Daiichi Sankyo Presents Updated Phase 1 Data for U3-1402 in Patients with HER3-Expressing Metastatic Breast Cancer at 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS)

On December 5, 2018 Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited (hereafter, Daiichi Sankyo) reported that updated efficacy and safety results from the ongoing phase 1/2 study of U3-1402, an investigational and potential first-in-class HER3-targeting antibody drug conjugate (ADC), in 42 heavily pretreated patients with HER3-positive metastatic breast cancer were presented during a Spotlight Session at the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) (Press release, Daiichi Sankyo, DEC 5, 2018, View Source [SID1234531918]).

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Updated efficacy data for 42 evaluable patients who received U3-1402 in dose levels between 1.6 mg/kg to 8.0 mg/kg in the dose escalation and dose finding parts of the study showed a confirmed overall response rate of 42.9 percent (18/42 patients) and a disease control rate of 90.5 percent (38/42 patients) at a median follow-up time of 10.5 months. A median duration of response was not reached (range: 2.8, 13.8+). The median progression-free survival was 8.3 months (range: 1.2, 16.8+). Efficacy was observed in all molecular subtypes. A total of 21 patients remain on treatment at the time of data cut-off on November 6, 2018.

"These results offer preliminary evidence of U3-1402 activity in HER3-positive metastatic breast cancer and further study is warranted," said Norikazu Masuda, MD, PhD, National Hospital Organization, Osaka National Hospital, Osaka, Japan, and an investigator for the trial. "The initial efficacy and safety data suggest that a HER3-targeting agent such as U3-1402 could provide a new treatment approach for patients with HER3-expressing metastatic breast cancer, who are in need of additional options to manage their disease."

Updated safety results were also reported. With a median exposure to treatment of 7.6 months, U3-1402 showed a manageable safety profile. The most common adverse events (≥30 percent, any grade) included nausea (85.7 percent), thrombocytopenia (71.4 percent), decreased appetite (66.7 percent), neutropenia (64.3 percent), leukopenia (59.5 percent), vomiting (54.8 percent), AST increased (47.6 percent), ALT increased (45.2 percent), anemia (38.1 percent), stomatitis (35.7 percent) and diarrhea (31.0 percent). The most common adverse events Grade ≥3 (>10 percent of patients) were thrombocytopenia (35.7 percent), neutropenia (28.6 percent), leukopenia (21.4 percent), anemia (16.7 percent) and ALT increased (11.9 percent). Fourteen (14) patients (33.3 percent) experienced serious adverse events regardless of causality, and seven (7) patients (16.7 percent) experienced serious adverse events that were treatment-related. One (1) patient experienced an adverse event leading to treatment discontinuation (2.4 percent), and there were no adverse events leading to death.

"We are encouraged by these preliminary findings with U3-1402, particularly because there are no therapies specifically approved for HER3-expressing breast cancer," said Kouichi Akahane, PhD, MBA, Executive Officer, Head of Oncology Function, R&D Division, Daiichi Sankyo. "Additionally, these findings continue to build evidence that supports the portability of Daiichi Sankyo’s proprietary DXd and linker ADC technology to other targets such as HER3."

About the Phase 1 Study

In this three-part open-label global phase 1/2 study, U3-1402 is given as an intravenous infusion every three weeks. The first part of the study (dose escalation) assessed the safety, tolerability and maximum tolerated dose of U3-1402 in HER3-positive (defined as IHC [immunohistochemistry] 2+/3+) metastatic breast cancer patients who are refractory or intolerant to standard treatment or for whom no standard treatment is available. A maximum tolerated dose has not been reached. Based on preliminary results, dose levels of 4.8 mg/kg and 6.4 mg/kg are being further evaluated. The second part of the study (dose finding) is assessing the safety and efficacy of U3-1402 and determining the recommended phase 2 dose in HER3-positive metastatic breast cancer patients who have received six or fewer prior chemotherapy regimens. The third part of the study (phase 2) is assessing the safety and efficacy of the recommended dose of U3-1402 in HER3-positive metastatic breast cancer patients who have received six or fewer prior chemotherapy regimens. The study is currently enrolling patients in Japan and the U.S. For more information about this study, please visit ClinicalTrials.gov.

About HER3-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer

HER3 is a member of the human epidermal growth factor receptor family of tyrosine kinase receptors, which are associated with aberrant cell growth.¹ HER3 is overexpressed in several types of solid tumors including breast cancer.² HER3 overexpression has been independently associated with a poorer prognosis and reduced survival for patients with invasive breast cancer.¹ A wide range of incidence of HER3 overexpression has been reported in breast cancer, depending on the screening method and published series.¹ There are currently no targeted therapies approved specifically for HER3-expressing breast cancer or any HER3-expressing cancer.

About U3-1402

Part of the investigational ADC Franchise of the Daiichi Sankyo Cancer Enterprise, U3-1402 is an investigational and potential first-in-class HER3-targeting ADC. ADCs are targeted cancer medicines that deliver cytotoxic chemotherapy ("payload") to cancer cells via a linker attached to a monoclonal antibody that binds to a specific target expressed on cancer cells. Designed using Daiichi Sankyo’s proprietary ADC technology, U3-1402 is comprised of a human anti-HER3 antibody attached to a novel topoisomerase I inhibitor payload by a tetrapeptide-based linker. It is designed to target and deliver chemotherapy inside cancer cells and reduce systemic exposure to the cytotoxic payload (or chemotherapy) compared to the way chemotherapy is commonly delivered.

U3-1402 is currently being evaluated in two clinical studies, including the phase 1/2 study for HER3-expressing metastatic or unresectable breast cancer in Japan and the U.S., and a phase 1 study for metastatic or unresectable EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the U.S.

U3-1402 is an investigational agent that has not been approved for any indication in any country. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

FDA grants priority review to Roche’s Tecentriq in combination with chemotherapy for the initial treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer

On December 5, 2018 Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) reported that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the company’s supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) and granted Priority Review for Tecentriq (atezolizumab), in combination with carboplatin and etoposide (chemotherapy), for the initial (first-line) treatment of people with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES – SCLC) (Press release, Hoffmann-La Roche, DEC 5, 2018, View Source [SID1234531901]). The FDA is expected to make a decision on approval by 18 March 2019. A Priority Review designation is granted to medicines that the FDA has determined to have the potential to provide significant improvements in the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of a serious disease.

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"It’s been more than 20 years since there has been a new initial treatment option for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer that delivers a clinically meaningful survival benefit," said Sandra Horning, MD, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. "We are working closely with the FDA to bring this Tecentriq-based regimen to people with this difficult-to-treat type of lung cancer as soon as possible."

This sBLA is based on results from the Phase III IMpower133 study, which met its co-primary endpoints of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in the initial treatment of people with ES-SCLC. The safety profile of the combination was consistent with the safety profiles of the individual medicines, and no new safety signals were identified.

Tecentriq is currently approved by the FDA to treat people with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy, and have progressed on an appropriate FDA-approved targeted therapy if their tumour has ALK or EGFR gene abnormalities.

About the IMpower133 study
IMpower133 is a Phase III, multicentre, double-blinded, randomised placebo-controlled study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Tecentriq in combination with carboplatin and etoposide versus chemotherapy (carboplatin plus etoposide) alone in chemotherapy-naïve people with ES-SCLC. The study enrolled 403 people who were randomised equally (1:1) to receive:

Tecentriq in combination with carboplatin and etoposide (Arm A), or
Placebo in combination with carboplatin and etoposide (Arm B, control arm)
During the treatment-induction phase, people received treatment on 21-day cycles for four cycles, followed by maintenance with Tecentriq or placebo until progressive disease (PD) as assessed by the investigator using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours Version 1.1 (RECIST v1.1). Treatment could be continued until persistent radiographic PD or symptomatic deterioration was observed.

The co-primary endpoints were:

PFS as determined by the investigator using RECIST v1.1 in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population
OS in the ITT population
IMpower133 met its OS and PFS co-primary endpoints as per the study protocol. The analysis showed that Tecentriq and chemotherapy helped people live significantly longer, compared with chemotherapy alone (OS=12.3 versus 10.3 months; hazard ratio [HR]=0.70; 95% CI: 0.54–0.91; p=0.0069) in the ITT population. [1] The 1-year OS rate for people who received the Tecentriq-based combination was 51.7%, compared with 38.2% for people who received chemotherapy alone. The Tecentriq-based combination also significantly reduced the risk of disease worsening or death (PFS) compared with chemotherapy alone (PFS=5.2 versus 4.3 months; HR=0.77; 95% CI: 0.62–0.96; p=0.017).[1] The 1-year PFS rate for people who received the Tecentriq-based combination was 12.6%, compared with 5.4% for people who received chemotherapy alone. Safety for the Tecentriq and chemotherapy combination appeared to be consistent with the known safety profile of the individual medicines, and no new safety signals were identified with the combination.

Grade 3–4 treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were reported in 56.6% of people receiving Tecentriq plus chemotherapy, compared with 56.1% of people receiving chemotherapy alone. [1]

About SCLC
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death globally.[2] Each year 1.76 million people die as a result of the disease; this translates into more than 4,800 deaths worldwide every day. [2] Lung cancer can be broadly divided into two major types: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and SCLC, with SCLC accounting for approximately 15% of all lung cancer cases. [3] Survival rates for people with SCLC vary depending on the stage (extent) of the cancer at the time of diagnosis. [4] The five-year relative survival rate for people with stage I SCLC is approximately 31%; however, at stage IV, the five-year relative survival rate declines to approximately 2%.[5]

About Tecentriq
Tecentriq is a monoclonal antibody designed to bind with a protein called PD-L1 expressed on tumour cells and tumour-infiltrating immune cells, blocking its interactions with both PD-1 and B7.1 receptors. By inhibiting PD-L1, Tecentriq may enable the activation of T cells. Tecentriq has the potential to be used as a foundational combination partner with cancer immunotherapies, targeted medicines and various chemotherapies across a broad range of cancers.

Currently, Roche has nine Phase III lung cancer studies underway, evaluating Tecentriq alone or in combination with other medicines.

Tecentriq is already approved in the European Union, United States and more than 80 countries for people with previously treated metastatic NSCLC and for certain types of untreated or previously treated metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC).

ADC Therapeutics Presents Updated Data from Clinical Trials of Novel Antibody Drug Conjugates

On December 5, 2018 ADC Therapeutics, an oncology drug discovery and development company that specializes in the development of proprietary antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), reported that updated data from ongoing Phase I clinical trials of ADCT-402 (loncastuximab tesirine) and ADCT-301 (camidanlumab tesirine) in multiple subtypes of lymphoma during oral and poster presentations at the 60th American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in San Diego (Press release, ADC Therapeutics, DEC 5, 2018, View Source [SID1234596070]).

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"We are encouraged by the safety profiles and strong single-agent anti-tumor activity we continue to observe in the 183-patient first-in-human clinical trial of ADCT-402 and the 113-patient trial of ADCT-301," said Jay Feingold, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Clinical Development at ADC Therapeutics. "The updated ADCT-402 data presented at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper) support its continued evaluation in our ongoing pivotal clinical trial in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. For ADCT-301, we now have the dosing data to support further investigation in a planned pivotal Phase II trial in patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma, which we look forward to initiating in 2019."

ADCT-402 Oral and Poster Presentations at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper)

Interim Results from the First-in-Human Clinical Trial of ADCT-402 (Loncastuximab Tesirine), a Novel Pyrrolobenzodiazepine-Based Antibody Drug Conjugate, in Relapsed/Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (Abstract 398)

Oral presentation: John Radford, MD, FRCP, Manchester Academic Health Centre, The University of Manchester and The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK

Data were presented from a subpopulation of 139 evaluable patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who had failed or were intolerant to established therapies. The patients had a median age of 63 years and had received a median of three previous therapies. Patients received doses of ADCT-402 ranging from 15 to 200 μg/kg every three weeks. The median number of cycles received was two and the median duration of treatment was 43 days.

Key findings from the oral presentation include:

ADCT-402 has demonstrated manageable toxicity in patients with R/R DLBCL
At doses >120 μg/kg, the overall response rate (ORR) was 43.3% (55/127 patients with DLBCL), comprising 23.6% complete responses and 19.7% partial responses
At doses >120 μg/kg, after a median follow up of 5.5 months, median duration of response (DoR) was not reached in patients achieving a complete response
A pivotal Phase II study is currently enrolling patients with R/R DLBCL to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ADCT-402 at dose 150 μg/kg every three weeks for two cycles followed by dose 75 μg/kg every three weeks (NCT03589469).

Safety and Efficacy of ADCT-402 (Loncastuximab Tesirine), a Novel Antibody Drug Conjugate, in Relapsed/Refractory Follicular Lymphoma and Mantle Cell Lymphoma: Interim Results from the Phase I First-in-Human Study (Abstract 2874)

Poster presentation: Paolo Caimi, MD, Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, OH

Data were presented from a subgroup of 29 patients, including 14 patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) and 15 patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). The median age of the FL patients was 60.5 years and the median age of the MCL patients was 64 years. Patients received infusions every three weeks at doses ranging from 15 to 200 μg/kg. Patients with FL and MCL received a median of three and two cycles of ADCT-402, respectively.

Key findings from the poster presentation include:

ADCT-402 has demonstrated manageable toxicity in patients with R/R FL and R/R MCL
In patients with FL, ORR was 78.6% (11/14) and median DoR was not reached after a median follow-up time of 11.6 months
In patients with MCL, ORR was 46.7% (7/15) and median DoR was not reached after a median follow-up time of 8.7 months
ADCT-301 Oral and Poster Presentations at ASH (Free ASH Whitepaper)

Phase I Study of ADCT-301 (Camidanlumab Tesirine), a Novel Pyrrolobenzodiazepine-Based Antibody Drug Conjugate, in Relapsed/Refractory Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (Abstract 928)

Oral presentation: Mehdi Hamadani, MD, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI

Data were presented from 67 evaluable, heavily pretreated patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) who had failed or were intolerant to any established therapy known to provide clinical benefit. The median age of the patients was 38 years and they had received a median of five prior therapies. Patients were treated with doses of ADCT-301 ranging from 5 to 300 μg/kg. They completed a median of three cycles of treatment and median treatment duration was 43 days.

Key findings from the oral presentation include:

ADCT-301 has demonstrated manageable toxicity in patients with R/R HL
The most common Grade 3 or 4 treatment-emergent adverse events occurring in at least 5 percent of patients, regardless of attribution, at the 45 μg/kg dose in 37 patients were: maculopapular rash (18.9 percent),elevated gamma-glutamyltransferase (8.1 percent), elevated alanine aminotransferase (8.1 percent), elevated aspartate aminotransferase (2.7 percent), anemia (8.1 percent), Guillain-Barré syndrome / radiculopathy (8.1 percent) and increased lipase (8.1 percent)
In patients with R/R HL, therapy with ADCT-301 achieved an overall response rate (ORR) of 86.5% and a complete response rate of 43% in the 37 patients in the 45 μg/kg dose group who had received and failed prior brentuximab vedotin and most of whom had failed prior checkpoint inhibitor treatment
These data support further investigation of the 45 μg/kg dose of ADCT-301 in a planned pivotal Phase II study anticipated to commence in 2019
ADCT-301 (Camidanlumab Tesirine), a Novel Pyrrolobenzodiazepine-Based CD25-Targeting Antibody Drug Conjugate, in a Phase I Study of Relapsed/Refractory Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Shows Activity in T-Cell Lymphoma (Abstract 1658)

Poster presentation: Graham P. Collins, MB, BS, DPhil, Oxford University Hospitals, NHS Trust, Oxford, UK

Data were presented from 44 patients with R/R non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) with a median age of 65.5 years who had received a median number of four previous systemic therapies (including prior stem cell transplant). Of those, 22 patients were in a T-cell lymphoma subgroup. Patients were treated with doses of ADCT-301 ranging from 3 to 150 μg/kg and received a median number of two cycles. Median treatment duration was 22 days.

Key findings from the poster presentation include:

ADCT-301 demonstrated an acceptable safety profile during dose-escalation
Overall, in patients with R/R NHL, therapy with ADCT-301 achieved an ORR of 31.7% (13/41) at doses >60 μg/kg
In the R/R T-cell lymphoma subgroup, therapy with ADCT-301 achieved an ORR of 53.8% (7/13) in the 60 and 80 μg/kg dose groups
These data support further investigation of ADCT-301 in T-cell lymphoma
About ADCT-402

ADCT-402 (loncastuximab tesirine) is an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) composed of a humanized monoclonal antibody that binds to human CD19, conjugated through a linker to a pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) dimer toxin. Once bound to a CD19-expressing cell, ADCT-402 is internalized into the cell where enzymes release the PBD-based warhead. CD19 is a clinically validated target for the treatment of B-cell malignancies. The PBD-based warhead has the ability to form highly cytotoxic DNA interstrand cross-links, blocking cell division and resulting in cell death. ADCT-402 is being evaluated in a pivotal Phase II clinical trial in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (NCT03589469). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted orphan drug designation to ADCT-402 for the treatment of DLBCL and mantle cell lymphoma.

About ADCT-301

ADCT-301 (camidanlumab tesirine) is an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) composed of a monoclonal antibody that binds to CD25 (HuMax-TAC, licensed from Genmab A/S), conjugated to the pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) dimer payload tesirine. Once bound to a CD25-expressing cell, ADCT-301 is internalized into the cell where enzymes release the PBD-based warhead. The intra-tumor release of its PBD warhead may cause bystander killing of neighboring tumor cells. In addition, the PBD warhead will trigger immunogenic cell death, which in turn will strengthen the immune response against tumor cells. ADCT-301 is being evaluated in ongoing Phase Ia/Ib clinical trials in patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NCT02432235), as well as a Phase Ib clinical trial in solid tumors (NCT03621982).

EXELIXIS AND IPSEN INITIATE PHASE 3 PIVOTAL TRIAL (COSMIC-312) OF CABOZANTINIB IN COMBINATION WITH ATEZOLIZUMAB VERSUS SORAFENIB IN PREVIOUSLY UNTREATED ADVANCED HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA

On December 5, 2018 Exelixis, Inc. (Nasdaq: EXEL) and Ipsen (Euronext:IPN; ADR:IPSEY) reported the initiation of COSMIC-312, a phase 3 pivotal trial of cabozantinib (CABOMETYX) in combination with atezolizumab (TECENTRIQ) versus sorafenib in previously untreated advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (Press release, Ipsen, DEC 5, 2018, View Source [SID1234531902]). The co-primary endpoints of the trial are progression-free survival and overall survival. An exploratory arm will also evaluate cabozantinib monotherapy in this first-line setting.

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"Liver cancer is the fastest-rising cause of cancer-related death in the U.S., underscoring the need for new treatment options for this patient community," said Gisela Schwab, M.D., President, Product Development and Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, Exelixis. "Based on past evidence of potential synergistic effects with cabozantinib and immune checkpoint inhibitors, the combination offers promise for patients with advanced liver cancer who have not received prior treatment."

COSMIC-312 is a multicenter, randomized, controlled phase 3 pivotal trial that aims to enroll approximately 640 patients at up to 200 sites globally. Patients will be randomized 6:3:1 to one of three arms: cabozantinib (40 mg) and atezolizumab, sorafenib, or cabozantinib (60 mg).

Exelixis is sponsoring COSMIC-312, and Ipsen will co-fund the trial. Ipsen will have access to the results to support potential future regulatory submissions outside of the U.S. and Japan. Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, is providing atezolizumab for use in this trial.

"With more than 800,000 new diagnoses of liver cancer worldwide each year and a poor prognosis for patients with advanced disease, there is an urgent need to identify new treatment options," said R. Kate Kelley, M.D., Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, and lead investigator on COSMIC-312. "We look forward to learning whether the combination of cabozantinib and atezolizumab may improve outcomes for previously untreated patients."

Roche’s Kadcyla cut the risk of disease recurring by half compared to Herceptin in people with HER2-positive early breast cancer with residual disease after neoadjuvant treatment

On December 5, 2018 Roche (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY) reported that the phase III KATHERINE study met its primary endpoint, showing Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine) as a single agent significantly reduced the risk of disease recurrence or death (invasive disease-free survival; iDFS) by 50% (HR=0.50, 95% CI 0.39-0.64, p<0.0001) compared to Herceptin (trastuzumab) as an adjuvant (after surgery) treatment in people with HER2-positive early breast cancer (eBC) who have residual disease (pathological invasive residual disease in the breast and/or axillary nodes) present following neoadjuvant (before surgery) treatment (Press release, Hoffmann-La Roche, DEC 5, 2018, View Source [SID1234531903]).[1] At three years, 88.3% of people treated with Kadcyla did not have their breast cancer return compared to 77.0% treated with Herceptin, an 11.3% improvement.[1] Kadcyla improved iDFS irrespective of hormone receptor status, lymph node status and prior HER2-targeted treatment regimen received in the neoadjuvant setting.[1] The safety profile of Kadcyla was consistent with that seen in previous studies, and no unexpected or new safety signals were identified.[1,2,3]

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"The KATHERINE results demonstrate a significant reduction in the risk of recurrence of HER2-positive early breast cancer in people with residual disease after neoadjuvant therapy, and we look forward to submitting these data to health authorities as soon as possible," said Sandra Horning, MD, Roche’s Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. "We come closer to the goal of helping each person with early breast cancer have the greatest opportunity for cure with every advance in reducing disease recurrence."

The goal in treating eBC is to provide people with the best chance for a cure, which may involve treatment before and after surgery as part of a comprehensive treatment approach.[4;5] While we come closer to this goal with each advance, many people still have a disease recurrence in the long-term.[6] Neoadjuvant treatment is given before surgery with the goal of shrinking tumours and helping to improve surgical outcomes.[5;7;8] Adjuvant treatment is given after surgery and is aimed at eliminating any remaining cancer cells in the body to help reduce the risk of the cancer returning.[5]

These results are being presented in an oral session today at the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) at 11.00 am CST (abstract GS1-10) and featured in the official SABCS press programme at 07.15 am CST. These results will simultaneously be published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

About the KATHERINE study[9]
KATHERINE is an international, multi-centre, two-arm, randomised, open-label, phase III study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Kadcyla versus Herceptin as an adjuvant therapy in people with HER2-positive eBC who have pathological invasive residual disease in the breast and/or axillary lymph nodes following neoadjuvant therapy that included Herceptin and taxane-based chemotherapy. The primary endpoint of the study is iDFS, which, in this study is defined as the time from randomisation free from invasive breast cancer recurrence or death from any cause. Secondary endpoints include disease-free survival and overall survival.

About Kadcyla
Kadcyla is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) engineered to deliver potent chemotherapy directly to HER2-positive cancer cells, potentially limiting damage to healthy tissues.[2;3] It combines two anti-cancer properties joined together by a stable linker: the HER2-targeting properties of trastuzumab (the active ingredient in Herceptin) and the chemotherapy agent DM1.[10] Kadcyla is the only ADC approved as a single agent in 104 countries including the US and EU for the treatment of people with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer who have previously received Herceptin and taxane chemotherapy, separately or in combination. Roche licenses technology for Kadcyla under an agreement with ImmunoGen, Inc.

About Roche’s medicines for HER2-positive breast cancer
Roche has been leading research into the HER2 pathway for over 30 years and is committed to improving the health, quality of life and survival of people with both early and advanced HER2-positive disease. HER2-positive breast cancer is a particularly aggressive form of the disease that affects approximately 15-20% of patients.[11] Roche has developed three innovative medicines that have helped transform the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer: Herceptin (trastuzumab), Perjeta (pertuzumab) and Kadcyla (trastuzumab emtansine). Eligibility for treatment with Roche’s HER2-targeted medicines is determined via a diagnostic test, which identifies people who will likely benefit from these medicines at the onset of their disease.