InnoCare Announces Approval of Orelabrutinib in Combination with R-CHOP as First-Line Therapy for Mantle Cell Lymphoma in China

On February 5, 2021 InnoCare Pharma (HKEX: 09969), a leading biopharmaceutical company, reported that China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) has approved the clinical trial of Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor orelabrutinib in combination with R-CHOP for previously untreated patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) (Press release, InnoCare Pharma, FEB 5, 2021, View Source [SID1234574692]).

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This is a phase 3 multicenter, randomized trial of orelabrutinib in combination with R-CHOP versus placebo plus R-CHOP in previously untreated MCL patients. The primary endpoint of the study is progression-free survival (PFS), and secondary endpoints include overall response rate (ORR), duration of response (DOR), and overall survival (OS). In addition, orelabrutinib combined with R-CHOP will also be used to treat patients with other B-cell malignant lymphomas.

Orelabrutinib is a highly selective BTK inhibitor targeting both B-cell lymphomas and autoimmune indications. On December 25, 2020, orelabrutinib received approval from the NMPA in two indications: the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) /small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), and the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory MCL. On Dec. 31, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Orphan Drug Designation to orelabrutinib for treatment of MCL.

MCL is typically an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) that arises from B-cells originating in the "mantle zone." Last December, clinical data presented at the 62nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) (Free ASH Whitepaper) Annual Meeting demonstrated that the treatment of relapsed or refractory MCL with orelabrutinib resulted in an 87.9% ORR and a 93.9% disease control rate. The CR rate, by conventional CT method, reached 34.3%.

Dr. Jasmine Cui, the co-founder, Chairwoman and CEO of InnoCare said, "Orelabrutinib is the focus of multi-center and multi-indication clinical trials in China and the U.S. In addition to CLL/SLL and MCL, we are actively exploring other tumors and autoimmune disease. It has always been our top priority to target diseases with urgent, unmet needs."

Leclaza Could Change Tagrisso-led Lung Cancer Drug Market

On February 5, 2021 Genosco reported its Yuhan’s Leclaza (ingredient: lazertinib), Korea’s 31st novel drug that treats lung cancer, has reached the commercialization stage, raising expectations for a new treatment option (Press release, Genosco, FEB 5, 2021, View Source [SID1234575420]).

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The drug received approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety on Jan. 18, on the condition that the company submits phase-3 trial data after the market release.

Hospitals can use the drug for treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with positive EGFR T790M (epidermal growth factor receptor threonine at amino acid position 790) mutation.

Researchers in the anticancer field predict a major change in the lung cancer prescription market, currently dominated by AstraZeneca’s Tagrisso (Ingredient: Osimertinib), as clinical results of Leclaza has shown that it can provide new options for NSCLC patients.

"In the clinical trials of existing third-generation EGFR TKI first-line treatments, the drug’s efficacy was lower in Asians compared to the non-Asians population," Professor Ahn Myung-ju at the Department of Hematology-Oncology at Samsung Medical Center said during a news conference on Friday. "Therefore, it was necessary to verify the efficacy of NSCLC drugs in Koreans, including Asians."

Ahn added that researchers believe that the approval of Leclaza will resolve such concerns and address the unmet demand for EGFR TKI (tyrosine kinase inhibitor) as the drug showed excellent effects in terms of resistance and brain metastasis, she added.

Professor Cho Byoung-chul of Yonsei Cancer Center, who participated in the Leclaza study as principal investigator, stressed the importance of Leclaza’s approval.

"Leclaza’s product license is good news for Yuhan and Korean patients and patients worldwide as well," Professor Cho said. "Leclaza is the only third-generation EGFR mutant therapeutic agent that has been on the same level in terms of effectiveness as Tagrisso."

He stressed that Leclaza’s approval is important because a Korean pharmaceutical company obtained approval for Korean patients.

Cho explained the mechanism, efficacy, and safety of Leclaza based on its non-clinical and clinical trials’ main results.

"Researchers have high expectations as compared to other EGFR TKI treatments, Leclaza has excellent selectivity in distinguishing between normal and mutant EGFR, and exhibits excellent effects on brain metastasis tumors," Cho said.

According to Cho, the LASER201 clinical trials showed that the objective response rate (ORR) according to the independent central review and investigator evaluation of 76 T790M mutation-positive patients is 78 patients assigned to the 240mg dose group was 58 and 72 percent. At the same time, the median progression-free survival was 11 and 13.2 months.

Researchers also observed drug-related adverse reactions of CTCAE (common terminology criteria for adverse events) grade 3 or higher in only 5 percent of the test subjects. At the same time, cardiac safety results were also excellent.

"As a result, we could confirm that Leclaza showed a significant therapeutic effect and safety profile as a second-line treatment for EGFR T790M mutation-positive NSCLC," Cho said. "Starting with the local approval, I hope that Leclaza will become a symbol of hope for lung cancer patients around the world as Yuhan plans to conduct a global phase 3 clinical trial."

According to a company official, Yuhan has almost completed recruiting participants for the global phase 3 clinical trial, despite the ongoing Covid-19 epidemic.

"We still need to recruit additional Westerners to participate in the trial, but have reached our goal to recruit patients in Asia," the official said.

Isofol announces that an abstract has been approved for AACR in April 2021

On February 5, 2021 Isofol reported that an abstract has been approved for presentation at the virtual American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) (Free AACR Whitepaper) Congress 2021 (Press release, Isofol Medical, FEB 5, 2021, View Source [SID1234576711]). The congress will take place during April 10-15, 2021 and a poster will be presented on April 10.

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Pfizer Confirms U.S. Patent Term Extension for IBRANCE® (palbociclib) Until March 2027

On February 5, 2021 Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) reported that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently issued a U.S. Patent Term Extension (PTE) certificate for IBRANCE (palbociclib) (Press release, Pfizer, FEB 5, 2021, View Source [SID1234574693]). The certificate extends the term of U.S. Patent No. RE47,739 (‘739) by more than four years until March 5, 2027. The PTE certificate was granted under the patent restoration provisions of the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984.

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This PTE will be listed in Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations (commonly known as the Orange Book), published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This extension does not include potential pediatric exclusivity.

About IBRANCE (palbociclib) 125 mg tablets and capsules

IBRANCE is an oral inhibitor of CDKs 4 and 6,1 which are key regulators of the cell cycle that trigger cellular progression.2,3 In the U.S., IBRANCE is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with HR+, HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer in combination with an aromatase inhibitor as initial endocrine based therapy in postmenopausal women or in men; or with fulvestrant in patients with disease progression following endocrine therapy.

IBRANCE is currently approved in more than 100 countries and has been prescribed to more than 350,000 patients globally.

The full U.S. Prescribing Information for the IBRANCE tablets and the IBRANCE capsules can be found here and here.

IMPORTANT IBRANCE (palbociclib) SAFETY INFORMATION FROM THE U.S. PRESCRIBING INFORMATION

Neutropenia was the most frequently reported adverse reaction in PALOMA-2 (80%) and PALOMA-3 (83%). In PALOMA-2, Grade 3 (56%) or 4 (10%) decreased neutrophil counts were reported in patients receiving IBRANCE plus letrozole. In PALOMA-3, Grade 3 (55%) or Grade 4 (11%) decreased neutrophil counts were reported in patients receiving IBRANCE plus fulvestrant. Febrile neutropenia has been reported in 1.8% of patients exposed to IBRANCE across PALOMA-2 and PALOMA-3. One death due to neutropenic sepsis was observed in PALOMA-3. Inform patients to promptly report any fever.

Monitor complete blood count prior to starting IBRANCE, at the beginning of each cycle, on Day 15 of first 2 cycles 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) and/or pneumonitis can occur in patients treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors, including IBRANCE when taken in combination with endocrine therapy. Across clinical trials (PALOMA-1, PALOMA-2, PALOMA-3), 1.0% of IBRANCE-treated patients had ILD/pneumonitis of any grade, 0.1% had Grade 3 or 4, and no fatal cases were reported. Additional cases of ILD/pneumonitis have been observed in the post-marketing setting, with fatalities reported.

Monitor patients for pulmonary symptoms indicative of ILD/pneumonitis (e.g. hypoxia, cough, dyspnea). In patients who have new or worsening respiratory symptoms and are suspected to have developed pneumonitis, interrupt IBRANCE immediately and evaluate the patient. Permanently discontinue IBRANCE in patients with severe ILD or pneumonitis.

Based on the mechanism of action, IBRANCE can cause fetal harm. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during IBRANCE treatment and for at least 3 weeks after the last dose. IBRANCE may impair fertility in males and has the potential to cause genotoxicity. Advise male patients to consider sperm preservation before taking IBRANCE. Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during IBRANCE treatment and for 3 months after the last dose. Advise females to inform their healthcare provider of a known or suspected pregnancy. Advise women not to breastfeed during IBRANCE treatment and for 3 weeks after the last dose because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants.

The most common adverse reactions (≥10%) of any grade reported in PALOMA-2 for IBRANCE plus letrozole vs placebo plus letrozole were neutropenia (80% vs 6%), infections (60% vs 42%), leukopenia (39% vs 2%), fatigue (37% vs 28%), nausea (35% vs 26%), alopecia (33% vs 16%), stomatitis (30% vs 14%), diarrhea (26% vs 19%), anemia (24% vs 9%), rash (18% vs 12%), asthenia (17% vs 12%), thrombocytopenia (16% vs 1%), vomiting (16% vs 17%), decreased appetite (15% vs 9%), dry skin (12% vs 6%), pyrexia (12% vs 9%), and dysgeusia (10% vs 5%).

The most frequently reported Grade ≥3 adverse reactions (≥5%) in PALOMA-2 for IBRANCE plus letrozole vs placebo plus letrozole were neutropenia (66% vs 2%), leukopenia (25% vs 0%), infections (7% vs 3%), and anemia (5% vs 2%).

Lab abnormalities of any grade occurring in PALOMA-2 for IBRANCE plus letrozole vs placebo plus letrozole were decreased WBC (97% vs 25%), decreased neutrophils (95% vs 20%), anemia (78% vs 42%), decreased platelets (63% vs 14%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (52% vs 34%), and increased alanine aminotransferase (43% vs 30%).

The most common adverse reactions (≥10%) of any grade reported in PALOMA-3 for IBRANCE plus fulvestrant vs placebo plus fulvestrant were neutropenia (83% vs 4%), leukopenia (53% vs 5%), infections (47% vs 31%), fatigue (41% vs 29%), nausea (34% vs 28%), anemia (30% vs 13%), stomatitis (28% vs 13%), diarrhea (24% vs 19%), thrombocytopenia (23% vs 0%), vomiting (19% vs 15%), alopecia (18% vs 6%), rash (17% vs 6%), decreased appetite (16% vs 8%), and pyrexia (13% vs 5%).

The most frequently reported Grade ≥3 adverse reactions (≥5%) in PALOMA-3 for IBRANCE plus fulvestrant vs placebo plus fulvestrant were neutropenia (66% vs 1%) and leukopenia (31% vs 2%).

Lab abnormalities of any grade occurring in PALOMA-3 for IBRANCE plus fulvestrant vs placebo plus fulvestrant were decreased WBC (99% vs 26%), decreased neutrophils (96% vs 14%), anemia (78% vs 40%), decreased platelets (62% vs 10%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (43% vs 48%), and increased alanine aminotransferase (36% vs 34%).

Avoid concurrent use of strong CYP3A inhibitors. If patients must be administered a strong CYP3A inhibitor, reduce the IBRANCE dose to 75 mg. If the strong inhibitor is discontinued, increase the IBRANCE dose (after 3-5 half-lives of the inhibitor) to the dose used prior to the initiation of the strong CYP3A inhibitor. Grapefruit or grapefruit juice may increase plasma concentrations of IBRANCE and should be avoided. Avoid concomitant use of strong CYP3A inducers. The dose of sensitive CYP3A substrates with a narrow therapeutic index may need to be reduced as IBRANCE may increase their exposure.

For patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh class C), the recommended dose of IBRANCE is 75 mg. The pharmacokinetics of IBRANCE have not been studied in patients requiring hemodialysis.

Five Prime Therapeutics to Participate in Guggenheim Healthcare Talks 2021: Oncology Day

On February 5, 2021 Five Prime Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ: FPRX) reported that Tom Civik, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Helen Collins, M.D., Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, are scheduled to participate in a fireside chat at the virtual Guggenheim Healthcare Talks: Oncology Day on Friday, February 12, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. ET/10:00 a.m. PT (Press release, Five Prime Therapeutics, FEB 5, 2021, View Source [SID1234574678]).

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Live audio webcast of the fireside chat will be accessible and available for replay from the "Events & Presentations" section of the Company’s website at: View Source Five Prime will maintain an archived replay of the webcast on its website for 30 days after the conference.