Lilly’s Imlunestrant, an Oral SERD, Significantly Improved Progression-Free Survival as Monotherapy and in Combination with Verzenio® (abemaciclib) in Patients with ER+, HER2- Advanced Breast Cancer

On December 11, 2024 Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) reported results from the Phase 3 EMBER-3 study of imlunestrant, an investigational, oral selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD), in patients with estrogen receptor positive (ER+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-) advanced breast cancer (ABC), whose disease progressed on a prior aromatase inhibitor (AI), with or without a CDK4/6 inhibitor (Press release, Eli Lilly, DEC 11, 2024, View Source [SID1234649042]). Imlunestrant demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) as monotherapy in patients with an ESR1 mutation versus standard of care endocrine therapy (SOC ET), reducing the risk of disease progression or death by 38%. Imlunestrant in combination with Verzenio (abemaciclib; CDK4/6 inhibitor) reduced the risk of progression or death by 43% versus imlunestrant alone, in all patients.

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These results were published in The New England Journal of Medicine and will be shared in a late-breaking oral presentation at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium (SABCS) today, Wednesday, December 11 at 9:15 AM CT/10:15 AM ET. These data are being submitted to regulatory health authorities globally.

"The median progression free survival observed in EMBER-3 is among the most compelling we’ve seen in CDK4/6 pre-treated ER+, HER2- advanced breast cancer patients and indicates a potential shift in the therapy options we provide for these patients, which are currently very limited," said Komal Jhaveri, M.D., section head, endocrine therapy research and clinical director, early drug development at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and one of the study’s principal investigators. "The benefit and safety profile of the imlunestrant and abemaciclib combination signal a potential new all-oral option for patients."

In the EMBER-3 study, patients were randomized 1:1:1 to receive imlunestrant alone, SOC ET, or the imlunestrant-abemaciclib combination. Randomization was stratified by prior CDK4/6 inhibitor use, the presence of visceral metastases and geographic region. Patients enrolled as first line (1L) treatment for ABC (32%), following disease recurrence on or within 12 months of completing adjuvant AI, with or without CDK4/6 inhibitor for early breast cancer (EBC), or as second line (2L) treatment for ABC (64%), following progression on AI, with or without CDK4/6 inhibitor as initial therapy for ABC. Primary endpoints were investigator-assessed PFS of imlunestrant versus SOC ET therapy in patients with ESR1 mutations, imlunestrant versus SOC ET in all patients, and imlunestrant-abemaciclib versus imlunestrant in all patients.

Imlunestrant versus standard of care endocrine therapy

Imlunestrant significantly improved PFS versus SOC ET in patients with an ESR1 mutation. In patients with an ESR1 mutation, median PFS was 5.5 months with imlunestrant versus 3.8 months with SOC ET [HR=0.62 (95% CI 0.46-0.82); p-value<0.001]. The overall response rate (ORR) with imlunestrant was 14% compared to 8% with SOC ET in patients with an ESR1 mutation. In all patients, the median PFS was 5.6 months with imlunestrant versus 5.5 months with SOC ET [HR=0.87 (95% CI 0.72-1.04); p-value 0.12] and did not reach statistical significance.

Consistent with preclinical data demonstrating central nervous system (CNS) penetrance and CNS-activity of imlunestrant, CNS progression rates from a post-hoc analysis were lower with imlunestrant in all patients (HR=0.47; 95% CI, 0.16-1.38), as well as patients with an ESR1 mutation (HR=0.18; 95% CI, 0.04-0.90), however, these analyses are limited by low event numbers and lack of mandated serial asymptomatic CNS imaging in all patients.

Imlunestrant in combination with abemaciclib versus imlunestrant alone

Imlunestrant-abemaciclib significantly improved PFS compared to imlunestrant in all patients, regardless of ESR1 mutation status, with median PFS of 9.4 months for imlunestrant-abemaciclib versus 5.5 months for imlunestrant alone [HR=0.57 (95% CI 0.44-0.73); p-value <0.001]. The PFS benefit of the combination was consistent across subgroups, regardless of ESR1 mutation, or PI3K pathway mutation status, and including in patients who had previously received CDK4/6 inhibitor treatment. In all patients, the ORR with imlunestrant-abemaciclib was 27% compared to 12% with imlunestrant alone.

Safety in the imlunestrant-abemaciclib arm was consistent with the known safety profile of fulvestrant in combination with abemaciclib, with mostly low-grade adverse events including diarrhea (86%), nausea (49%), neutropenia (48%) and anemia (44%), and had a low discontinuation rate (6.3%).1,2

Overall survival (OS) results for EMBER-3 were immature at the time of analysis. The trial will continue to assess OS as a secondary endpoint.

"EMBER-3 is the first Phase 3 trial to show benefit of combining an oral SERD with a CDK4/6 inhibitor for a patient population where an all-oral regimen would represent a meaningful advance," said David Hyman, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Lilly. "We’re highly encouraged by these data for both imlunestrant as monotherapy and in combination with Verzenio, as well as the safety and tolerability profile, which demonstrate the potential for imlunestrant to be a meaningful new oral endocrine therapy option for patients. We look forward to sharing these results with the oncology community and completing regulatory submissions to global health authorities."

An estimated 70 to 80% of hormone receptor positive breast cancers are ER+ and after progression on initial endocrine therapy, are predominantly treated with fulvestrant, which is administered by intramuscular injection in a doctor’s office.3,4 According to patient-reported outcomes data from EMBER-3, 72% of patients receiving fulvestrant in the standard ET group reported injection site pain, swelling, or redness. Imlunestrant is an orally administered, brain penetrant, pure ER antagonist that delivers continuous ER target inhibition.

Imlunestrant is also being investigated in the adjuvant setting in people with ER+, HER2- early breast cancer (EBC) with an increased risk of recurrence. This Phase 3 trial, EMBER-4, is expected to enroll 6,000 EBC patients worldwide.

About EMBER-3
EMBER-3 is a Phase 3, randomized, open-label study of imlunestrant, investigator’s choice of endocrine therapy, and imlunestrant in combination with abemaciclib in patients with estrogen receptor positive (ER+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-) locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer whose disease has recurred or progressed during or following an aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy with or without a CDK 4/6 inhibitor. The trial enrolled 874 adult patients, 32% of which enrolled from the adjuvant setting into first-line treatment of ABC and 64% as second line treatment following progression on initial therapy for ABC. Enrolled trial participants were randomized between imlunestrant, investigator’s choice of fulvestrant or exemestane, or imlunestrant plus abemaciclib. More information on the EMBER-3 study can be found on clinicaltrials.gov.

About Metastatic/Advanced Breast Cancer
Metastatic/advanced breast cancer (ABC) is a cancer that has spread from the breast tissue to other parts of the body. Locally advanced breast cancer means the cancer has grown outside the organ where it started but has not yet spread to other parts of the body.1 Of all high risk early-stage breast cancer cases diagnosed in the U.S., approximately 30% will become metastatic5 and an estimated 6-10% of all new breast cancer cases are initially diagnosed as being metastatic.6 Survival is lower among women with a more advanced stage of disease at diagnosis: five-year relative survival is 99% for localized disease, 86% for regional/locally advanced disease, and 30% for metastatic/advanced disease.7 Other factors, such as tumor size, also impact five-year survival estimates.7

About Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide (following lung cancer), according to GLOBOCAN. The estimated 2.3 million new cases indicate that close to 1 in every 4 cancers diagnosed in 2022 is breast cancer. With approximately 666,000 deaths in 2022, breast cancer is the fourth-leading cause of cancer death worldwide.8 In the U.S., it is estimated that there will be more than 310,000 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in 2024. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the U.S.9

About Imlunestrant
Imlunestrant is a brain-penetrant, oral selective estrogen receptor degrader (SERD), that delivers continuous ER inhibition, including in ESR1-mutant cancers. The estrogen receptor (ER) is the key therapeutic target for patients with estrogen receptor positive (ER+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-) breast cancer. Novel degraders of ER may overcome endocrine therapy resistance while providing consistent oral pharmacology and convenience of administration. Imlunestrant is currently being studied as a treatment for advanced breast cancer and as an adjuvant treatment in early breast cancer, including: NCT04975308, NCT05514054, NCT04188548, NCT05307705.

About Verzenio (abemaciclib)
Verzenio (abemaciclib) is approved to treat people with certain HR+, HER2- breast cancers in the adjuvant and advanced or metastatic setting. Verzenio is the first CDK4/6 inhibitor approved to treat node-positive, high risk early breast cancer (EBC) patients.10 For HR+, HER2- breast cancer, The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recommends consideration of two years of abemaciclib (Verzenio) added to endocrine therapy as a Category 1 treatment option in the adjuvant setting.11 NCCN also includes Verzenio plus endocrine therapy as a preferred treatment option for HR+, HER2- metastatic breast cancer.11

The collective results of Lilly’s clinical development program continue to differentiate Verzenio as a CDK4/6 inhibitor. In high risk EBC, Verzenio has shown a persistent and deepening benefit beyond the two-year treatment period in the monarchE trial, an adjuvant study designed specifically to investigate a CDK4/6 inhibitor in a node-positive, high risk EBC population.12 In metastatic breast cancer, Verzenio has demonstrated statistically significant OS in the Phase 3 MONARCH 2 study.13 Verzenio has shown a consistent and generally manageable safety profile across clinical trials.

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

INDICATIONS FOR VERZENIO
VERZENIO is a kinase inhibitor indicated:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Please see full Prescribing Information and Patient Information for Verzenio.

Accent Therapeutics Announces First Patient Dosed in Phase 1/2 Trial of ATX-559 and Chief Scientific Officer Transition

On December 11, 2024 Accent Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering novel, targeted, small molecule cancer therapeutics, reported that the first patient has been dosed in the Phase 1/2 clinical trial evaluating the safety and tolerability of ATX-559, a first-in-class oral DHX9 inhibitor (Press release, Accent Therapeutics, DEC 11, 2024, View Source [SID1234649057]). The company also announced the retirement of Robert A. Copeland, Ph.D., Co-Founder, President, and Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), and the promotion of Serena Silver, Ph.D., to CSO.

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ATX-559 is a first-in-class potent and selective inhibitor of DHX9, a novel and previously undrugged RNA and DNA/RNA helicase, which is reported to play a critical role in tumors with high levels of replication stress (including breast, ovarian, colorectal, endometrial, gastric, and others), representing large patient populations with significant unmet medical need. The ATX-559 Phase 1/2 study (NCT06625515) is designed to evaluate the molecule’s safety profile at multiple dose levels, assessing tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and preliminary efficacy. The trial is enrolling solid tumor patients, with a particular focus on patients with BRCA1- or BRCA2-deficient breast cancer and patients with MSI-H and/or dMMR solid tumors (including certain patients with colorectal, endometrial, gastric, and other cancers). The advancement of ATX-559 into the clinic, followed closely by the KIF18A program, which is expected to enter the clinic in 1H 2025, marks a critical milestone for the company to advance potentially transformative therapies for cancer patients.

"We are thrilled to begin evaluating ATX-559 in cancer patients. While PARP inhibitors are useful standard treatments for BRCA1- and BRCA2-deficient breast cancer, the majority of patients with metastatic disease will likely need a different treatment within a year or two. Likewise, about half of patients with MSI-H/dMMR colorectal cancer patients will need additional treatments following PD-(L)1 inhibitors," said Jason Sager, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Accent Therapeutics. "With ATX-559 entering clinical trials and Accent’s KIF18A inhibitor poised to begin Phase 1 studies, we are well-positioned to translate our rigorous scientific research into the development of multiple new medicines for treating cancer. These programs represent years of the Accent Therapeutics team’s pioneering research and scientific rigor as we seek to identify meaningful new treatment options for patients who face these challenging malignancies."

Effective January 1, 2025, Serena Silver, Ph.D., will be promoted to the position of Chief Scientific Officer. Dr. Silver joined Accent in September 2022 as Vice President of Biology, bringing a breadth of experience across target discovery, drug discovery, and translational research. Prior to joining Accent, Dr. Silver was Vice President of Discovery Biology and Technologies at Fulcrum Therapeutics, where she led scientific teams to develop and deploy new assay modalities and complex cellular models of disease to identify targets and discover therapeutics for rare diseases. Previously, Dr. Silver led the Molecular Pharmacology group at Novartis Oncology, the Target ID and Validation team at Sanofi Oncology, and worked at the forefront of functional genomics screening technology at the Broad Institute. Dr. Silver holds a Ph.D. in Biology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School.

"We are delighted to promote Dr. Silver to the position of Chief Scientific Officer. Her exceptional expertise in cancer biology and strategic vision make her the ideal scientific leader as we continue to advance the science underlying our novel DHX9 and KIF18A programs in our mission to bring innovative treatments to patients," said Shakti Narayan, Ph.D., J.D., Chief Executive Officer of Accent Therapeutics. "Since co-founding Accent in 2017 and serving as President and CSO, Dr. Copeland’s visionary leadership has been instrumental in shaping our scientific direction. We want to thank Bob for his invaluable contributions to Accent and wish him the best for the future."

Dr. Copeland has served as Co-Founder, President, and Chief Scientific Officer at Accent since the company’s founding in 2017. He was formerly President of Research and CSO of Epizyme, Inc. and before that, Vice President of Cancer Biology in the Oncology Center of Excellence in Drug Discovery at GlaxoSmithKline. He has contributed to drug discovery and development efforts leading to 20 investigational new drugs entering human clinical trials. He is a member of the editorial boards of Molecular Cancer Therapeutics (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) and ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters. He also serves on multiple biotechnology scientific advisory boards. Dr. Copeland received his doctorate in chemistry from Princeton University and was the Chaim Weizmann Fellow at the California Institute of Technology. He was elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

"I am honored to step into the role of CSO at Accent," said Dr. Silver. "Our team has made significant strides towards advancing transformative medicines for cancer patients, and I am excited to lead our scientific efforts as we enter the clinic. I look forward to leveraging our exceptional talent and rigorous scientific foundation to continue translating our discoveries into impactful therapies for patients."

In addition to ATX-559, Accent anticipates initiating a Phase 1 trial in 1H 2025 for its second program targeting KIF18A in chromosomally instable tumors. The transition to a clinical-stage company marks a meaningful inflection point as Accent continues to advance its pipeline of innovative cancer therapies.

About ATX-559

ATX-559 is a first-in-class potent and selective inhibitor of DHX9, a novel and previously undrugged RNA and DNA/RNA helicase, which is reported to play a critical role in tumors with high levels of replication stress (including breast, ovarian, colorectal, endometrial, gastric, and others), representing large patient populations with significant unmet medical need. DHX9 has been reported to play important roles in replication, transcription, translation, RNA splicing, RNA processing, and maintenance of genomic stability. In addition to exploiting key tumor vulnerabilities in DNA repair deficient backgrounds (e.g., BRCA) and hyper-mutated states (e.g., MSI-H/dMMR), Accent is exploring the sensitivity of other tumor types to DHX9 inhibition, and the potential to combine DHX9 inhibitors with other cancer treatments to maximize its full potential for helping patients. Therefore, this enzyme represents a compelling novel oncology target. Accent retains full worldwide rights to ATX-559, currently being evaluated in a Phase 1/2 clinical trial (NCT06625515), and the DHX9 program.

About KIF18A

Accent’s second lead program is a potential best-in-class inhibitor for KIF18A which may address a large patient population across several cancer indications, including ovarian and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). KIF18A is a mitotic kinesin motor protein critical for cell division in select tumors with chromosomal instability, but not in healthy cells. KIF18A inhibitor treatment results in rapid cell death for cancers with an abnormal number of chromosomes (aneuploid) in vitro and in vivo, while cells with normal numbers of chromosomes (euploid) are unaffected. Accent retains full worldwide rights to the KIF18A program, which is anticipated to enter the clinic in 1H 2025.

Enterome Presents Encouraging Initial Clinical Data on EO4010 in Colorectal Cancer at ESMO IO 2024

On December 11, 2024 Enterome, a clinical-stage company developing first-in-class immunomodulatory drugs for cancer based on its unique Mimicry platform, reported that initial clinical data from the ongoing Phase 1/2 ‘AUDREY’ trial evaluating its innovative OncoMimics immunotherapy EO4010 in microsatellite stable metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC), will be presented at the ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) Immuno-Oncology (IO) Congress, taking place in Geneva, Switzerland, December 11-13, 2024 (Press release, Enterome, DEC 11, 2024, View Source [SID1234649043]).

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The AUDREY trial (EOCRC2-22) assesses the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of EO4010, in combination with nivolumab +/- bevacizumab, in patients with microsatellite stable (MSS), unresectable, and previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) — an indication with limited effective treatment options and poor clinical outcomes. EO4010 includes five OncoMimics peptides that mimic tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) highly expressed in colorectal cancer, designed to stimulate CD8+ T cells to target and eliminate tumor cells.

Poster presentation details:

Abstract #457

Title: EO4010 (EO) + nivolumab (N) ± bevacizumab (B) in patients (pts) with microsatellite stable (MSS) metastatic colorectal carcinoma (mCRC)
Presenting Author: Romain Cohen, Department of medical oncology, Saint-Antoine hospital, AP-HP, and Assistant Professor of Oncology at Sorbonne University, Paris
Poster Session: presentation time December 12, 12:00 PM-13:00 PM CET

Key findings:

Among the 17 patients evaluated in Cohort 2 of the AUDREY trial, one achieved a partial response, showing a 46% reduction in liver metastases, a 34% reduction in lung metastases, and normalization of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels. Two additional patients achieved stable disease; one demonstrated a 7% reduction in lung metastases and a marked reduction of tumor biomarkers CEA/CA19-9, while another maintained stable disease beyond 17 weeks. Six patients showed stable disease in target lesions, though with progression in non-target lesions, along with some biomarker reductions.

In Cohort 3, which included bevacizumab in addition to EO4010 and nivolumab, three out of five evaluated patients achieved stable disease, with one continuing treatment > 24 weeks (lung met’s +8%, CEA normalized).

Immune response analysis showed EO4010-specific CD8+ T cells in 12 out of 13 tested patients, with cross-reactivity to the targeted tumor antigens. Notably, over 80% of these cells were effector memory T cells after five weeks, demonstrating a sustained, targeted immune response.

Dr. Romain Cohen, Coordinating Investigator for the AUDREY trial, commented, "These early data highlight EO4010’s potential to induce targeted immune responses and shrinkage of liver metastases in patients with pretreated microsatellite stable metastatic colorectal cancer. We look forward to continued follow-up and further results from the AUDREY trial."

Pierre Bélichard, Chief Executive Officer of Enterome, added, "The presentation of EO4010 data at ESMO (Free ESMO Whitepaper) IO reflects our dedication to pioneering next-generation immunotherapies for cancers with high unmet needs. These findings support the potential of our OncoMimics platform to deliver new options for patients, leveraging multi-target engagement to address tumor heterogeneity and prevent immune escape."

About OncoMimics

OncoMimics immunotherapies are designed to activate pre-existing effector memory T cells against bacterial (non-self) peptides that strongly cross-react with corresponding Tumor-Associated Antigens (TAAs), or B cell markers expressed on tumoral cells, resulting in a rapid, targeted cytotoxic response against cancer cells.

About EO4010

EO4010, Enterome’s third clinical-stage OncoMimics candidate, combines five microbial-derived peptides that mimic HLA-A2 restricted CD8+ T cell epitopes from five TAAs: BIRC5/survivin, FOXM1, UBE2C (UBCH10), CDC20, and KIF2C (MCAK). It also includes a CD4 helper peptide, Universal Cancer Peptide 2 (UCP2), to bolster immune activation. The BIRC5 and FOXM1 mimic peptides, also used in EO2401, have shown strong immune responses and correlated clinical outcomes in combination with nivolumab +/- bevacizumab for glioblastoma.

About AUDREY

AUDREY (EOCRC2-22/NCT05589597) is a multicenter, open-label Phase 1/2 trial investigating EO4010 in monotherapy and in combination with nivolumab for treatment of patients with unresectable, previously treated, metastatic colorectal cancer. The trial is assessing safety, tolerability, immunogenicity and preliminary efficacy in 42 patients at centers in Europe and the US.

About colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in men and the second in women, contributing to 10% of all cancers worldwide. It is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death, with more than 600,000 deaths annually. Despite all efforts regarding surgery and adjuvant therapy, 25% of patients with localized CRC later develop metastases, and around 20% of cases are metastatic at diagnosis. Thus, CRC continues to be a major therapeutic challenge with a considerable number of patients experiencing premature death, fewer than 20% of those diagnosed with recurring/metastatic disease surviving beyond 5 years from diagnosis.

TCBP Partners with CareDx to Support ACHIEVE Clinical Trial Using AlloCell for Pharmacokinetic Monitoring of Allogeneic Cell Therapy

On December 11, 2024 TC BioPharm (Holdings) PLC ("TC BioPharm" or the "Company") (NASDAQ: TCBP) a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing platform allogeneic gamma-delta T cell therapies for cancer and other indications, reported a partnership with CareDx, Inc. (NASDAQ: CDNA) The Transplant Company who will perform pharmacokinetic analysis using its AlloCell solution in the ACHIEVE clinical trial (Press release, TC Biopharm, DEC 11, 2024, View Source [SID1234649058]).

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The ACHIEVE clinical trial is an adaptive, open-label, phase II study designed to evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of TCB008, an allogeneic gamma delta T cell therapy for patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) or Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS).

CareDx is a leading precision medicine company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing healthcare solutions for transplant patients and caregivers. CareDx’s AlloCell test, a sensitive solution for pharmacokinetic monitoring of allogeneic immune and stem cell therapies, will be used to evaluate the expansion and persistence of TCB008 in patients enrolled in the ACHIEVE trial.

It is expected that these expansion and persistence data will provide an understanding of the duration and effect of TCB008 Gamma Delta T-Cells in reconstituting the immune system of acute myeloid leukemia patients enrolled in the ACHIEVE trial.

"Our partnership with CareDx is a significant milestone," said Alison Bracchi, Executive Vice President of Clinical Operations at TC BioPharm. "The collaboration is pivotal to the development and optimization of TCB008 as a therapy for acute myeloid leukemia and other blood cancers."

"We are thrilled to continue to progress the science of allogeneic cell therapy for patients battling acute myeloid leukemia," said Marica Grskovic, PhD, CareDx Chief Strategy Officer. "This partnership builds upon our growth strategy to expand into hematology oncology with pharmacokinetic and monitoring assays for patients undergoing cell therapy."

EsoBiotec Begins Clinical Trial of In Vivo BCMA CAR-T Candidate ESO-T01 for Multiple Myeloma

On December 11, 2024 EsoBiotec SA, a biotechnology company empowering cells in vivo to fight cancer, reported the launch of an Investigator-Initiated Clinical Trial (IIT) in China of ESO-T01, an immune shielded lentiviral vector that reprograms T lymphocytes in vivo into highly effective BCMA CAR-T cells, for the treatment of multiple myeloma (Press release, EsoBiotec, DEC 11, 2024, View Source [SID1234651163]).

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"ESO-T01 is the first in vivo BCMA CAR-T candidate to reach the clinical stage, which is a testament to our ENaBL platform technology that reprograms immune cells inside the body to fight cancer," said EsoBiotec CEO Jean-Pierre Latere, Ph.D. "There are different types of treatments available for patients with multiple myeloma, including ex vivo CAR-T options, but many are associated with debilitating side effects and patient access remains limited by manufacturing capacity, logistical complexity, and high costs. We are keen to explore the safety and efficacy of ESO-T01 in this study, and we believe the results could allow expansion to other indications including autoimmune diseases."

EsoBiotec Chief Scientific Officer Philippe Parone, Ph.D., commented, "ESO-T01 leverages our third-generation immune-shielded lentiviral vector platform, ENaBL, designed to reprogram T cells into potent BCMA CAR-T cells directly within patients. This innovative approach delivers high specificity and efficient transduction in vivo due to the unique design features of our ENaBL technology. When this technology is combined with a robust, scalable, and reproducible manufacturing process, ESO-T01 represents an opportunity to provide patients with a cost-effective, off-the-shelf therapy, redefining access to advanced therapies."

The proof-of-concept, first-in-human IIT is underway and initial clinical data are expected to be presented in the second half of 2025. In preclinical studies, a single injection of ESO-T01 demonstrated potent anti-tumor activity against cancer cells in humanized mice. These studies showed highly effective in vivo transduction, with the BCMA CAR transgene specifically expressed in T cells. This led to the generation of a large population of circulating BCMA CAR-T cells, which persisted throughout the study, highlighting their long-term durability and efficacy.

Latere added, "EsoBiotec has been operating in stealth mode and has raised €22M in a challenging funding environment thanks to the support of very committed investors including Thuja Capital, UCB Ventures, Invivo Partners, Wallonie Entreprendre (WE), SambrInvest and Investsud. We have now entered the clinic and are well positioned to bring groundbreaking cancer treatments to patients globally leveraging our differentiated science, experienced team and established collaborations."

About ESO-T01

ESO-T01 is a third-generation replication-deficient self-inactivating lentiviral vector expressing a BCMA-targeted CAR construct under a T cell-specific synthetic promoter. It is immune shielded and resistant to phagocytosis. ESO-T01 is an "off-the-shelf" single dose treatment, directly administered systemically without the need for lymphodepletion.

About ENaBL Platform

EsoBiotec’s Engineered NanoBody Lentiviral (ENaBL) platform vectors are designed to specifically reprogram T cells and have demonstrated a high level of CAR T potency in animal studies. In large scale clinical manufacturing, the company has preserved vector specificity with high physical titer and high purity. EsoBiotec’s lead product candidate, ESO-T01, leverages the ENaBL platform to validate this novel technological approach using a clinically proven antigen.