On October 18, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Myriad Genetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:MYGN), a leader in molecular diagnostics and personalized medicine, reported that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted its supplementary premarket approval (sPMA) application for BRACAnalysis CDx to be used as a companion diagnostic with AstraZeneca’s PARP inhibitor Lynparza (olaparib) in patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (Press release, Myriad Genetics, OCT 18, 2017, View Source [SID1234521008]). Myriad expects the FDA’s priority review process to conclude in the fiscal third-quarter 2018.
Myriad’s sPMA filing follows positive results from the Phase III OlympiAD trial, which demonstrated that Lynparza significantly reduced the risk of disease progression or death in patients with BRCA-mutated, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer by 42 percent compared to standard therapy. The results of the OlympiAD trial were published in the New England Journal of Medicine in June.
“The acceptance of the sPMA for BRACAnalysis CDx is a significant step towards enabling personalized medicine for patients with metastatic breast cancer,” said Mark C. Capone, president and CEO, Myriad Genetics. “As the pioneer in companion diagnostics for PARP inhibitors, we are excited to once again partner with AstraZeneca and broaden access to Lynparza for even more patients.”
If approved, BRACAnalysis CDx would be the first and only FDA-approved companion diagnostic for use with a PARP inhibitor to identify HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer patients with a BRCA mutation who would benefit from a PARP inhibitor. The Company estimates there are approximately 125,000 patients with metastatic breast cancer who would immediately qualify for the BRACAnalysis CDx test, followed by 60,000 new patients per year on an ongoing basis.
The ongoing collaboration with AstraZeneca to develop a novel companion diagnostic test to identify candidates for treatment with olaparib began in 2007. In Dec. 2014, Myriad received FDA approval for BRACAnalysis CDx to help identify patients with advanced ovarian cancer who are eligible for fourth-line treatment with olaparib. BRACAnalysis CDx is Myriad’s first FDA-approved companion diagnostic and was the first-ever laboratory developed test approved by the FDA.
About BRACAnalysis CDx
BRACAnalysis CDx is an in vitro diagnostic device intended for the qualitative detection and classification of variants in the protein coding regions and intron/exon boundaries of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes using genomic DNA obtained from whole blood specimens collected in EDTA. Single nucleotide variants and small insertions and deletions (indels) are identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Sanger sequencing. Large deletions and duplications in BRCA1 and BRCA2 are detected using multiplex PCR.
Results of the test are used as an aid in identifying ovarian cancer patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline BRCA variants eligible for fourth line treatment with Lynparza (olaparib). This assay is for professional use only and is to be performed only at Myriad Genetic Laboratories, a single laboratory site located at 320 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, UT 84108.
About Lynparza
Lynparza (olaparib) is an innovative, first-in-class oral poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor that may exploit tumour DNA damage response (DDR) pathway deficiencies to preferentially kill cancer cells. Lynparza is the foundation of AstraZeneca’s industry-leading portfolio of compounds targeting DNA damage response (DDR) mechanisms in cancer cells. Lynparza is currently approved by regulatory health authorities in the EU for use as monotherapy for the maintenance treatment of adult patients with platinum-sensitive relapsed BRCA-mutated (germline and/or somatic) high grade serous epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer who are in response (complete or partial) to platinum-based chemotherapy. It also is approved in the United States 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 and for the treatment of adult patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline BRCA-mutated advanced ovarian cancer who have been treated with three or more prior lines of chemotherapy. Select patients for therapy based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic for Lynparza. Lynparza is currently being investigated in another separate non-metastatic breast cancer Phase III study called OLYMPIA. This study is still open and recruiting patients internationally. In July 2017, AstraZeneca and Merck & Co., Inc., announced a global strategic oncology collaboration to jointly develop and commercialize AstraZeneca’s Lynparza, the world’s first and leading PARP inhibitor.