On October 21, 2018 IntegraGen reported that it presented data on the company’s proprietary miR-31 microRNA biomarkers during the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2018 Annual Congress being held in Munich, Germany (link) (Press release, Integragen, OCT 21, 2018, View Source [SID1234529994]). The study, entitled "miR-31 as a prognostic and predictive marker of disease-free survival (DFS) in resected stage III colon cancer: a retrospective analysis of the PETACC-8 trial," was based on an analysis of tumor samples from over 1,400 patients enrolled in the PETACC-8 Phase III Clinical Trial.

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Key findings from the study included:

miR‐31‐3p and miR‐31‐5p levels were prognostic of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in several subpopulations of patients with resected stage III colon cancer.

Low miR‐31‐3p and miR‐31‐5p expression levels identified patients who benefited from the additional of cetuximab to FOLFOX adjuvant therapy.

miR‐31‐5p expression level was predictive of cetuximab efficacy in three separate subpopulations which were studied.

"The present study provides additional evidence of the ability of miR-31 to predict response to cetuximab therapy in patients with colorectal cancer," stated Severine Martin-Lannerée, PhD, R&D project leader at IntegraGen and co-author of the study. "While our previous studies with these biomarkers focused on patients with advanced stage metastatic colorectal cancer, this new data demonstrates that low miR-31 expression can identify the potential benefits of adding cetuximab to adjuvant therapy during an earlier stage of colorectal cancer for several subpopulations of patients, potentially expanding the clinical application of this marker."

On October 21, 2018 AstraZeneca and Merck (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, reported detailed results from the Phase 3 SOLO-1 trial testing LYNPARZA 300 mg tablets twice daily as a maintenance treatment for patients with newly-diagnosed advanced BRCA-mutated (BRCAm) ovarian cancer who were in complete or partial response following first-line standard platinum-based chemotherapy (Press release, AstraZeneca (Australia), OCT 21, 2018, View Source [SID1234530011]).

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Results of the trial confirm the statistically-significant and clinically-meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) for LYNPARZA as compared to placebo, reducing the risk of disease progression or death by 70 percent (HR=0.30 [95% CI, 0.23-0.41]; p<0.001). At 41 months of follow-up, the median PFS for patients treated with LYNPARZA was not reached compared to 13.8 months for patients treated with placebo. Of those receiving LYNPARZA, 60.4 percent remained progression-free at 36 months, compared to 26.9 percent of women in the placebo arm. The data were presented at the Presidential Symposium of the ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2018 Congress in Munich, Germany and published simultaneously online in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM).

Sean Bohen, executive vice president, Global Medicines Development and chief medical officer at AstraZeneca, said, "There is currently a significant unmet need in the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer because 70 percent of women relapse within the first three years after their initial treatment. The remarkable results of the SOLO-1 trial, which showed that 60 percent of women with newly-diagnosed, advanced BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer remained progression-free at three years, highlight the potential of LYNPARZA as a first-line maintenance therapy in this setting."

Dr. Roy Baynes, senior vice president and head of Global Clinical Development, chief medical officer, Merck Research Laboratories, said, "Our collective goal in oncology research is to improve long-term outcomes for people living with cancer. Based on the SOLO-1 trial results, LYNPARZA is the only PARP inhibitor to have demonstrated a significant and clinically-meaningful improvement in reducing the risk of progression or death for newly-diagnosed patients with advanced BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer following platinum-based chemotherapy. We are working with regulatory authorities as quickly as possible to seek approval of LYNPARZA for these patients."

Kathleen Moore, co-principal investigator of the SOLO-1 trial and associate director, Stephenson Cancer Center at The University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, said, "Women with ovarian cancer are often diagnosed with advanced disease, which unfortunately is associated with poor long-term survival rates. The newly-diagnosed setting is our best opportunity to achieve a sustained remission, since once a patient’s ovarian cancer recurs, it is typically incurable. The SOLO-1 results demonstrate the potential of LYNPARZA maintenance therapy earlier in the treatment pathway and reinforce the importance of identifying a patient’s BRCA mutation status at the time of diagnosis – these results could change the way we treat women with advanced BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer."

The SOLO-1 safety profile was in line with that observed in prior clinical trials. The most common adverse events (AEs) ≥ 20 percent were nausea (77%), fatigue (64%), vomiting (40%), anemia (39%) and diarrhea (34%). The most common ≥ Grade 3 AEs were anemia (22%) and neutropenia (8%). Seventy-one percent of patients on LYNPARZA remained on the recommended starting dose. Additionally, 88 percent of patients on LYNPARZA continued treatment without an AE-related discontinuation. Further, 48 percent of patients on LYNPARZA did not have a dose interruption as a result of an AE.

Per SOLO-1 protocol guidelines, patients who demonstrated a complete response (no radiological evidence of disease) at two years stopped treatment with LYNPARZA; patients who demonstrated a partial response and, who in the opinion of the treating physician can derive further benefit from continuous treatment, were treated beyond two years.

AstraZeneca and Merck are exploring additional trials in ovarian cancer, including the ongoing GINECO/ENGOTov25 Phase 3 trial, PAOLA-1. This trial is testing the effect of LYNPARZAin combination with bevacizumab as a maintenance treatment for patients with newly-diagnosed advanced ovarian cancer regardless of their BRCA status. Results are expected during the second half of 2019.

LYNPARZA is a first-in-class poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor approved in the U.S. since 2014. LYNPARZA has a broad clinical development program and AstraZeneca and Merck are working together to deliver LYNPARZA as quickly as possible to more patients across multiple cancer types.

LYNPARZA is not currently FDA-approved for advanced BRCAm ovarian cancer treatment in the first-line maintenance setting. LYNPARZA is indicated for the maintenance treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer in response to platinum-based chemotherapy regardless of BRCA mutation status, and for the treatment of advanced ovarian cancer patients with a germline BRCA mutation previously treated with three or more lines of chemotherapy. Physicians should select advanced ovarian cancer patients for therapy based on a FDA-approved companion diagnostic. Please see complete indications below.

Important Safety Information

Contraindications

There are no contraindications for LYNPARZA.

Warnings and Precautions

Myelodysplastic Syndrome/Acute Myeloid Leukemia (MDS/AML): Occurred in <1.5% of patients exposed to LYNPARZA monotherapy, and the majority of events had a fatal outcome. The duration of therapy in patients who developed secondary MDS/AML varied from <6 months to >2 years. All of these patients had previous chemotherapy with platinum agents and/or other DNA-damaging agents, including radiotherapy, and some also had a history of more than one primary malignancy or of bone marrow dysplasia.

Do not start LYNPARZA until patients have recovered from hematological toxicity caused by previous chemotherapy (≤Grade 1). Monitor complete blood count for cytopenia at baseline and monthly thereafter for clinically significant changes during treatment. For prolonged hematological toxicities, interrupt LYNPARZA and monitor blood count weekly until recovery.

If the levels have not recovered to Grade 1 or less after 4 weeks, refer the patient to a hematologist for further investigations, including bone marrow analysis and blood sample for cytogenetics. Discontinue LYNPARZA if MDS/AML is confirmed.

Pneumonitis: Occurred in <1% of patients exposed to LYNPARZA, and some cases were fatal. If patients present with new or worsening respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, and fever, or a radiological abnormality occurs, interrupt LYNPARZA treatment and initiate prompt investigation. Discontinue LYNPARZA if pneumonitis is confirmed and treat patient appropriately.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Based on its mechanism of action and findings in animals,

LYNPARZA can cause fetal harm. A pregnancy test is recommended for females of

reproductive potential prior to initiating treatment.

Females

Advise females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus and to use effective contraception during treatment and for 6 months following the last dose.

Males

Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential or who are pregnant to use effective contraception during treatment and for 3 months following the last dose of LYNPARZA and to not donate sperm during this time.

Adverse Reactions—Maintenance Setting

Most common adverse reactions (Grades 1-4) in ≥20% of patients in clinical trials of LYNPARZA in the maintenance setting for SOLO-2: nausea (76%), fatigue (including asthenia) (66%), anemia (44%), vomiting (37%), nasopharyngitis/upper respiratory tract infection (URI)/influenza (36%), diarrhea (33%), arthralgia/myalgia (30%), dysgeusia (27%), headache (26%), decreased appetite (22%), and stomatitis (20%).

Study 19: nausea (71%), fatigue (including asthenia) (63%), vomiting (35%), diarrhea (28%), anemia (23%), respiratory tract infection (22%), constipation (22%), headache (21%), and decreased appetite (21%).

Most common laboratory abnormalities (Grades 1-4) in ≥25% of patients in clinical trials of LYNPARZA in the maintenance setting (SOLO-2/Study 19) were: increase in mean corpuscular volume (89%/82%), decrease in hemoglobin (83%/82%), decrease in leukocytes (69%/58%), decrease in lymphocytes (67%/52%), decrease in absolute neutrophil count (51%/47%), increase in serum creatinine (44%/45%), and decrease in platelets (42%/36%).

Adverse Reactions—Advanced gBRCAm Ovarian Cancer

Most common adverse reactions (Grades 1-4) in ≥20% of patients in clinical trials of LYNPARZA for advanced gBRCAm ovarian cancer after 3 or more lines of chemotherapy (pooled from 6 studies) were: fatigue (including asthenia) (66%), nausea (64%), vomiting (43%), anemia (34%), diarrhea (31%), nasopharyngitis/upper respiratory tract infection (URI) (26%), dyspepsia (25%), myalgia (22%), decreased appetite (22%), and arthralgia/musculoskeletal pain (21%).

Most common laboratory abnormalities (Grades 1-4) in ≥25% of patients in clinical trials of LYNPARZA for advanced gBRCAm ovarian cancer (pooled from 6 studies) were: decrease in hemoglobin (90%), increase in mean corpuscular volume (57%), decrease in lymphocytes (56%), increase in serum creatinine (30%), decrease in platelets (30%), and decrease in absolute neutrophil count (25%).

Adverse Reactions—gBRCAm, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer

Most common adverse reactions (Grades 1-4) in ≥20% of patients in OlympiAD were: nausea (58%), anemia (40%), fatigue (including asthenia) (37%), vomiting (30%), neutropenia (27%), respiratory tract infection (27%), leukopenia (25%), diarrhea (21%), and headache (20%).

Most common laboratory abnormalities (Grades 1-4) in >25% of patients in OlympiAD were: decrease in hemoglobin (82%), decrease in lymphocytes (73%), decrease in leukocytes (71%), increase in mean corpuscular volume (71%), decrease in absolute neutrophil count (46%), and decrease in platelets (33%).

Drug Interactions

Anticancer Agents: Clinical studies of LYNPARZA in combination with other myelosuppressive anticancer agents, including DNA-damaging agents, indicate a potentiation and prolongation of myelosuppressive toxicity.

CYP3A Inhibitors: Avoid concomitant use of strong or moderate CYP3A inhibitors. If a strong or moderate CYP3A inhibitor must be co-administered, reduce the dose of LYNPARZA. Advise patients to avoid grapefruit, grapefruit juice, Seville oranges, and Seville orange juice during LYNPARZA treatment.

CYP3A Inducers: Avoid concomitant use of strong or moderate CYP3A inducers when using LYNPARZA. If a moderate inducer cannot be avoided, there is a potential for decreased efficacy of LYNPARZA.

Use In Specific Populations

Lactation: No data are available regarding the presence of olaparib in human milk, its effects on the breastfed infant or on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in the breastfed infant, advise a lactating woman not to breastfeed during treatment with LYNPARZA and for 1 month after receiving the final dose.

Pediatric Use: The safety and efficacy of LYNPARZA have not been established in pediatric patients.

Hepatic Impairment: No adjustment to the starting dose is required in patients with mild hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh classification A). There are no data in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment.

Renal Impairment: No adjustment to the starting dose is necessary in patients with mild renal impairment (CLcr=51-80 mL/min). In patients with moderate renal impairment (CLcr=31-50 mL/min), reduce the dose to 200 mg twice daily. There are no data in patients with severe renal impairment or end-stage renal disease (CLcr ≤30 mL/min).

Indications

LYNPARZA is a poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor indicated:

For the maintenance treatment of adult patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer, who are in complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy.

For the treatment of adult patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline BRCA-mutated (gBRCAm) advanced ovarian cancer who have been treated with 3 or more prior lines of chemotherapy. Select patients for therapy based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic for LYNPARZA.

In patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious gBRCAm,human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative metastatic breast cancer who have previously been treated with chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant, adjuvant or metastatic setting. Patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer should have been treated with a prior endocrine therapy or be considered inappropriate for endocrine treatment. Select patients for therapy based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic for LYNPARZA.

Please see complete Prescribing Information , including Patient Information (Medication Guide).

About the SOLO-1 Phase 3 Trial

SOLO-1 is a Phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-center trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of LYNPARZA tablets (300 mgtwice daily) as maintenance monotherapy compared with placebo in newly-diagnosed patients with advanced BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer following platinum-based chemotherapy. The trial randomized 391 patients with a deleterious or suspected deleterious BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation who were in clinical complete or partial response following platinum-based chemotherapy. Patients were randomized (2:1) to receive LYNPARZA or placebo for up to two years or until disease progression (at the investigator’s discretion). The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed progression-free survival and key secondary endpoints include time to second disease progression or death, time to first subsequent treatment and overall survival.

About Ovarian Cancer

Approximately 20,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with ovarian cancer (including ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancers) each year. Among women in the U.S., it is the ninth most common cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer death.

The risk of developing ovarian cancer is increased in women with specific inherited genetic abnormalities, including BRCA mutations.

About BRCA Mutations

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are human genes that produce proteins responsible for repairing damaged DNA and play an important role in maintaining the genetic stability of cells. When either of these genes is mutated, or altered, such that its protein product either is not made or does not function correctly, DNA damage may not be repaired properly, and cells become unstable. As a result, cells are more likely to develop additional genetic alterations that can lead to cancer.

About LYNPARZA (olaparib)

LYNPARZA is the first-in-class PARP inhibitor and the first targeted treatment to potentially exploit DNA damage response (DDR) pathway deficiencies, such as BRCA mutations, to preferentially kill cancer cells. Specifically, in vitro studies have shown that LYNPARZA-induced cytotoxicity may involve inhibition of PARP enzymatic activity and increased formation of PARP-DNA complexes, resulting in DNA damage and cancer cell death.LYNPARZA is being tested in a range of DDR-deficient tumor types.

LYNPARZA, which is being jointly developed and commercialized by AstraZeneca and Merck, has a broad and advanced clinical trial development program, and AstraZeneca and Merck are working together to deliver it as quickly as possible to more patients across multiple cancer types.

On October 21, 2018 Loxo Oncology, Inc. (Nasdaq: LOXO), a biopharmaceutical company developing highly selective medicines for patients with genomically defined cancers, and Bayer AG, Germany, reported updated clinical data for larotrectinib, an investigational oral, selective, and CNS-active TRK inhibitor, in adult and pediatric patients with TRK fusion cancers (Press release, Loxo Oncology, OCT 21, 2018, View Source [SID1234529995]). The update included approximately one year of additional follow-up for the 55 patients described in the larotrectinib New England Journal of Medicine publication from February 2018. In addition, the update included data for an additional 67 patients who were subsequently enrolled across the larotrectinib development program. As of a data cut-off date of July 30, 2018, median duration of response (DOR) had not been reached in either dataset. These data are being presented today at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) 2018 Congress.

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"It is exciting to see larotrectinib deliver durable responses to patients in these studies with TRK fusion cancer, regardless of age, tumor site of origin, or CNS involvement," said Ulrik Lassen, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Oncology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen. "The sixty-seven new patients have nearly the same overall response rate as the first fifty-five, and duration of response has actually improved with longer patient follow-up. It is interesting to note that once again, depth of response, indicated by a complete response or deep partial response, is a good predictor of duration of response. Additionally, we observed a safety profile with larotrectinib that is conducive to such chronic therapy. The larotrectinib experience provides strong clinical evidence supporting the development of single-purpose drugs against oncogenic driver targets, and underscores the importance of tumor genomic profiling capable of identifying NTRK gene fusions alongside other activating alterations."

Loxo Oncology and Bayer are engaged in a collaboration for the development and commercialization of larotrectinib. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the New Drug Application (NDA) submitted by Loxo Oncology, and granted Priority Review for larotrectinib for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors harboring a neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) gene fusion. The FDA has set a target action date of November 26, 2018, under the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA). Bayer has submitted a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) in the European Union (EU) and additional filings in other markets are underway.

Key Data Presented

The ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) presentation included additional follow-up for the first 55 consecutively enrolled adult and pediatric patients with TRK fusion cancers treated across Loxo Oncology’s Phase 1 adult trial, Phase 2 trial (NAVIGATE), and Phase 1/2 pediatric trial (SCOUT). These patients were the subject of the New England Journal of Medicine publication from February 2018, and constitute the primary analysis population supporting larotrectinib’s NDA filing. The presentation also included data for the 67 TRK fusion patients subsequently enrolled. Presented data were based on a July 30, 2018 data cut-off date, providing approximately one year of additional follow up for the primary analysis population.

The datasets adhered to the intent to treat (ITT) principle and included patients with RECIST-evaluable disease enrolled to the three clinical trials, regardless of prior therapy or tumor tissue diagnostic method used to establish their TRK fusion diagnosis. In the ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) presentation, response evaluations were based on investigator assessment.

The 122-patient integrated dataset included both adult and pediatric patients, who ranged in age from one month to 80 years and carried 24 unique TRK fusion-positive tumor diagnoses. Tumor types included 10 distinct soft tissue sarcomas, salivary gland, infantile fibrosarcoma, thyroid, lung, melanoma, colon, gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), breast, bone sarcoma, cholangiocarcinoma, carcinoma of unknown primary, congenital mesoblastic nephroma, appendiceal, and pancreas cancers.

In the primary dataset, the overall response rate (ORR) was 80% (44/55) (95% CI: 67-90%), with a 62% partial response rate and an 18% complete response rate. In the supplementary dataset, the ORR was 81% (44/54) (95% CI: 69-91%), with a 65% partial response rate and a 17% complete response rate. Across both datasets, the ORR was 81% (88/109) (95% CI: 72-88%), with a 63% partial response rate and 17% complete response rate. The ORR analyses for the supplementary and integrated datasets included nine patients with unconfirmed partial responses awaiting confirmatory response assessments, but did not include 13 patients who were awaiting an initial response assessment and continuing on study.

Median duration of response (DOR) had not been reached in either the primary dataset or supplementary dataset, with median follow-up of 17.6 months and 7.4 months, respectively. In the primary dataset, Kaplan-Meier landmark analyses improved since the July 2017 data cut-off date. At 6 months, 88% of responses were ongoing (83% based on the July 2017 data cut-off date). At 12 months, 75% of responses were ongoing (71% based on the July 2017 data cut-off date). Kaplan-Meier landmark analyses of the supplementary dataset were highly concordant with the primary dataset. At 6 months, 93% of responses were ongoing and at 12 months, 81% of responses were ongoing. Across the integrated dataset, as of the July 2018 data cut-off date, 84% of responding patients remained on treatment or had undergone surgery with curative intent. Of 8 TRK fusion patients treated in the Phase 1 trial, 6 remained in response and on therapy at 22, 30, 33, 34, 37, and 41 months of follow up. With median follow-up for progression-free survival (PFS) of 19.6 months in the primary dataset, median PFS had been reached, at 28.3 months (95% CI: 9.9 months – Not estimable). This estimate is not statistically stable due to a low number of progression events, as evidenced by the wide confidence interval.

The safety data presented at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) encompassed the entire larotrectinib safety database in cancer patients (n=207), which includes 70 patients without a TRK fusion diagnosis. Larotrectinib was well tolerated, with the majority of adverse events recorded as grade 1 or 2. No treatment-related grade 3 or 4 adverse events occurred in more than 5% of patients. Eleven patients (9%) required larotrectinib dose reductions. In all cases, patients whose doses were reduced maintained their best response at the lower dose. One patient (<1%) discontinued larotrectinib due to an adverse event.

The ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) presentation will be available online at View Source

Larotrectinib Program Update

As of September 30, 2018, the larotrectinib program had treated 179 patients with TRK fusion cancer, which includes the 122 patients reported at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper), an additional 15 treated since the ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) data cut-off date, 24 treated under expanded access protocols, and 18 who had either non-measurable disease or primary central nervous system tumors. By comparison, the program had treated 133 patients with TRK fusion cancer as of March 31, 2018 and 98 as of September 30, 2017.

About Larotrectinib
Larotrectinib is an oral, selective, and CNS-active investigational tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) inhibitor in clinical development for the treatment of patients with cancers that harbor a neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) gene fusion. Growing research suggests that the NTRK genes, which encode for TRKs, can become abnormally fused to other genes, resulting in growth signals that can lead to cancer in many sites of the body. In clinical trials, larotrectinib demonstrated anti-tumor activity in patients with tumors harboring NTRK gene fusions, regardless of patient age or tumor type. In an analysis of 55 RECIST-evaluable adult and pediatric patients with NTRK gene fusions, using a July 17, 2017 data cutoff, larotrectinib demonstrated a 75 percent centrally-assessed confirmed overall response rate (ORR) and an 80 percent investigator-assessed confirmed ORR, across many different types of solid tumors. The majority (93 percent) of all adverse events were grade 1 or 2.

Larotrectinib has been granted Priority Review, Breakthrough Therapy Designation, Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Orphan Drug Designation by the U.S. FDA.

In November 2017, Loxo Oncology and Bayer entered into an exclusive global collaboration for the development and commercialization of larotrectinib and LOXO-195, a next-generation TRK inhibitor. Bayer and Loxo Oncology are jointly developing the two products with Loxo Oncology leading the ongoing clinical studies as well as the filing in the U.S., and Bayer leading ex-U.S. regulatory activities and worldwide commercial activities. In the U.S., Loxo Oncology and Bayer will co-promote the products.

For additional information about the larotrectinib clinical trials, please refer to www.clinicaltrials.gov. Interested patients and physicians can contact the Loxo Oncology Physician and Patient Clinical Trial Hotline at 1-855-NTRK-123 or visit www.loxooncologytrials.com/trk-trials.

About TRK Fusion Cancer
TRK fusion cancer occurs when a neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase (NTRK) gene fuses with another unrelated gene, producing an altered tropomyosin receptor kinase (TRK) protein. The altered protein, or TRK fusion protein, is constantly active, triggering a permanent signal cascade. These proteins become the primary driver of the spread and growth of tumors in patients with TRK fusion cancer. TRK fusion cancer is not limited to certain types of cells or tissues and can occur in any part of the body. NTRK gene fusions occur in various adult and pediatric solid tumors with varying prevalence, including appendiceal cancer, breast cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, colorectal cancer, GIST, infantile fibrosarcoma, lung cancer, mammary analogue secretory carcinoma of the salivary gland, melanoma, pancreatic cancer, thyroid cancer, and various sarcomas. Only sensitive and specific tests can reliably detect TRK fusion cancer. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) can provide a comprehensive view of genomic alterations across a large number of genes. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) can also be used to test for TRK fusion cancer, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) can be used to detect the presence of TRK protein.

More than 60 Late Breaking Abstracts (LBA’s) are scheduled to be published at this year’s European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress (E.S.M.O 2018). Below you will find the 10 published at the sessions on Saturday 20th October, the second day of the conference. For full analysis identifying new technologies, drugs, targets, start-ups etc. we recommend Commercial Interest at E.S.M.O Annual Meeting 2018: Analytical Tool.

• LBA1_PR – IMpassion130: Results from a global, randomised, double-blind, phase 3 study of atezolizumab (atezo) + nab-paclitaxel (nab-P) vs placebo + nab-P in treatment-naive, locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC)
• LBA2_PR – Overall survival (OS) with palbociclib plus fulvestrant in women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2_) advanced breast cancer (ABC): Analyses from PALOMA-3
• LBA3_PR – Alpelisib (ALP) + fulvestrant (FUL) for advanced breast cancer (ABC): results of the Phase 3 SOLAR-1 trial
• LBA11 – Defining the lethal subclone in metastatic lung cancer
• LBA22 – Negative hyper-selection of RAS wild-type (wt) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients randomized to first-line FOLFOX plus panitumumab (Pan) followed by maintenance therapy with either 5FU/LV plus Pan or single-agent Pan: translational analyses of the VALENTINO study
• LBA23 – Eltanexor (KPT-8602), a Second-Generation Selective Inhibitor of Nuclear Export (SINE) Compound, in Patients with Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (mCRC)
• LBA31 – Molecular correlates differentiate response to atezolizumab (atezo) + bevacizumab (bev) vs sunitinib (sun): results from a Phase III study (IMmotion151) in untreated metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC)
• LBA32 – Nivolumab (N) Alone or in Combination With Ipilimumab (I) in Patients (pts) With Platinum-Pretreated Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma (mUC), Including the Nivolumab 1 mg/kg + Ipilimumab 3 mg/kg Expansion From CheckMate 032
• LBA35 – TROPHIMMUN, a 2 cohort phase II trial of the anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody avelumab in chemo-resistant gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) patients: preliminary outcomes in cohort A.
• LBA36 – Association of PD-L1 Expression and Gene Expression Profiling With Clinical Response to Pembrolizumab in Patients With Advanced Recurrent Ovarian Cancer: Results From the Phase 2 KEYNOTE-100 Study

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On October 20, 2018 TESARO, Inc. (NASDAQ: TSRO), an oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company, today summarized updated Phase 1 GARNET data of TSR-042 (anti-PD-1 antibody) in patients with recurrent or advanced microsatellite instability high (MSI-H) endometrial cancer presented during the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Congress (Press release, TESARO, OCT 20, 2018, View Source [SID1234529996]). Blinded, pooled interim safety data from the Phase 3 PRIMA trial of niraparib in patients with first-line ovarian cancer regardless of biomarker status were also presented in a poster discussion session and additional data from the QUADRA trial of niraparib for treatment of late-line ovarian cancer beyond BRCAmut were presented in a poster display.

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"The updated results from GARNET presented at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) demonstrate robust clinical activity of TSR-042 in patients with MSI-H endometrial tumors," said Mary Lynne Hedley, Ph.D., President and COO of TESARO. "In addition, blinded, pooled interim safety data from the ongoing PRIMA study of niraparib as maintenance therapy in first line ovarian cancer demonstrated a favorable tolerability profile for niraparib when dosed according to a patient’s weight and platelet count compared to a fixed starting dose. These prospective data confirmed that adverse events are reduced for patients starting niraparib at an individualized dose, including a reduction in symptomatic events that are particularly meaningful to patients. We look forward to announcing top-line results for the PRIMA study in late 2019."

TSR-042 (anti-PD-1 antibody)

GARNET: Efficacy data indicates robust activity of TSR-042 in patients with MSI-high endometrial cancer
GARNET is a multicenter, open-label, Phase 1 dose-escalation study designed to assess the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and clinical activity of TSR-042 in patients with advanced solid tumors. The weight-based dose escalation and fixed-dose safety portions of the GARNET study have been completed. The ongoing cohort expansion portion of GARNET is evaluating TSR-042 at a dose of 500 milligrams every 3 weeks (Q3W) for the first 4 cycles, and 1000 milligrams every 6 weeks (Q6W) thereafter in four cohorts: MSI-H endometrial cancer, MSI-H non-endometrial cancer, MSS endometrial cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Data presented at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) included safety and efficacy data from the cohort of patients with MSI-H endometrial cancer.

At the time of data cutoff, 35 patients with MSI-H endometrial cancer had received treatment with TSR-042. Among the 25 patients with MSI-H endometrial cancer who had at least one post-baseline tumor assessment, one had a complete response and 12 had partial responses (including 1 unconfirmed response) by immune related RECIST (irRECIST) criteria (ORR 52%). Twelve of the 13 responses are ongoing (92%), including three patients with partial responses who have thus far received over 60 weeks of treatment with TSR-042. Three additional patients (12%) had stable disease. Median duration of response was not reached.

Preliminary safety findings among the 35 MSI-H endometrial patients indicate TSR-042 is generally well-tolerated. Grade ≥3 treatment-related treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported in 4 out of 35 patients (11.4%).

The data support the unique and convenient dose of TSR-042 of 500 mg Q3W for the first 4 doses, then 1000 mg Q6W thereafter. At this dose, TSR-042 maintained serum concentrations required to retain maximum receptor occupancy throughout the dosing cycle.

The GARNET study is intended to support a Biologics License Application (BLA) submission to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2019.

ZEJULA (niraparib)

PRIMA: Prospective validation of individualized niraparib dose regimen based on patient baseline body weight & platelet counts; Rates of adverse events in blinded, pooled patient groups decreased with individualized starting dose compared to fixed starting dose
PRIMA is a double-blind, randomized Phase 3 study designed to evaluate niraparib versus placebo as maintenance therapy in first-line ovarian cancer patients. Platinum responsive patients were initially randomized 2:1 to start niraparib at 300 mg once-daily or placebo and the protocol was subsequently amended to require an individualized starting dose of 200 mg once-daily in patients with baseline weight <77kg or platelet count <150K/μL and 300 mg in all other patients. The trial remains blinded for efficacy and safety.

Among the 727 patients dosed on the study, 480 patients were treated with a fixed 300 mg starting dose of niraparib or placebo and 247 patients were treated with an individualized dose of 300 mg or 200 mg of niraparib based on weight and platelet count or placebo. The findings presented were from evaluable patients with ≥30 days of safety data from blinded pooled niraparib and placebo and indicate improved tolerability with niraparib at the individualized starting dose. TEAEs grade ≥ 3 were lower (36%) in the individualized dosing group (pooled niraparib and placebo) as compared with the group that received a fixed starting dose of 300 mg of niraparib or placebo (52.7%). There were fewer dose reductions and dose discontinuations in patients treated with the individualized starting dose compared with the fixed starting dose. TEAEs leading to treatment discontinuation remained low for both groups at 7.9% for the fixed starting dose and 5.3% for the individualized starting dose group.

The rates of hematologic toxicities of all grades, including grade ≥ 3, were lower with introduction of an individualized starting dose. Grade ≥3 non-hematologic toxicities (nausea, vomiting, fatigue, hypertension, and insomnia) decreased with an individualized starting dose.

QUADRA: Clinical benefit of niraparib treatment demonstrated in late-line ovarian cancer setting, including patients with platinum resistant and refractory disease
Late line ovarian cancer represents a high unmet medical need and efficacy of cytotoxic chemotherapy is limited in patients with heavily-pretreated ovarian cancer. Previous studies have shown meaningful activity of other PARP inhibitors in the late-line treatment of ovarian cancer only in populations with BRCA mutations. QUADRA, a single arm study, was conducted to assess the activity of ZEJULA monotherapy in the fourth-line or later treatment of patients with ovarian cancer, regardless of platinum sensitivity or biomarker status.

Niraparib treatment demonstrated durable clinical activity in late-line (≥ 4th line) patients with BRCAmut tumors, with an ORR of approximately 30%, including patients with platinum-sensitive, -resistant, and -refractory disease, and a median duration of response of 9.2 months. The clinical benefit rate (CBR; CR+PR+SD) at 16 weeks and 24 weeks were 56% and 38%, respectively. A gradient of clinical activity based on platinum sensitivity was demonstrated in the BRCAmut patient population, with greatest activity demonstrated in patients with platinum-sensitive disease (ORR 39%), mOS was not reached (95% CI 19, NE). However, even patients with platinum-resistant and platinum-refractory disease experienced benefit from niraparib treatment with ORR of 33% and 19%, and mOS of 26.0 and 23.3 months, respectively.

Clinical benefit of niraparib extended beyond patients with BRCA mutations in this late-line setting. Patients with non-BRCAmut/HRDpos platinum-sensitive disease had an ORR of 20%. In total, the biomarker-driven population (BRCAmut regardless of platinum status and non-BRCAmut HRDpos platinum-sensitive patients) included 98 patients with ORR of 26%, mDOR of 8.3 months, and a mOS of 23.3 months.

The safety profile in the QUADRA treatment study was consistent with the safety profile observed in the NOVA maintenance population.

Details of TESARO’s poster presentations are as follows (all times local):

ZEJULA (niraparib)

Saturday, October 20, 2018, 9:15 AM – 10:45 AM; Lecture time: 9:59 AM

A prospective evaluation of tolerability of niraparib dosing based upon baseline body weight (wt) and platelet (plt) count: Blinded pooled interim safety data from the PRIMA Study

Poster Discussion, Abstract: 941PD, Location: ICM – Room 13, Poster Displayed: Hall B4

Saturday, October 20, 2018, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

QUADRA: A phase 2, open-label, single-arm study to evaluate niraparib in patients with relapsed ovarian cancer in 4th or later line of therapy: results from the BRCAmut subset

Poster Session, Abstract: 944P, Location: Hall A3

Saturday, October 20, 2018, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

OVARIO: A single-arm, open-label phase 2 study of maintenance therapy with niraparib + bevacizumab in patients with advanced ovarian cancer after response to frontline platinum-based chemotherapy

Poster Session, Abstract: 999TiP, Location: Hall A3

Saturday, October 20, 2018, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

Real world occurrence of top three clinical-trial reported adverse events of PARP inhibitor niraparib maintenance therapy in platinum-sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer, a national retrospective observational study of a 200 mg/day starting-dose cohort

Poster Session, Abstract: 986P, Location: Hall A3

Saturday, October 20, 2018, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

Brain metastases in primary ovarian cancer: real-world data

Poster Session, Abstract: 946P, Location: Hall A3

TSR-042 (anti-PD-1)

Saturday, October 20, 2018, 9:15 AM – 10:45 AM; Lecture time: 9:15 AM

Preliminary safety, efficacy, and PK/PD characterization from GARNET, a phase 1 clinical trial of the anti–PD-1 monoclonal antibody, TSR-042, in patients with recurrent or advanced MSI-H endometrial cancer

Poster Discussion, Abstract: 935PD, Location: ICM – Room 13, Poster displayed: Hall B4

Niraparib is marketed in the United States and Europe under trade name ZEJULA.

About ZEJULA (Niraparib)
ZEJULA (niraparib) is a poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor indicated in the United States and in the EU for the maintenance treatment of adult patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who are in a complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy. In preclinical studies, ZEJULA concentrates in the tumor relative to plasma, delivering greater than 90% durable inhibition of PARP 1/2 and a persistent antitumor effect. Important Safety Information Myelodysplastic Syndrome/Acute Myeloid Leukemia (MDS/AML), including some fatal cases, was reported in 1.4% of patients receiving ZEJULA vs 1.1% of patients receiving placebo in Trial 1 (NOVA), and 0.9% of patients treated with ZEJULA in all clinical studies. The duration of ZEJULA treatment in patients prior to developing MDS/AML varied from <1 month to 2 years. All patients had received prior chemotherapy with platinum and some had also received other DNA damaging agents and radiotherapy. Discontinue ZEJULA if MDS/AML is confirmed.

Hematologic adverse reactions (thrombocytopenia, anemia and neutropenia) have been reported in patients receiving ZEJULA. Grade ≥3 thrombocytopenia, anemia and neutropenia were reported in 29%, 25%, and 20% of patients receiving ZEJULA, respectively. Discontinuation due to thrombocytopenia, anemia, and neutropenia occurred, in 3%, 1%, and 2% of patients, respectively. Do not start ZEJULA until patients have recovered from hematological toxicity caused by prior chemotherapy (≤ Grade 1). Monitor complete blood counts weekly for the first month, monthly for the next 11 months of treatment, and periodically thereafter. If hematological toxicities do not resolve within 28 days following interruption, discontinue ZEJULA, and refer the patient to a hematologist for further investigations.

Hypertension and hypertensive crisis have been reported in patients receiving ZEJULA. Grade 3-4 hypertension occurred in 9% of patients receiving ZEJULA vs 2% of patients receiving placebo in Trial 1, with discontinuation occurring in <1% of patients.
ZEJULA can cause fetal harm and females of reproductive potential should use effective contraception.

In clinical studies, the most common adverse reactions (Grades 1-4) in ≥10% of patients included: thrombocytopenia (61%), anemia (50%), neutropenia (30%), leukopenia (17%), palpitations (10%), nausea (74%), constipation (40%), vomiting (34%), abdominal pain/distention (33%), mucositis/stomatitis (20%), diarrhea (20%), dyspepsia (18%), dry mouth (10%), fatigue/asthenia (57%), decreased appetite (25%), urinary tract infection (13%), aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation (10%), myalgia (19%), back pain (18%), arthralgia (13%), headache (26%), dizziness (18%), dysgeusia (10%), insomnia (27%), anxiety (11%), nasopharyngitis (23%), dyspnea (20%), cough (16%), rash (21%) and hypertension (20%).

Common lab abnormalities (Grades 1-4) in ≥25% of patients included: decrease in hemoglobin (85%), decrease in platelet count (72%), decrease in white blood cell count (66%), decrease in absolute neutrophil count (53%), increase in AST (36%) and increase in ALT (28%). Please see full U.S. prescribing information, including additional important safety information, available at www.zejula.com.

About GARNET
The ongoing Phase I GARNET trial is evaluating TSR-042 as monotherapy in patients with advanced solid tumors. GARNET included a weight-based dose escalation study (Part 1) and a fixed-dose safety study (Part 2A), both of which have been completed. Results of these studies were used to determine the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D; 500 mg Q3W for the first 4 cycles then 1000 mg Q6W). The study is now enrolling patients with MSI-H endometrial cancer, MSI-H non-endometrial cancer, MSS endometrial cancer, and NSCLC into four large expansion cohorts.

About TSR-042

TSR-042 is an investigational humanized anti-programmed death (PD)-1 monoclonal antibody that binds with high affinity to the PD-1 receptor and effectively blocks its interaction with the ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2. TSR-042 is the only anti-PD-1 therapy administered as monotherapy every 3 weeks for 4 doses then every 6 weeks thereafter. TSR-042 was developed as part of the collaboration between TESARO and AnaptysBio, Inc. This collaboration was initiated in March of 2014, and is focused on the development of monospecific antibody drugs targeting PD-1, TIM-3 (TSR-022), and LAG-3 (TSR-033), in addition to a bi-specific antibody drug candidate targeting PD-1/LAG-3 (TSR-075).