On July 9, 2018 Seattle Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq:SGEN) and Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Kenji Yasukawa, Ph.D., "Astellas") reported completion of enrollment for the enfortumab vedotin EV-201 pivotal phase 2 clinical trial cohort of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who have been previously treated with both platinum chemotherapy and a checkpoint inhibitor (PD-L1 or PD-1) (Press release, Astellas, JUL 9, 2018, View Source [SID1234527612]). Enfortumab vedotin is an investigational antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that targets Nectin-4.
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The companies expect to report topline efficacy and safety results from this first cohort of the EV-201 trial, which is intended to support potential registration under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) accelerated approval pathway, in the first half of 2019.
The companies also reported dosing of the first patient in EV-301, a global, randomized phase 3 clinical trial evaluating enfortumab vedotin in patients with previously treated locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer. The EV-301 trial is intended to support a broader global registration strategy and to serve as the confirmatory randomized trial in the U.S. for EV-201. Enfortumab vedotin has been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the FDA for patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who were previously treated with checkpoint inhibitors.
"With enfortumab vedotin, we have the opportunity to address some of the unmet need in advanced urothelial cancer," said Roger Dansey, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Seattle Genetics. "With our partners Astellas, we are pleased to advance the enfortumab vedotin clinical trial program with the vision of bringing a new treatment option to patients with advanced urothelial cancer worldwide."
"Despite recent treatment advances, the unfortunate reality is that many patients with metastatic urothelial cancer currently find that their disease will progress after anti-PD-1 or PD-L1 therapy, highlighting the need to identify additional therapeutic options," said Steven Benner, M.D., Senior Vice President and Global Therapeutic Area Head, Oncology Development, Astellas. "Following encouraging results from our ongoing phase 1 study, we and our partners at Seattle Genetics decided to proceed with these registrational trials. We look forward to future clinical development milestones for enfortumab vedotin."
In addition to EV-201 and EV-301, enfortumab vedotin is also under evaluation in a phase 1 clinical trial (EV-103) in combination with pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in cisplatin-ineligible first-line patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer.
About EV-201 Trial
EV-201 is an ongoing single-arm, single-agent pivotal phase 2 clinical trial of enfortumab vedotin for patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who have been previously treated with a checkpoint inhibitor, including those who had also been treated with a platinum chemotherapy (first cohort) and those who were cisplatin ineligible / platinum naïve (second cohort). Approximately 120 patients were enrolled in the first cohort at multiple centers. The primary endpoint is confirmed objective response rate, per independent review. Secondary endpoints include assessments of response duration, disease control, overall survival, progression-free survival, safety and tolerability. The second cohort continues to enroll cisplatin-ineligible, platinum naïve patients with urothelial cancer who have received a PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor but not a platinum agent.
About EV-301 Trial
EV-301 trial is a global, open label, randomized phase 3 trial designed to evaluate enfortumab vedotin versus physician’s choice of chemotherapy (docetaxel, paclitaxel or vinflunine) in approximately 550 patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who were previously treated with a PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor and platinum-based therapies. The primary endpoint is overall survival. Secondary endpoints include progression-free survival, overall response rate, disease control rate, duration of response and quality of life.
More information about the enfortumab vedotin clinical trials can be found at View Source
About Urothelial Cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, urothelial cancer, also known as transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), is the most common type of bladder cancer1 (90 percent of cases). Approximately 81,000 people in the U.S. are anticipated to be diagnosed with bladder cancer during 2018. Bladder cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men, but is less common in women. Outcomes are poor for people diagnosed with metastatic disease, with a five-year survival rate of 4.8 percent.2
About Enfortumab Vedotin
Enfortumab vedotin is an investigational ADC composed of an anti-Nectin-4 monoclonal antibody attached to a microtubule-disrupting agent, MMAE, using Seattle Genetics’ proprietary, linker technology. Enfortumab vedotin targets Nectin-4, a cell adhesion molecule identified as an ADC target by Astellas, which is expressed on many solid tumors.
The safety and efficacy of the agent discussed herein are under investigation and have not been established. There is no guarantee that the agent will receive regulatory approval and become commercially available for the uses being investigated. Information about pharmaceutical products (including products currently in development) which is included in this press release is not intended to constitute an advertisement or medical advice.