On November 28, 2016 Curis, Inc. (Nasdaq:CRIS), a biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative and effective drug candidates for the treatment of cancer, reported that the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has granted full approval to Erivedge (vismodegib) for the treatment of adult patients with symptomatic metastatic basal cell carcinoma (BCC) or locally advanced BCC inappropriate for surgery or radiotherapy (Press release, Curis, NOV 28, 2016, View Source [SID1234516815]). Erivedge is also approved in the U.S. for the treatment of adults with metastatic basal cell carcinoma, or with locally advanced basal cell carcinoma that has recurred following surgery or who are not candidates for surgery, and who are not candidates for radiation. Erivedge was developed and is marketed by Roche and Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, under a collaboration agreement between Curis and Genentech. Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo! Erivedge was originally granted ‘conditional approval’ in July, 2013 in the European Union (EU) and the authorization has now been converted from ‘conditional’ to ‘full approval’ based on the results from the STEVIE study that included 1215 patients with advanced BCC. STEVIE (MO25616) is a single-arm, open-label, Phase II, multicenter study that was conducted by Roche to assess the safety of vismodegib in patients with locally advanced and metastatic BCC. The safety and efficacy results of the STEVIE trial were consistent with the results of the pivotal study ERIVANCE BCC (SHH4476g) that supported the initial conditional approval of the drug in the EU.
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About Basal Cell Carcinoma and the Hedgehog Pathway
According to the American Cancer Society, BCC accounts for approximately 80 percent of all diagnosed skin cancers. The disease is generally considered curable if the cancer is restricted to a small area of the skin. However, in a small group of people, if the disease is left untreated or recurs in the same location after surgery or radiotherapy, it may become locally advanced and invade further into surrounding areas such as sensory organs (ears, nose and eyes), bone, or other tissues. Depending on the location of the lesion, some cases of advanced BCC can be disfiguring, and treatment with surgery or radiation can lead to the loss of sensory organs and their functions such as eyesight or hearing. In a small proportion of patients, BCC can metastasize, spreading to other parts of the body. Abnormal signaling in the Hedgehog pathway is implicated in more than 90 percent of BCC cases.
About Erivedge
Erivedge is designed to selectively inhibit signaling in the Hedgehog pathway by binding to a protein called Smoothened. The Hedgehog signaling pathway plays an important role in regulating proper growth and development in the early stages of life and normally becomes less active in adults. The Hedgehog signaling pathway is implicated in the development of certain types of cancer, including BCC.
In January 2012, Erivedge became the first licensed medicine for patients with advanced basal cell carcinoma when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it under the priority review program that provides for an expedited six-month review of drugs that offer major advances in treatment. Erivedge is approved in the U.S. for the treatment of adults with metastatic basal cell carcinoma, or with locally advanced basal cell carcinoma that has recurred following surgery or who are not candidates for surgery, and who are not candidates for radiation. Erivedge is currently approved and marketed in multiple countries worldwide.
Erivedge is currently in development by Roche and Genentech in other diseases including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and myelofibrosis.
About the Curis-Genentech Collaboration
Under the ongoing collaboration agreement between Genentech, a wholly owned member of the Roche Group, and Curis, Erivedge (vismodegib, GDC-0449, RG3616) was discovered by Genentech and was jointly validated by the parties through a series of preclinical studies. Pursuant to this collaboration, Genentech and Roche are responsible for clinical development, and Genentech (U.S.), Roche (Ex-U.S. excluding Japan) and Chugai Pharmaceuticals (Japan) are responsible for commercialization of Erivedge. Curis receives royalties on sales of Erivedge by Genentech/Roche.