Seattle Genetics Announces FDA Approval of ADCETRIS® (Brentuximab Vedotin) in Combination with Chemotherapy for Adults with Previously Untreated Systemic Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma or Other CD30-Expressing Peripheral T-Cell Lymphomas

On November 16, 2018 Seattle Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq:SGEN) reported a new approval for ADCETRIS (brentuximab vedotin) in combination with CHP chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, prednisone) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for adults with previously untreated systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL) or other CD30-expressing peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL), including angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma and PTCL not otherwise specified (Press release, Seattle Genetics, NOV 16, 2018, View Source [SID1234531400]). The approval is based on the successful outcome of the phase 3 ECHELON-2 clinical trial that compared ADCETRIS plus CHP to CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone). The FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation and Priority Review to this supplemental Biologics License Application (BLA) and reviewed it under the Real-Time Oncology Review Pilot Program leading to approval less than two weeks after submission of the complete application.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"The current standard of care for initial treatment of peripheral T-cell lymphoma is multi-agent chemotherapy. That treatment has not significantly changed in decades and is too often unsuccessful in leading to long-term remissions, underscoring the need for new treatments," said Steven Horwitz, M.D., Department of Medicine, Lymphoma Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York. "The ECHELON-2 clinical trial demonstrated ADCETRIS plus CHP was superior to the current standard of care, CHOP, for both progression-free survival and all other key secondary endpoints, including, most importantly, overall survival. With this approval, clinicians have the opportunity to transform the way newly diagnosed CD30-expressing PTCL patients are treated."

This is the sixth FDA-approved indication for ADCETRIS, which also has approval for adult patients with: (1) previously untreated Stage III or IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), in combination with doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (AVD), (2) cHL at high risk of relapse or progression as post-autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) consolidation, (3) cHL after failure of auto-HSCT or failure of at least two prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimens in patients who are not auto-HSCT candidates, (4) sALCL after failure of at least one prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimen, and (5) primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (pcALCL) or CD30-expressing mycosis fungoides (MF) who have received prior systemic therapy.

"By participating in the FDA’s Real-Time Oncology Review process and working closely with the FDA, we are now able to make the ADCETRIS regimen available to previously untreated patients with CD30-expressing PTCL in an unprecedented less than two weeks after submission of our supplemental BLA," said Clay Siegall, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Seattle Genetics. "The ECHELON-2 clinical trial demonstrated ADCETRIS plus CHP results in a superior outcome for patients when compared to current standard of care, CHOP. We want to thank the patients, physicians and their staff who participated in the ECHELON-2 trial, which supported this FDA approval."

The ECHELON-2 data will be presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) 2018 Annual Meeting, on Monday, December 3, 2018, at 6:15 pm PT at the San Diego Convention Center in Room 6F in San Diego, Calif. Patients in ECHELON-2 were randomized to receive either a combination of ADCETRIS plus CHP or CHOP, a recognized standard of care for frontline PTCL. Results from the trial demonstrated that combination treatment with ADCETRIS plus CHP was superior to CHOP for progression free survival (PFS) as assessed by a Blinded Independent Central Review facility (BICR; hazard ratio=0.71; 95% CI, 0.54–0.93; p-value=0.011). This corresponds to a 29 percent reduction in the risk of progression, death, or receipt of subsequent anticancer chemotherapy to treat residual or progressive disease. The ADCETRIS plus CHP arm also demonstrated superior overall survival (OS), a key secondary endpoint, compared to CHOP (hazard ratio=0.66; 95% CI, 0.46-0.95; p-value=0.024). All other key secondary endpoints, including PFS in patients with sALCL (hazard ratio=0.59; 95% CI, 0.42-0.84; p-value=0.003), complete remission rate (68% vs 56%; p-value=0.007) and objective response rate (83% vs 72%; p-value=0.003) were statistically significant in favor of the ADCETRIS plus CHP arm.

The safety profile of ADCETRIS plus CHP in the ECHELON-2 trial was comparable to CHOP and consistent with the established safety profile of ADCETRIS in combination with AVD. The most common adverse events of any grade that occurred in at least 20 percent of patients in the ADCETRIS plus CHP arm were peripheral neuropathy, nausea, diarrhea, neutropenia, lymphopenia, fatigue, mucositis, constipation, alopecia, pyrexia, vomiting and anemia. Serious adverse reactions occurring in at least two percent of ADCETRIS plus CHP-treated patients included febrile neutropenia, pneumonia, pyrexia and sepsis. Based on ECHELON-2 clinical trial results, prophylactic growth factors (G-CSF) should be administered starting at cycle one for patients receiving ADCETRIS plus CHP for previously untreated PTCL.

ECHELON-2 Phase 3 Clinical Trial Design

The multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial is investigating ADCETRIS plus CHP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, prednisone) versus CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) as frontline therapy in patients with CD30-expressing peripheral T-cell lymphoma, also known as mature T-cell lymphoma. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival (PFS) per BICR facility assessment, with events defined as progression, death due to any cause, or receipt of subsequent anticancer chemotherapy to treat residual or progressive disease. Secondary endpoints include PFS in patients with systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL), complete remission rate, overall survival and objective response rate, in addition to safety. The trial was conducted at sites across North America, Europe and Asia and was designed to enroll 450 patients, approximately 75 percent of whom were to be diagnosed with sALCL. The ECHELON-2 trial was conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA) agreement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the trial also received European Medicines Agency (EMA) scientific advice.

Please see Important Safety Information, including Boxed Warning, at the end of this press release.

About T-Cell Lymphomas

Lymphoma is a general term for a group of cancers that originate in the lymphatic system. There are two major categories of lymphoma: Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. There are more than 60 subtypes of non-Hodgkin lymphomas which are broadly divided into two major groups: B-cell lymphomas, which develop from abnormal B-lymphocytes, and T-cell lymphomas, which develop from abnormal T-lymphocytes. There are many different forms of T-cell lymphomas, some of which are extremely rare. T-cell lymphomas can be aggressive (fast-growing) or indolent (slow-growing). PTCL accounts for approximately 10 percent of the estimated 74,680 people diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the U.S. in 2018.1

About ADCETRIS (brentuximab vedotin)

ADCETRIS is being evaluated broadly in more than 70 clinical trials in CD30-expressing lymphomas. These include the recently completed phase 3 ECHELON-2 trial in frontline peripheral T-cell lymphomas (also known as mature T-cell lymphoma), the completed phase 3 ECHELON-1 trial in previously untreated Hodgkin lymphoma, the completed phase 3 ALCANZA trial in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, and the ongoing CHECKMATE 812 trial of ADCETRIS in combination with Opdivo (nivolumab) for relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma.

ADCETRIS is an ADC comprising an anti-CD30 monoclonal antibody attached by a protease-cleavable linker to a microtubule disrupting agent, monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), utilizing Seattle Genetics’ proprietary technology. The ADC employs a linker system that is designed to be stable in the bloodstream but to release MMAE upon internalization into CD30-expressing tumor cells.

ADCETRIS injection for intravenous infusion has received FDA approval for six indications in adult patients with: (1) previously untreated systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL) or other CD30-expressing peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL), including angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma and PTCL not otherwise specified, in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone, (2) previously untreated Stage III or IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), in combination with doxorubicin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine, (3) cHL at high risk of relapse or progression as post-autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) consolidation, (4) cHL after failure of auto-HSCT or failure of at least two prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimens in patients who are not auto-HSCT candidates, (5) sALCL after failure of at least one prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimen, and (6) primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (pcALCL) or CD30-expressing mycosis fungoides (MF) who have received prior systemic therapy.

Health Canada granted ADCETRIS approval with conditions for relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and sALCL in 2013, and non-conditional approval for post-autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) consolidation treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma patients at increased risk of relapse or progression.

ADCETRIS received conditional marketing authorization from the European Commission in October 2012. The approved indications in Europe are: (1) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory CD30-positive Hodgkin lymphoma following ASCT, or following at least two prior therapies when ASCT or multi-agent chemotherapy is not a treatment option, (2) the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory sALCL, (3) for the treatment of adult patients with CD30-positive Hodgkin lymphoma at increased risk of relapse or progression following ASCT, and (4) for the treatment of adult patients with CD30-positive cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) after at least one prior systemic therapy.

ADCETRIS has received marketing authorization by regulatory authorities in 72 countries for relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and sALCL. See select important safety information, including Boxed Warning, below.

Seattle Genetics and Takeda are jointly developing ADCETRIS. Under the terms of the collaboration agreement, Seattle Genetics has U.S. and Canadian commercialization rights and Takeda has rights to commercialize ADCETRIS in the rest of the world. Seattle Genetics and Takeda are funding joint development costs for ADCETRIS on a 50:50 basis, except in Japan where Takeda is solely responsible for development costs.

ArQule Presents Clinical and Preclinical Data for ARQ 751 at the 30th EORTC/AACR/NCI Symposium

On November 16, 2018 ArQule, Inc. (Nasdaq: ARQL) reported the presentation of clinical and preclinical data on ARQ 751 in three poster presentations at the 30th EORTC/AACR/NCI Symposium held from November 13 to 16, 2018 in Dublin, Ireland (Press release, ArQule, NOV 16, 2018, View Source [SID1234531401]). The data presented highlight clinical data from ARQ 751-101, a Phase 1 study in adult patients with refractory and/or metastatic tumors that harbor AKT, PI3K or PTEN genetic alterations, and preclinical data on ARQ 751 in combination with other agents.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Clinical data highlights and key conclusions include:

1. A Phase 1 Dose Escalation Study of ARQ 751 in Adult Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors with AKT1, 2, 3 Genetic Alterations, Activating PI3K Mutations, PTEN-null, or Other Known Actionable PTEN Mutations

ARQ 751 demonstrated manageable toxicity at doses from 5 mg QD to 75 mg QD, and the recommended Phase 2 dose was determined to be 75 mg QD
Evidence of clinical activity was observed with two partial responses in ER+/PR+/HER2- stage IV breast cancer patients, one with PTEN C296fs*2 mutation, one with PIK3CA H1047R mutation, 11 patients had stable disease
The data support continued development of ARQ 751 as a monotherapy or in combination with other anti-cancer agents due to its manageable safety profile and preliminary evidence of biological activity
"ARQ 751, as a highly specific allosteric AKT inhibitor, holds great potential in treating patients with solid tumors harboring mutations in the AKT/PI3K/PTEN pathways," said Brian Schwartz, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of ArQule. "The presented data are very encouraging and demonstrate both preliminary signs of clinical activity and a favorable safety profile while also determining the recommended Phase 2 dose. At ArQule, we are committed to developing genetically targeted cancer treatments to provide effective new treatment options for patients, particularly those with advanced or relapsed disease, and look forward to advancing the ARQ 751 clinical program."

Preclinical data highlights include:

2. Combination of the AKT inhibitor ARQ 751 with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor and Other Therapeutic Agents

In preclinical cellular models, ARQ 751 exerted greater anti-proliferative and biochemical effects when in combination with multiple therapeutic agents including an ER antagonist, aromatase inhibitor, androgen receptor antagonist and a BTK inhibitor
In an in vivo colon cancer animal model, ARQ 751 in combination with an anti-PD-1 antibody exhibited superior anti-tumor activity compared to single agents
3. Miransertib and ARQ 751 exhibit superior cell-death-inducing properties compared to other AKT inhibitors and can overcome resistance to other allosteric AKT inhibitors

ArQule’s AKT inhibitors, miransertib and ARQ 751 showed superior activity in comparison to other allosteric and ATP-competitive AKT inhibitors currently in clinical development
Miransertib and ARQ 751 have the potential to overcome some mechanisms of resistance to AKT inhibitors
Miransertib and ARQ 751 in combination with ATM inhibition demonstrated synergistic effects
Dr. Shubham Pant, MD, Associate Professor in the Department of Investigational Cancer Therapeutics at MD Anderson Cancer Center, said "AKT inhibitors have significant potential to treat a broad range of solid tumors in molecularly defined patient populations. The presented data show that ARQ 751 exhibits unique properties that differentiate it from other AKT inhibitors. It is our hope that by combining ARQ 751 with a broad spectrum of therapeutic agents, including hormonal agents, we could provide new opportunities for combinatorial interventions in oncology."

All posters presented by ArQule at the EORTC/AACR/NCI Symposium are available on the company’s website at View Source

About ARQ 751
ARQ 751 is an orally bioavailable, selective small molecule inhibitor of the AKT serine/threonine kinase. The AKT pathway when abnormally activated is implicated in multiple oncogenic processes such as cell proliferation and apoptosis. This pathway has emerged as a target of potential therapeutic relevance for compounds that inhibit its activity, which has been linked to a variety of cancers as well as to select non-oncology indications. ARQ 751 is currently in a Phase 1 study in adult patients with refractory and/or metastatic tumors that harbor genetic alterations along the AKT pathway.

About Miransertib
Miransertib (ARQ 092) is an orally bioavailable, selective, pan-AKT (protein kinase B) inhibitor that potently inhibits AKT1, 2 and 3 isoforms. Dysregulation of AKT has been implicated in a variety of rare overgrowth diseases and cancers; however, there are currently no approved inhibitors of AKT. AKT inhibitors, either as single agent or combination therapy, show significant promise in molecularly defined patient populations. Miransertib is currently in a Phase 1/2 company-sponsored study for PIK3CA-Related Overgrowth Spectrum (PROS), a Phase 1 study for ultra-rare Proteus syndrome conducted by the National Institutes of Health (NIH/NHGRI), and a Phase 1b study in combination with the hormonal therapy, anastrozole, in patients with advanced endometrial cancer with AKT and PI3K mutations. Miransertib has been granted Rare Pediatric Disease Designation and Fast Track Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as well as Orphan Designation by the FDA and European Medicines Agency in the rare overgrowth disease, Proteus syndrome.

Akari Announces Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results and Business Highlights

On November 15, 2018 Akari Therapeutics, Plc (NASDAQ:AKTX), a biopharmaceutical company focused on innovative therapeutics to treat orphan autoimmune and inflammatory diseases where complement and or leukotriene systems are implicated, reported its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2018 (Press release, Akari Therapeutics, NOV 15, 2018, View Source [SID1234531344]).

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"We are focused on moving our four priority clinical programs forward and expect initial data from our trials in patients with bullous pemphigoid (BP) and atopic keratoconjunctivitis (AKC) in the first quarter of 2019," commented Clive Richardson, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Akari Therapeutics.

Clinical development highlights and upcoming milestones

Coversin clinical trials focused on orphan diseases mediated by both the complement and leukotriene pathways with initial data readouts expected in the first quarter 2019:
Phase II trial in patients with BP, a severe blistering skin disease
Phase I/II trial in patients with AKC, a sight-threatening surface of the eye condition
Coversin clinical trials in orphan diseases in which complement dysregulation is the primary disease driver:
Two trials open in PNH: a Phase III trial in naïve patients and a Phase II trial in patients who are resistant to eculizumab
An open Phase II trial in atypical hemolytic syndrome (aHUS), a severe thrombotic microangiopathy
Ongoing named patient program in pediatric patients with thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) post bone marrow transplant
Long-term safety study for Coversin
Total cumulative number of patient-years on Coversin treatment approximately 15 years
All patients in the long term study have now been treated for more than 15 months and the first patient has now been treated for 34 months
No drug related serious adverse events and no neutralizing antibodies reported to date
Six PNH patients were transfusion dependent prior to treatment with Coversin, of which four in the long-term study are now transfusion independent; two remain on transfusion.
Third Quarter 2018 Financial Results

Research and development (R&D) expenses in the third quarter of 2018 were $3.3 million, as compared to $6.4 million in the same quarter the prior year. The decrease was due primarily to lower manufacturing costs for Coversin as the Company had previously manufactured clinical trial material for supply through 2019, partially offset by higher clinical trial activity.
General and administrative (G&A) expenses in the third quarter of 2018 were $2.4 million, as compared to $2.2 million in the same quarter last year. This increase was due primarily to higher professional fees.
Operating expenses were $3.0 million in the third quarter of 2018. Excluding a $2.7 million one-time litigation settlement gain, operating expenses were $5.7 million in the third quarter of 2018, as compared to $8.5 million in the same quarter the prior year. This decrease is primarily due to lower R&D expenses.
Total other expense for the third quarter of 2018 was $0.6 million, as compared to $1.8 million in the same quarter the prior year. This change was primarily attributed to a $0.7 million loss in fair value of the stock option liabilities in the third quarter of 2018, compared to a $1.7 million loss in the third quarter of 2017.
Net loss for the third quarter of 2018 was $3.6 million, compared to a net loss of $10.4 million for the same period in 2017. This year over year decrease in net loss was due primarily to the aforementioned $2.7 million litigation settlement gain, lower R&D expenses and change in fair value of the stock option and warrant liabilities, which were lower in the third quarter of 2018 compared to the prior year period.
As of September 30, 2018, the Company had cash of $10.1 million, as compared to cash of $28.1 million as of December 31, 2017.
In addition, on September 26, 2018, the Company entered into a securities purchase agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") with Aspire Capital Fund, LLC ("Aspire Capital"), which provides that, upon the terms, Aspire Capital is committed to purchase up to an aggregate of $20.0 million of the Company’s ADSs over the 30-month term of the Purchase Agreement. In consideration for entering into the Purchase Agreement, concurrently with the execution of the Purchase Agreement, the Company issued 30,000,000 ordinary shares to Aspire Capital and sold to Aspire Capital 25,000,000 ordinary shares for $0.02 per share (equivalent to $2.00 per ADS and $500,000).

European Commission approves Ipsen’s Cabometyx® (cabozantinib) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in adults previously treated with sorafenib

On November 15, 2018 Ipsen (Euronext: IPN; ADR: IPSEY) reported that the European Commission (EC) has approved Cabometyx (cabozantinib) 20, 40, 60 mg as a monotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in adults who have previously been treated with sorafenib (Press release, Ipsen, NOV 15, 2018, View Source [SID1234531360]). This approval allows for the marketing of Cabometyx (cabozantinib) in this indication in all 28 member states of the European Union, Norway and Iceland.

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

"Today’s EC approval for the use of Cabometyx provides a much needed new option for HCC patients. Until now, physicians in Europe had only one approved therapy for the 2nd line treatment of this aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancer.1,2 We are proud to offer Cabometyx as an innovative treatment that has been shown to extend survival in previously treated patients with HCC," said Harout Semerjian, Chief Commercial Officer, Ipsen. "This new indication reinforces Ipsen’s commitment to improve patients’ lives through the expansion of the clinical benefit of Cabometyx in the treatment of solid tumors."

Philippe Merle, M.D., Ph.D., Hepatology and Gastroenterology specialist at La Croix-Rousse Hospital, Lyon, stated: "Patients with HCC in Europe can now benefit from a treatment that has, through the CELESTIAL trial, proven effective in prolonging life and delaying disease progression. This is a very encouraging development for liver cancer patients, and provides physicians with a new therapeutic option for this complex disease."

The EC approval is based on the results of the global placebo-controlled CELESTIAL phase 3 pivotal trial which met its primary endpoint of overall survival (OS), with cabozantinib providing a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in OS compared with placebo in patients with advanced HCC who have been previously treated with sorafenib.3 In July 2018, CELESTIAL phase 3 pivotal trial results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.3

The EC has also approved Cabometyx for the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC) both in treatment-naïve adults with intermediate or poor risk (May 2018) and in adults following prior vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-targeted therapy (September 2016).

The detailed recommendations for the use of this product are described in the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC), available here.

About CELESTIAL

CELESTIAL is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled global phase 3 study of cabozantinib versus placebo in patients with advanced HCC who have been previously treated with sorafenib. The study was conducted at more than 100 sites globally in 19 countries. The trial was designed to enroll 760 patients with advanced HCC who previously received sorafenib and may have received up to two prior systemic cancer therapies for HCC and had adequate liver function. Enrollment of the trial was completed in September 2017, and 773 patients were ultimately randomized. Patients were randomized 2:1 to receive 60 mg of cabozantinib once daily or placebo and were stratified based on etiology of the disease (hepatitis C, hepatitis B or other), geographic region (Asia versus other regions) and presence of extrahepatic spread and/or macrovascular invasion (yes or no). No cross-over was allowed between the study arms.

The primary endpoint for the trial is OS, and secondary endpoints include objective response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS). Exploratory endpoints include patient-reported outcomes, biomarkers and safety.

Based on available clinical trial data from various published trials conducted in the second-line setting of advanced HCC, the CELESTIAL trial statistics for the primary endpoint of OS assumed a median OS of 8.2 months for the placebo arm. A total of 621 events provide the study with 90 percent power to detect a 32 percent increase in median OS (HR = 0.76) at the final analysis. Two interim analyses were planned and conducted at 50 percent and 75 percent of the planned 621 events. The independent data monitoring committee for the study recommended that the trial should be stopped for efficacy following review of the second planned interim analysis. CELESTIAL trial met its primary endpoint, with cabozantinib providing a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in OS compared to placebo in patients with advanced HCC. The safety data in the study were consistent with the established profile of cabozantinib.

About Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common form of liver cancer in adults.4 The disease originates in cells called hepatocytes found in the liver. With approximately 800’000 new cases diagnosed each year, HCC is the sixth most common cancer and the second-leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide.5,6 According to the GLOBOCAN data, it is estimated that across the European Union (EU-28) nearly 60’000 new patients will be diagnosed with liver cancer in 2020.7 Without treatment, patients with the disease in advanced stage usually survive between 4 and 8 months.8

About Cabometyx (cabozantinib)

Cabometyx is an oral small molecule inhibitor of tyrosine kinase receptors, including VEGFR, MET, AXL and RET. In preclinical models, cabozantinib has been shown to inhibit the activity of these receptors, which are involved in normal cellular function and pathologic processes such as tumor angiogenesis, invasiveness, metastasis and drug resistance.

In February of 2016, Exelixis and Ipsen jointly announced an exclusive licensing agreement for the commercialization and further development of cabozantinib indications outside of the United States, Canada and Japan. This agreement was amended in December of 2016 to include commercialization rights for Ipsen in Canada.

Cabometyx tablets are approved in the United States for the treatment of patients with advanced RCC. On September 9, 2016, the European Commission approved Cabometyx tablets for the treatment of advanced RCC in adults who have received prior vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-targeted therapy in the European Union, Norway and Iceland. Cabometyx is also approved in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Hong Kong, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan and Ukraine. Cabometyx is available in 20 mg, 40 mg or 60 mg doses. The recommended dose is 60 mg orally, once daily.

On May 17, 2018, Ipsen announced that the European Commission approved Cabometyx for the first-line treatment of adults with intermediate- or poor- risk advanced renal cell carcinoma in the European Union, Norway and Iceland.

On November 15, 2018, Ipsen announced that the European Commission approved Cabometyx for the second-line treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in adults who have previously been treated with sorafenib in the European Union, Norway and Iceland.

Myovant Sciences to Participate in Two Upcoming Investor Conferences

On November 15, 2018 Myovant Sciences (NYSE: MYOV), a leading clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on women’s health and endocrine diseases, reported its participation in the following upcoming investor conferences (Press release, Myovant Sciences, NOV 15, 2018, http://investors.myovant.com/news-releases/2018/11-15-2018-132944791 [SID1234531386]):

Schedule your 30 min Free 1stOncology Demo!
Discover why more than 1,500 members use 1stOncology™ to excel in:

Early/Late Stage Pipeline Development - Target Scouting - Clinical Biomarkers - Indication Selection & Expansion - BD&L Contacts - Conference Reports - Combinatorial Drug Settings - Companion Diagnostics - Drug Repositioning - First-in-class Analysis - Competitive Analysis - Deals & Licensing

                  Schedule Your 30 min Free Demo!

Evercore ISI HealthConX Conference in Boston, MA. President and Chief Executive Officer, Lynn Seely, M.D., will participate in a fireside chat on Tuesday, November 27, 2018, at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Citi’s 2018 Global Healthcare Conference in New York, NY. Myovant will host meetings with investors on Wednesday, December 5 and Thursday, December 6, 2018.

A live webcast of the Evercore presentation will be accessible on the Events page under the Investors and Media section of the Myovant website at www.myovant.com. Please connect to the company’s website at least 15 minutes prior to the presentation to ensure adequate time for any software download that may be required to listen to the webcast. A replay of the webcast will be available for 30 days following the conference.