverse reactions and consider reducing the Verzenio dose in 50 mg decrements. Patients should avoid grapefruit products.

Avoid concomitant use of strong or moderate CYP3A inducers and consider alternative agents. Coadministration of strong or moderate CYP3A inducers decreased the plasma concentrations of abemaciclib plus its active metabolites and may lead to reduced activity.

With severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C), reduce the Verzenio dosing frequency to once daily. The pharmacokinetics of Verzenio in patients with severe renal impairment (CLcr <30 mL/min), end stage renal disease, or in patients on dialysis is unknown. No dosage adjustments are necessary in patients with mild or moderate hepatic (Child-Pugh A or B) and/or renal impairment (CLcr ≥30-89 mL/min).

Please see full Prescribing Information and Patient Information for Verzenio.

About Imlunestrant
Imlunestrant (LY3484356) is an investigational, next-generation oral selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD) designed to deliver continuous ER target inhibition, including ESR1-mutant breast cancer. The estrogen receptor (ER) is the key therapeutic target for patients with ER+, HER2- breast cancer. Novel degraders of ER may overcome endocrine therapy resistance while providing consistent oral pharmacology and convenience of administration. Imlunestrant was specifically designed to deliver continuous estrogen receptor target inhibition throughout the dosing period and regardless of ESR1 mutational status. Imlunestrant is currently being studied in several clinical studies.

Lilly Confirms Date and Conference Call for Third-Quarter 2023 Financial Results Announcement

On October 20, 2023 Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) reported that it will announce its third-quarter 2023 financial results on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. Lilly will also conduct a conference call that day with the investment community and media to further detail the company’s financial performance (Press release, Eli Lilly, OCT 20, 2023, View Source [SID1234636174]).

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The conference call will begin at 9 a.m. Eastern time. Investors, media and the general public can access a live webcast of the conference call through a link that will be posted on Lilly’s website at View Source A replay will also be available on the website following the conference call.

Chugai’s Alecensa Reduces the Risk of Disease Recurrence or Death by 76% in People with ALK-Positive Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

On October 20, 2023 Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (TOKYO: 4519) reported results from the primary analysis of the Phase III ALINA study of anti-cancer agent/ALK inhibitor Alecensa (alectinib), demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in disease-free survival (DFS; primary endpoint) (Press release, Chugai, OCT 20, 2023, View Source [SID1234636173]).

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The study results showed that Alecensa reduces the risk of disease recurrence or death by 76% (hazard ratio [HR]=0.24, 95% CI: 0.13-0.43, p<0.0001) compared with platinum-based chemotherapy in people with completely resected stage IB (tumour ≥4cm) to IIIA (UICC/AJCC 7th edition) anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).3 A clinically meaningful improvement of central nervous system (CNS)-DFS was also observed (HR=0.22; 95% CI: 0.08-0.58).3 The safety and tolerability of Alecensa in this trial were consistent with previous trials in the metastatic setting and no unexpected safety findings were observed.3 Overall survival data were immature at the time of this analysis and follow-up is ongoing.3

The full results of ALINA are being presented as a late-breaking oral at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress 2023 Presidential Symposium on Saturday 21 October 2023. These data will be submitted to global health authorities, including Japan, Europe, and the U.S.

"We are delighted that new data of Alecensa, a Chugai originated drug, was announced as the first ALK inhibitor to demonstrate a significant reduction in the risk of recurrence or death in early stage ALK-positive NSCLC in a Phase III study." said Dr. Osamu Okuda, Chugai’s President and CEO. "There is a significant need for adjuvant therapy to potentially cure early-stage NSCLC, which recurs in about half of patients. We are committed to collaborate with Roche towards submitting this data, which demonstrated Alecensa’s potential to become a new treatment option, to regulatory authorities around the world so that this drug can be delivered to patients as soon as possible."

Delaying disease progression is of particular importance for people with ALK-positive NSCLC, who are generally younger – usually around 55 – and are at higher risk of developing brain metastases than those with other types of NSCLC.4 Once the disease returns it often spreads to other parts of the body, at which point it is usually considered incurable.2,5 Comprehensive biomarker testing plays an important role in identifying the right treatment for each patient based on their genetic mutation.

Results from the primary analysis of the ALINA study showed that median DFS was not yet reached for Alecensa compared with 41.3 months for chemotherapy (95% CI: 28.5, not evaluable [NE]) in patients with stage IB (tumour ≥4cm) to IIIA disease.3 Grade 3 or 4 adverse events (AEs) occurred in 30% of people receiving Alecensa, compared with 31% of those receiving chemotherapy.3 No Grade 5 events were observed in either treatment arm.3 For those receiving Alecensa, 5.5% of patients discontinued treatment due to AEs versus 12.5% in the chemotherapy arm.3

About the ALINA study
The ALINA study [NCT03456076] is a Phase III, randomised, active-controlled, multicentre, open-label study evaluating the efficacy and safety of adjuvant Alecensa (alectinib) compared with platinum-based chemotherapy in people with completely resected stage IB (tumour ≥4cm) to IIIA (UICC/AJCC 7th edition) anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive NSCLC. The study includes 257 patients who were randomly assigned to either the investigational or control treatment arm. The primary endpoint is disease-free survival. Secondary outcome measures include overall survival and percentage of patients with adverse events.

About Alecensa
Alecensa is a highly selective, central nervous system-active, oral medicine created at Chugai, a member of the Roche Group, Kamakura Research Laboratories for people with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumours are identified as anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) positive. Alecensa is already approved in over 100 countries as an initial (first-line) and second-line treatment for ALK-positive, metastatic NSCLC, including in the United States, Europe, Japan and China. In Japan, Alecensa has also been approved for the treatment of recurrent or refractory ALK fusion gene-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma.

About lung cancer
Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death globally.6 Each year 1.8 million people die as a result of the disease; this translates into more than 4,900 deaths worldwide every day.6 Lung cancer can be broadly divided into two major types: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). NSCLC is the most prevalent type, accounting for around 85% of all cases.7 Today, about half of all people with early lung cancer (45-76%, depending on disease stage) still experience a cancer recurrence following surgery, despite adjuvant chemotherapy.1 Treating lung cancer early, before it has spread, may help prevent the disease from returning and provide people with the best opportunity for a cure.

BioCryst to Host R&D Day on November 3

On October 20, 2023 BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: BCRX) reported that the company will host an R&D Day at 1:00 p.m. ET on Friday, November 3, 2023, where the company plans to describe its drug discovery process and introduce additional therapies from its pipeline (Press release, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, OCT 20, 2023, View Source [SID1234636172]).

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The R&D Day will take place at the company’s Discovery Center of Excellence in Birmingham, Alabama. Seating for the event in Birmingham is limited to invited guests who have confirmed their attendance.

The event also will be webcast live. The live webcast and replay of the R&D Day will be available online in the investors section of the company website at www.biocryst.com.

AMGEN PRESENTS NEW TARLATAMAB DATA IN SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER

On October 20, 2023 Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) reported results from the global Phase 2 DeLLphi-301 study, evaluating tarlatamab, an investigational delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3) targeting BiTE (bispecific T-cell engager) molecule, in patients with advanced stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) who had failed two or more prior lines of treatment (Press release, Amgen, OCT 20, 2023, View Source [SID1234636170]). The data are being presented today at 3:20 PM CEST at a Proffered Paper session as a late-breaking oral presentation (LBA92) during the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress 2023 in Madrid, Spain, with publication in the New England Journal of Medicine.

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With a median follow-up of 10.6 months, an intention-to-treat analysis that included 100 patients at the selected 10 mg dose for tarlatamab demonstrated an objective response rate (ORR; primary endpoint) of 40% (97.5% Confidence Interval (CI): 29, 52). For key secondary endpoints, median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 4.9 months (95% CI: 2.9, 6.7) and median overall survival (mOS) was 14.3 months (95% CI: 10.8, NE). Median response duration was not reached. Of the patients who responded to treatment with tarlatamab at 10 mg dose, 58% experienced at least six months of response and 55% of responses were ongoing at data cutoff.

"Small cell lung cancer has represented one of the greatest challenges in cancer treatment, where there has been little progress against this deadly tumor type in decades," said David M. Reese, M.D., executive vice president of Research and Development at Amgen. "The tarlatamab results show the potential for this BiTE molecule in a common solid tumor. We look forward to discussing these potentially registrational data with regulatory authorities."

There were no new safety signals observed compared to Phase 1 study. Discontinuations due to treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were infrequent (4%). The most common treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) reported among patients in the tarlatamab 10 mg group, were cytokine release syndrome (CRS; 49%), pyrexia (38%), decreased appetite (25%) and dysgeusia (24%). CRS was largely confined to the first and second dose, predominantly grade 1 or 2 and were generally managed with supportive care. At the tarlatamab 10 mg dose, grade 3 CRS was low (0%) and grade 3 immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) and associated neurologic events were not observed (0%). There were no reported grade 4 or 5 cases for either of these two adverse events.

"In the current third-line treatment of SCLC, patients face a dire prognosis, with response rates ranging between 14 and 21 percent and median overall survival less than six months," said Luis Paz-Ares, M.D., Ph.D., chairman, Medical Oncology Department, Hospital Doce de Octubre; Head, Lung Cancer Unit, National Oncology Research Center (CNIO); associate professor, Universidad Complutense.

About Tarlatamab
Tarlatamab is an investigational, targeted immunotherapy engineered by Amgen researchers that brings a patient’s own T cells in close proximity to SCLC cells by binding both CD3 on T cells and DLL3 on SCLC cells. This results in the formation of an immunological synapse with lysis of the cancer cell.1,2 DLL3 represents an exciting therapeutic target for patients with SCLC, as approximately 85% to 94% of patients have expression of DLL3 on the cell surface of SCLC cells, with minimal expression in normal cells.3,4,5

In a Phase 1 study, tarlatamab showed responses in 23.0% of patients with encouraging durability in heavily pre-treated patients with SCLC.

Amgen is currently investigating tarlatamab in multiple trials, including DeLLphi-304, a Phase 3 study comparing tarlatamab versus standard of care chemotherapy in second-line treatment of SCLC that is enrolling patients. Amgen has plans to initiate two additional Phase 3 studies of tarlatamab in earlier settings of SCLC.

About Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)
SCLC is one of the most aggressive and devastating solid tumors with a median survival of approximately 12 months following initial therapy and a 7% five-year relative survival rate across all stages 6,7,8 Of the 2.2M+ patients diagnosed with lung cancer worldwide each year, SCLC comprises 15% of cases.9,10

Despite initial high response rates to platinum-based first-line chemotherapy, patients quickly develop resistance to second-line and subsequent therapies and face a median time of survival of 10 to 12 months after diagnosis.11 Furthermore, there are currently no approved therapeutic options in the third-line treatment of SCLC.

About Tarlatamab Clinical Trials
Amgen’s robust tarlatamab development program includes the DeLLphi clinical trials, which evaluate tarlatamab as a monotherapy and as part of combination regimens in earlier stages of SCLC.

Tarlatamab is being investigated in multiple studies, including DeLLphi-301, a potentially registrational Phase 2 study to evaluate the efficacy, safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of tarlatamab in third-line or later relapsed/refractory SCLC.

Additional clinical studies underway include DeLLphi-302, a Phase 1b combination study evaluating tarlatamab in combination with an anti-PD-1 therapy in second-line or later SCLC; DeLLphi-303, a Phase 1b study investigating tarlatamab in combination with standard of care therapies in first-line SCLC; and DeLLphi-304, a randomized Phase 3 trial comparing tarlatamab monotherapy with standard of care therapy in patients with SCLC who have relapsed following first-line platinum-based chemotherapy.12 Amgen also plans to initiate two additional Phase 3 studies of tarlatamab in earlier settings of SCLC.

For more information, please visit www.tarlatamabclinicaltrials.com.

About BiTE Technology
BiTE (bispecific T-cell engager) technology is a targeted immuno-oncology platform that is designed to engage patient’s own T cells to any tumor-specific antigen, activating the cytotoxic potential of T cells to eliminate detectable cancer. The BiTE immuno-oncology platform has the potential to treat different tumor types through tumor-specific antigens. The BiTE platform has a goal of leading to off-the-shelf solutions, which have the potential to make innovative T cell treatment available to all providers when their patients need it. Amgen is advancing more than a dozen BiTE molecules across a broad range of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors, further investigating BiTE technology with the goal of enhancing patient experience and therapeutic potential. To learn more about BiTE technology, visit View Source