On May 31, 2015 Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), reported new results from the Phase II NeoSphere study (Press release, Genentech, MAY 31, 2015, View Source [SID:1234506558]). The results suggested that Perjeta (pertuzumab) in combination with Herceptin (trastuzumab) and docetaxel chemotherapy given prior to surgery reduced the risk of disease getting worse and increased the time people lived without their cancer returning compared to Herceptin and chemotherapy in people with HER2-positive early breast cancer (eBC). The safety profile of the Perjeta regimen was consistent with that seen in previous studies, and no new safety signals were identified. These data will be presented today at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) in Chicago by Dr. Luca Gianni, Medical Oncology, San Raffaele Hospital, Scientific Institute (Abstract #505).

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!

In the NeoSphere study, both progression-free survival (PFS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were evaluated at three years. The results suggested that people who received the Perjeta regimen prior to surgery were 31 percent less likely to experience disease worsening, recurrence or death (PFS HR=0.69; 95% CI, 0.34–1.40) compared to those who received Herceptin and chemotherapy. People treated with the Perjeta regimen were also 40 percent less likely to experience disease recurrence or death (DFS HR=0.60; 95% CI, 0.28–1.27). People in the NeoSphere study who were treated in the neoadjuvant setting also received a year of adjuvant treatment with Herceptin plus chemotherapy after their surgery. The results of this analysis are descriptive, as the study was not designed to show statistical significance for three-year PFS and DFS.

"Treating breast cancer early, before it has spread, may help prevent the disease from returning or reaching an advanced stage," said Sandra Horning, M.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. "These new results add to the body of data for Perjeta in the neoadjuvant setting, and we look forward to the Phase III APHINITY study results to better understand the broader impact of Perjeta in the adjuvant treatment of HER2-positive early breast cancer."


The results also suggested that people who achieved pathological complete response (pCR; no tumor tissue detectable at the time of surgery in the affected breast and local lymph nodes) were more likely across all arms of the study to be alive and disease-free at three years (PFS HR=0.54; 95% CI, 0.29–1.00; DFS HR=0.68; 95% CI, 0.36–1.26). It was previously reported that the Perjeta regimen significantly increased the number of people who achieved pCR compared to Herceptin and docetaxel chemotherapy (39.3 vs. 21.5 percent).

In 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated (or "conditional") approval of the Perjeta regimen for neoadjuvant treatment in people with 
high-risk, HER2-positive eBC. A full review of data from the ongoing Phase III APHINITY study will be required for the accelerated approval to be converted to a full approval. APHINITY compares Perjeta, Herceptin and chemotherapy with Herceptin and chemotherapy for adjuvant (post-surgery) treatment in people with HER2-positive eBC. Data from APHINITY are expected in 2016.

Roche recently submitted a Marketing Authorization Application to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for the Perjeta regimen as a neoadjuvant treatment for people with HER2-positive eBC.

About the NeoSphere Trial

The NeoSphere trial (Neoadjuvant Study of Pertuzumab and Herceptin in an Early Regimen Evaluation) is a randomized, multicenter, international Phase II study in 417 people with newly diagnosed HER2-positive, operable, locally advanced, or inflammatory eBC. Participants were randomized to one of four study arms and received four cycles (12 weeks) of neoadjuvant treatment followed by surgery and a year of adjuvant treatment with Herceptin plus chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was pCR. Secondary endpoints included clinical response, time to clinical response, safety profile, PFS, DFS, 
breast-conserving surgery rate and biomarker assessment.

These new data suggested:

PFS rate at three years was 90 percent in the Perjeta arm compared to 86 percent in the Herceptin and docetaxel chemotherapy arm (HR=0.69).

DFS rate was 92 percent in people who received the Perjeta regimen compared to 85 percent in people who received Herceptin and chemotherapy (HR=0.60).

The safety profile was consistent with previous studies of Perjeta, and no new safety signals were identified.
Previously reported data from the primary analysis showed:

Treatment with Perjeta, Herceptin and docetaxel chemotherapy significantly improved the rate of pCR in the affected breast and local lymph nodes by 17.8 percent compared to Herceptin and chemotherapy alone (39.3 vs. 21.5 percent, p=0.0063).
pCR of 21.5 percent for Herceptin and chemotherapy
pCR of 39.3 percent for Perjeta, Herceptin and chemotherapy
pCR of 11.2 percent for Perjeta and Herceptin
pCR of 17.7 percent for Perjeta and chemotherapy

The Perjeta regimen was not associated with a significant increase in adverse events (AEs), compared to Herceptin and chemotherapy alone.

The most common severe (Grade 3 or higher) AEs for the Perjeta regimen were neutropenia (decrease in a certain type of white blood cell, 44.9 percent), febrile neutropenia (fever associated with decrease in a certain type of white blood cell, 8.4 percent), leukopenia (decrease in overall white blood cells, 4.7 percent) and diarrhea (5.6 percent).

About Perjeta

Perjeta is a medicine that targets the HER2 receptor, a protein found on the outside of many normal cells and in high quantities on the outside of cancer cells in HER2-positive cancers. Perjeta is designed specifically to prevent the HER2 receptor from pairing (or "dimerizing") with other HER receptors (EGFR/HER1, HER3 and HER4) on the surface of cells, a process that is believed to play a role in tumor growth and survival. Binding of Perjeta to HER2 may also signal the body’s immune system to destroy the cancer cells. The mechanisms of action of Perjeta and Herceptin are believed to complement each other, as both bind to the HER2 receptor, but to different places. The combination of Perjeta and Herceptin is thought to provide a more comprehensive blockade of HER signaling pathways, thus preventing tumor cell growth and survival.


Perjeta Indication Statements

Perjeta is approved for use in combination with Herceptin and docetaxel chemotherapy in people who have HER2-positive breast cancer that has spread to different parts of the body (metastatic) and who have not received anti-HER2 therapy or chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer.

Perjeta is approved for use prior to surgery in combination with Herceptin and docetaxel chemotherapy in people with HER2-positive, locally advanced, inflammatory, or early stage (tumor is greater than two centimeters in diameter or node positive) breast cancer. Perjeta should be used as part of a complete treatment regimen for early stage breast cancer. This use of Perjeta is based on an improvement in the percentage of people who had no evidence of cancer in the breast or lymph nodes at the time of surgery. Currently, no data have shown whether or not treatment with Perjeta prior to surgery improves survival. The safety of Perjeta as part of a doxorubicin (chemotherapy)-containing regimen has not been established. The safety of Perjeta administered for greater than six cycles for early stage breast cancer has not been established.

Important Safety Information

Perjeta may cause heart problems, including those without symptoms (such as reduced heart function) and those with symptoms (such as congestive heart failure).

A patient’s doctor may run tests to monitor the patient’s heart function before and during treatment with Perjeta.
Based on test results, the doctor may decide to hold or discontinue treatment with Perjeta.

Receiving Perjeta during pregnancy can result in the death of an unborn baby and birth defects.

Birth control should be used while receiving Perjeta and for seven months after a patient’s last dose of Perjeta. If a patient is a mother who is breastfeeding, the patient should talk with her doctor about either stopping breastfeeding or stopping Perjeta.
If a patient thinks she may be pregnant, the patient should contact their healthcare provider immediately.

If a patient is exposed to Perjeta during pregnancy or within seven months of becoming pregnant, the patient is encouraged to enroll in the MotHER Pregnancy Registry by contacting (800) 690-6720.

Perjeta should not be used in patients who are allergic to pertuzumab or to any of the ingredients in Perjeta.

Other possible serious side effects of Perjeta therapy include:

Infusion-related reactions: Perjeta is a medicine that is delivered into a vein through a needle. This process can cause reactions known as infusion-related reactions. The most common infusion-related reactions when receiving Perjeta, Herceptin and docetaxel chemotherapy were feeling tired, abnormal or altered taste, allergic reactions, muscle pain and vomiting. The most common infusion-related reactions when receiving Perjeta alone were fever, chills, feeling tired, headache, weakness, allergic reactions and vomiting.

Severe allergic reactions: Some people receiving Perjeta may have severe allergic reactions, called hypersensitivity reactions or anaphylaxis. This reaction may be severe, may happen quickly and may affect many areas of the body.

Perjeta has only been shown to work in people with HER2-positive breast cancer.

The most common side effects of Perjeta when given with Herceptin and docetaxel chemotherapy for treatment of breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic) are:

Diarrhea
Hair loss
Low levels of white blood cells with or without a fever
Nausea
Feeling tired
Rash
Damage to the nerves (numbness, tingling, pain in hands/feet)

The most common side effects of Perjeta when given with Herceptin and docetaxel chemotherapy as part of an early stage breast cancer regimen before surgery are:

Hair loss
Diarrhea
Nausea
Low levels of white blood cells with or without a fever

The most common side effects of Perjeta when given with Herceptin and docetaxel chemotherapy following three cycles of epirubicin, cyclophosphamide and fluorouracil as part of an early stage breast cancer regimen before surgery are:

Feeling tired
Hair loss
Diarrhea
Nausea
Vomiting
Low levels of white blood cells with or without a fever

The most common side effects of Perjeta when given with Herceptin, docetaxel chemotherapy and carboplatin chemotherapy as part of an early stage breast cancer regimen before surgery are:

Feeling tired
Hair loss
Diarrhea
Nausea
Vomiting
Low levels of white blood cells with or without a fever
Low platelet count
Low levels of red blood cells

Report side effects to Genentech and the FDA. Report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or View Source Report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555.

Please see Perjeta full Prescribing Information including Most Serious Side Effects for additional Important Safety Information at View Source

About Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 234,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 41,000 will die from the disease in 2015. In HER2-positive breast cancer, increased quantities of the Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 (HER2) are present on the surface of the tumor cells. This is known as "HER2 positivity" and affects approximately 20-25 percent of people with breast cancer. HER2-positive cancer is a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer.

On June 1, 2015 Boston Biomedical reported Boston Biomedical will present clinical data today on the investigational compounds BBI608 and BBI503 in multiple tumor types at the 2015 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) annual meeting in Chicago (Press release, Dainippon Sumitomo Pharma, MAY 31, 2015, View Source [SID:1234505206]).

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!

Data presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) highlight the potential of BBI608—an orally-administered investigational agent that targets STAT3, leading to inhibition of the critical genes for maintaining cancer stemness—for anti-cancer activity when used in combination with other chemotherapeutics across varying advanced cancers, including gastric and colorectal. Additionally, as part of the "trials in progress" program, the study protocol from the BRIGHTER study, a phase 3 clinical trial currently underway to investigate cancer stem cell pathway inhibition, is also showcased.

"Recurrence and metastasis remain clinically challenging for oncologists, and require novel treatment advancements to ensure more durable and sustained responses for cancer patients," said Manish A. Shah, M.D., the Director of Gastrointestinal Oncology at New YorkPresbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, Weill Cornell Medical College. "The BBI608 data indicate encouraging early signs of clinical activity, and support the expansive BBI608 clinical development plan including the phase 3 BRIGHTER trial in advanced gastric/gastroesophageal junction cancer."

Additional data featuring BBI503—an orally-administered investigational agent designed to inhibit Nanog and other cancer stem cell pathways by targeting kinases—showed encouraging early signs of anti-cancer activity for patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

Boston Biomedical poster presentations include:

Abstract #4069, Poster #179: BBI608-201: Phase 1b/2 study of cancer stemness inhibitor BBI608 combined with paclitaxel in advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma
• Data from the study showed BBI608 and weekly paclitaxel can be combined in patients with advanced pre-treated gastric/GEJ cancer. Lesion regression, objective responses, and prolonged stable disease were observed in heavily pre-treated patients.

In evaluable patients who had not previously received a taxane in the metastatic setting, and who received one prior line of therapy (n=6), namely the patients that meet the enrollment criteria for the BRIGHTER trial, an objective response rate (ORR) of 50% was observed. 2 In heavily pretreated patients (failed average >2 lines of prior therapies) who had not previously received a taxane in the metastatic setting (n=16), the ORR was 31% in the per-protocol population. The disease control rate (DCR) was 75%; median progressionfree survival (mPFS) was 20.6 weeks and median overall survival (mOS) was 39.3 weeks.

Most common adverse events were grade 1 to 2 diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Grade 3 adverse events included vomiting (8.7%), diarrhea of 5 days or longer (6.5%), fatigue (6.5%), abdominal and gastrointestinal pain, nausea, dehydration, anorexia, white blood cell decrease and acute kidney injury (2.2% each).

Continued evaluation of this combination and patient population, specifically in those patients who received one prior line of therapy, is currently underway in the phase 3 BRIGHTER study

Abstract #TPS4139, Poster #247a: The BRIGHTER trial: A phase 3 randomized, doubleblind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of first-in-class cancer stemness inhibitor BBI608 plus weekly paclitaxel versus placebo plus weekly paclitaxel in adult patients with advanced, previously treated gastric and gastro-esophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma
• The goal of the BRIGHTER trial (NCT02178956) is to determine if BBI608 given together with paclitaxel as second-line therapy will extend survival compared to treatment with paclitaxel alone. Enrollment is ongoing at multiple sites in North America, Europe, Australia and Japan. BBI608 blocks cancer stem cell renewal and survival by suppressing stemness pathways, including STAT3, â-catenin and immune checkpoint gene expression.

Abstract #3616, Poster #109: BBI608-246: A phase 1b study of first-in-class cancer stemness inhibitor BBI608 in combination with FOLFIRI with and without Bevacizumab in patients with advanced colorectal cancer
• Data from the study showed that BBI608 at 240 mg BID can be combined with FOLFIRI, with or without bevacizumab, in patients with advanced and heavily pretreated colorectal cancer (CRC).

Disease control, measured by partial response and stable disease, was observed in 100% of evaluable patients (n=9), including 6 patients who had failed FOLFIRI previously, with partial response in 2/9 patients and stable disease in 7/9 patients, all of whom (9/9 patients) experienced signs of tumor regression. Prolonged stable disease (more than or equal to 6 months) was observed in 5/9 patients (55.6%) of evaluable patients. The median progression-free survival was 23.7 weeks.

Most common adverse events included grade 1 and 2 diarrhea, fatigue, anorexia, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. Grade 3 diarrhea was observed in two patients, and resolved with a brief BBI608 dose holiday or dose reduction and anti-diarrheal medications, respectively. Additionally, self-resolving grade 3 fatigue lasting 4-8 days as well as dehydration was observed in one patient.

Abstract #3617, Poster #110: BBI608-224: A phase 1b/2 study of cancer stemness inhibitor BBI608 administered with Panitumumab in KRAS wild-type patients with metastatic colorectal cancer
• Results from the study found that BBI608 and bi-weekly panitumumab can be combined at the full dose of 480-500 mg BID.

Of the 24 patients enrolled, nine were anti-EGFR naïve and 15 had previously failed anti-EGFR therapy. Disease control, measured by stable disease and partial response, was observed in 44% of anti-EGFR naïve patients compared to 53.3% of patients who had failed anti-EGFR therapy previously. The median progression-free survival was 9 weeks in anti-EGFR naïve patients.

Also in this study, preliminary activity was observed in K-Ras wild-type mCRC patients regardless of prior anti-EGFR exposure, suggesting BBI608 may have re-sensitized patients to repeat anti-EGFR therapy.

Most common adverse events included grade 1-2 diarrhea, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, abdominal cramping, hypokalemia and anorexia. Grade 3 hypokalemia and diarrhea occurred in three patients, as well as abdominal pain, fatigue, hypomagnesemia, hypophosphatemia and rash in one patient.

Further studies are needed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this combination and BBI608’s potential to re-sensitize patients to anti-EGFR therapy. Encouraging signs of activity were also observed in anti-EGFR naive patients.

Abstract #3615, Poster #108: BBI503-101: Phase 1 extension study of BBI503, a first-inclass cancer stemness kinase inhibitor, in patients with advanced colorectal cancer
• The findings indicated that BBI503 as a monotherapy was tolerated at the recommended phase 2 dose of 300 mg once daily.

Disease control rate (DCR), comprising complete response, partial response and stable disease measures, in evaluated patients with high Nanog biomarker-positive status was 55.6%, while DCR in biomarker-negative patients was 12.5%.
Median overall survival in biomarker-positive patients was 38.0 weeks compared to 15.9 weeks in biomarkernegative patients.

At the recommended phase 2 dose, common adverse events were grade 1 to 2 diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramping, anorexia and fatigue, and grade 3 adverse events were fatigue (n= 4), and diarrhea, nausea, and weight loss (n=1 each)

This study underscores that further clinical evaluation of BBI503 alone or in combination with standard chemotherapeutic agents in advanced colorectal cancer is warranted. Also, findings from a publication-only abstract are available:

Abstract #e15089: A phase 1 study of BBI608, a cancer stemness inhibitor, administered with paclitaxel (PTX) as combination therapy (Rx) for pretreated unresectable or recurrent gastric cancer in Japan
• This study showed that BBI608 plus paclitaxel can be combined in patients with advanced gastric/gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (n=6). 4

Two patients (33.3%) achieved a partial response (66.7% and 36.8% regression), and one of them maintained response for more than seven and a half months. Two additional patients achieved stable disease at 2.8 months.

Most common adverse events were grade 1 diarrhea and anorexia. No severe side effects were observed in this study.

"It is an exciting time for Boston Biomedical as we showcase a broad array of studies for cancer stem cell pathway inhibitors BBI608 and BBI503 and share additional details about our pioneering phase 3 BRIGHTER study," said Chiang J. Li, M.D. FACP, the president, CEO and Chief Medical Officer of Boston Biomedical, and the Head of Global Oncology for Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Group. "The efficacy and safety results from these studies build upon the already encouraging foundation of clinical evidence, and support the need to further research these potential first-in-class treatment options."

On May 30, 2015 Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), reported results from the Phase III GADOLIN study showing that Gazyva (obinutuzumab) plus bendamustine followed by Gazyva alone provided significant benefit for people with indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) that is refractory to Rituxan (rituximab)-based treatment (Press release, Genentech, MAY 30, 2015, View Source [SID:1234506560]). In the study, Gazyva plus bendamustine followed by Gazyva alone reduced the risk of disease worsening or death (progression-free survival, PFS) by 45 percent (HR=0.55, p=0.0001), compared to bendamustine alone. The study was stopped prior to its protocol-specified final analysis due to the high level of benefit seen in the Gazyva arm compared to the bendamustine arm. There were no unexpected safety signals identified with Gazyva.

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!

"Unfortunately, some people with indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma have disease that is refractory to Rituxan-based therapy, a standard of care treatment. We’re excited by these data showing that Gazyva could help these people who have few treatment options remaining," said Sandra Horning, M.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development.

The late-breaking data from the GADOLIN study will be featured in the official press program of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Annual Meeting in Chicago on Saturday, May 30, at 8:00 A.M. CDT. The data will be presented during ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)’s 51st Annual Meeting by Dr. Laurie Sehn, British Columbia Cancer Agency/University of British Columbia (Abstract #LBA8502, Monday, June 1, 10:09-10:21 A.M. CDT), and subsequently at the 20th annual congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) (Free EHA Whitepaper) and the 13th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma (ICML) in June 2015.

Data from this pivotal study will be submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, European Medicines Agency and other health authorities around the world for approval consideration.

About the GADOLIN Study

GADOLIN (NCT01059630; GA04753g) is a Phase III open-label, multicenter, randomized two-arm study evaluating Gazyva plus bendamustine followed by Gazyva alone for up to two years compared to bendamustine alone. GADOLIN included 413 patients with indolent NHL whose disease progressed during or within six months of prior Rituxan-based therapy. The primary endpoint of the study is progression-free survival (PFS) as assessed by an independent review committee (IRC), with secondary endpoints including PFS as assessed by investigator review, response rate (RR), best response and overall survival (OS).

Results to be presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) showed:

The median PFS was not reached in the Gazyva-based treatment group versus 14.9 months with bendamustine alone (HR=0.55, p=0.0001) as assessed by IRC.

The median PFS with Gazyva-based treatment was more than double that with bendamustine alone (29.2 months vs. 14.0 months, HR=0.52, p<0.0001), as assessed by investigator review.

No unexpected safety signals were identified in the Gazyva-based treatment arm. Grade 3-4 adverse events that occurred in at least two percent of patients in the Gazyva-treated group or bendamustine alone group included low white blood cell count (33 percent vs. 26.3 percent), low blood platelet count (10.8 percent vs. 16.2 percent), infusion-related reactions (10.8 percent vs. 5.6 percent), low red blood cell count (7.7 percent vs. 10.1 percent), low white blood cell count with fever (4.6 percent vs. 3.5 percent), nausea (1 percent vs. 3 percent), fatigue (1.5 percent vs. 2.5 percent), diarrhea (1 percent vs. 2.5 percent), vomiting (2.1 percent vs. 1 percent), respectively.

About Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
There are two main types of lymphoma: Hodgkin’s lymphoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). NHL represents approximately 85 percent of all lymphomas diagnosed. There are more than 60 different types of NHL that fall under two subsets, aggressive and indolent (slow-growing). According to the American Cancer Society, it is expected that nearly 72,000 people will be diagnosed with NHL in the United States in 2015, and nearly 20,000 will die from the disease.

Most cases of NHL start in B-lymphocytes, cells that are part of the body’s immune system and help to defend the body against infections. B-cell lymphoma develops when these cells become cancerous and begin to multiply and collect in the lymphatic system, such as lymph nodes, lymphatic tissues or the spleen.

About Gazyva

Gazyva is an engineered monoclonal antibody designed to attach to CD20, a protein found only on B-cells. It attacks targeted cells both directly and together with the body’s immune system. Gazyva is thought to have an increased ability to induce direct cell death and induces greater activity in how it recruits the body’s immune system to attack B-cells (antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity; ADCC) when compared to Rituxan. Gazyva was discovered by Roche Glycart AG, a wholly owned, independent research unit of Roche. In the United States, Gazyva is part of a collaboration between Genentech and Biogen Idec.

Gazyva is being studied in a large clinical program, including the Phase III GOYA and GALLIUM studies. GOYA is comparing Gazyva head-to-head with Rituxan plus chemotherapy in first line diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and GALLIUM is comparing Gazyva head-to-head with Rituxan plus chemotherapy in first line indolent NHL. Additional combination studies investigating Gazyva with other approved or investigational medicines, including cancer immunotherapies and small molecule inhibitors, are planned or underway across a range of blood cancers.

Gazyva Indication

Gazyva is a prescription medicine used with the chemotherapy drug, chlorambucil, to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in adults who have not had previous CLL treatment.

Important Safety Information

Patients must tell their doctor right away about any side effects they experience. Gazyva can cause side effects that can become serious or life-threatening, including:

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV): Hepatitis B can cause liver failure and death. If a patient has had history of hepatitis B infection, Gazyva could cause it to return. Patients should not receive Gazyva if they have active hepatitis B liver disease. The patient’s doctor or healthcare team will need to screen for hepatitis B before, and monitor the patient for hepatitis during and after, treatment with Gazyva. Sometimes this will require treatment for hepatitis B. Symptoms of hepatitis include: worsening of fatigue and yellow discoloration of skin or eyes.

Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML): PML is a rare and serious brain infection caused by a virus. PML can be fatal. A patient’s weakened immune system could put the patient at risk. The patient’s doctor will watch for symptoms. Symptoms of PML include: confusion, difficulty talking or walking, dizziness or loss of balance, and vision problems.

Additional possible serious side effects of Gazyva:

Patients must tell their doctor right away about any side effects they experience. Gazyva can cause side effects that may become severe or life threatening, including:

Infusion Reactions: These side effects may occur during or within 24 hours of any Gazyva infusion. Some infusion reactions can be serious, including, but not limited to, severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis), acute life-threatening breathing problems, or other life-threatening infusion reactions. If a patient has a reaction, the infusion is either slowed or stopped until the patient’s symptoms are resolved. Most patients are able to complete infusions and receive medication again. However, if the infusion reaction is serious, the infusion of Gazyva will be permanently stopped. The patient’s healthcare team will take a few steps to help lessen any side effects the patient may have to the infusion process. The patient may be given medicines to take before each Gazyva treatment.

Signs of infusion reactions may include: dizziness, nausea, chills, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, breathing problems, and chest pain.
Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS): Gazyva works to break down cancer cells quickly. As cancer cells break apart, their contents are released into the blood. These contents may cause damage to organs and the heart, and may lead to kidney failure requiring the need for dialysis treatment. The patient’s doctor may prescribe medication to help prevent TLS. The patient’s doctor will also conduct regular blood tests to check for TLS. Symptoms of TLS may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and tiredness.

Infections: While a patient is taking Gazyva, the patient may develop infections. Some of these infections may be severe. Fatal infections have been reported, so the patient should be sure to talk to the doctor if the patient thinks the patient has one. Patients with active infection should not be treated with Gazyva. Infections may continue even after the patient stops taking Gazyva. The patient’s doctor may prescribe medications to help prevent infections. Symptoms of infection include fever and cough.

Low White Blood Cell Count: When a patient has an abnormally low count of infection-fighting white blood cells, it is called neutropenia. While the patient is taking Gazyva, the patient’s doctor will do blood work to check the patient’s white blood cell counts. Neutropenia can develop during or after treatment with Gazyva. It may also last for more than one month. If a patient’s white blood cell count is low, the patient’s doctor may prescribe medication to help prevent infections.

Low Platelet Count: Platelets help stop bleeding or blood loss. Gazyva may reduce the number of platelets the patient has in the blood. This may affect the clotting process. While the patient is taking Gazyva, the patient’s doctor will do blood work to check the patient’s platelet count.
Most common side effects of Gazyva

The most common side effects of Gazyva are infusion reactions, low white blood cell counts, low platelet counts, low red blood cell counts, fever, cough, nausea, and diarrhea.

Before receiving Gazyva, patients should talk to their doctor about:

Immunizations: Before receiving Gazyva therapy, the patient should tell the patient’s healthcare provider if the patient has recently received or is scheduled to receive a vaccine. Patients who are treated with Gazyva should not receive live vaccines.

Pregnancy: A patient should tell the doctor if the patient is pregnant, plans to become pregnant, or is breastfeeding. It is not known if Gazyva may harm the patient’s unborn baby or pass into the patient’s breast milk. The patient should use birth control while using Gazyva and for 12 months after treatment. Mothers who have been exposed to Gazyva during pregnancy should discuss the safety and timing of live virus vaccinations for their infants with their child’s healthcare providers. The patient should speak to the doctor about discontinuing Gazyva if the patient is breastfeeding.

Patients must tell their doctor about any side effect that bothers them or that does not go away.

These are not all of the possible side effects of Gazyva. For more information, patients should ask their doctor or pharmacist.

Gazyva is available by prescription only.

Report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or View Source Report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555.

Please visit View Source for the full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNINGS, for additional Important Safety Information.

Rituxan Indications

Rituxan (rituximab) is indicated for the treatment of patients with:

Relapsed or refractory, low-grade or follicular, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL as a single agent

Previously untreated follicular, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL in combination with first-line chemotherapy and, in patients achieving a complete or partial response to Rituxan in combination with chemotherapy, as single-agent maintenance therapy

Non-progressing (including stable disease), low-grade, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL, as a single agent, after first-line CVP chemotherapy
Previously untreated diffuse large B-cell, CD20-positive NHL in combination with CHOP or other anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens

Previously untreated and previously treated CD20-positive CLL in combination with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide (FC)
Rituxan is not recommended for use in patients with severe, active infections.

Important Safety Information:

Rituxan can cause serious side effects that can lead to death, including:

Infusion Reactions: may occur during or within 24 hours of the infusion. The patient’s doctor should give the patient medicines before their treatment. Symptoms can include hives, rash, itching, facial or oral swelling, sudden cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, weakness, dizziness, feeling faint, racing heart or chest pain.
Severe Skin and Mouth Reactions: symptoms can include painful sores, ulcers, or blisters on the skin, lips or mouth; peeling skin; rash; or pustules.

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Reactivation: may cause serious liver problems including liver failure and death. If patients have had hepatitis B or are carriers of HBV, receiving Rituxan could cause the virus to become an active infection again. Patient should not receive Rituxan if they have active HBV liver disease. The patient’s doctor will do blood tests to check for HBV infection prior to treatment and will monitor the patient during and for several months following their treatment.

Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML): a rare, serious brain infection that can lead to severe disability and death and for which there is no known prevention, treatment or cure. Symptoms can include difficulty thinking, loss of balance, changes in speech or walking, weakness on one side of the body or blurred or lost vision.

What are the additional possible serious side effects of Rituxan?

Patients must tell their doctor right away about any side effects they experience. Rituxan can cause serious side effects that can lead to death, including:

Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS): may cause kidney failure and the need for dialysis treatment, abnormal heart rhythm and can lead to death. The patient’s doctor may give the patient medicines before their treatment to help prevent TLS.

Serious Infections: can happen during and after treatment and can lead to death. These infections may be bacterial, fungal or viral. Symptoms can include fever; cold or flu symptoms; earache or headache; pain during urination; white patches in the mouth or throat; cuts or scrapes that are red, warm, swollen or painful.

Heart Problems: symptoms can include chest pain and irregular heartbeats that may require treatment. The patient’s doctor may need to stop their treatment.

Kidney Problems: the patient’s doctor should do blood tests to check how well the patient’s kidneys are working.
Stomach and Serious Bowel Problems: can include blockage or tears in the bowel that can lead to death. Stomach area pain during treatment can be a symptom.

Low Blood Cell Counts: the patient’s blood cell counts may be monitored during treatment.

The most common side effects of Rituxan are infusion reactions, chills, infections, body aches, tiredness and low white blood cells.

Patients must tell their doctor if they are pregnant, plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding. It is not known if Rituxan may harm the patient’s unborn baby or pass into the patient’s breast milk. Women should use birth control while using Rituxan and for 12 months after treatment.

Patients must tell their doctor about any side effect that bothers them or that does not go away.

These are not all of the possible side effects of Rituxan. For more information, patients should ask their doctor or pharmacist.

Report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or View Source Report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555.

Please see the Rituxan full Prescribing Information, including Most Serious Side Effects, for additional important safety information at View Source

On May 30, 2015 CTI BioPharma and Baxter International reported data from PERSIST-1 – a randomized Phase 3 registration-directed trial examining pacritinib for the treatment of myelofibrosis – in a late-breaking oral session at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) (Free ASCO Whitepaper), May 29-June 2, 2015 in Chicago, Ill (Press release, Baxter International, JUN 5, 2015, View Source [SID:1234505233]). Pacritinib is an investigational oral multikinase inhibitor with specificity for JAK2 and FLT3. Data presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) (Abstract #LBA7006) show that compared to best available therapy (exclusive of a JAK inhibitor), pacritinib therapy resulted in a significantly higher proportion of patients with spleen volume reduction and control of disease-related symptoms. Data were also selected for inclusion in the official ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Press Program.

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!

"Myelofibrosis is a difficult-to-treat, rare chronic blood cancer in need of new options that can help overcome the many unique and burdensome symptoms that patients with this disease face on a regular basis, such as blood transfusions and debilitating pain and fatigue," stated Claire Harrison, M.D., Consultant Hematologist, Guy’s and St. Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, Guy’s Hospital, London, United Kingdom and one of the principal investigators for PERSIST-1. "Based on data showing improvement in bone marrow function, pacritinib may have the potential to modify disease in the sickest patients as monotherapy and warrants further evaluation in combination with other potential disease-modifying agents."

Myelofibrosis is associated with significantly reduced quality of life and shortened survival. Spleen enlargement (splenomegaly) is a common and debilitating symptom of myelofibrosis. As the disease progresses, the body slows production of important blood cells and within one year of diagnosis the incidence of disease-related thrombocytopenia (very low blood platelet counts), severe anemia, and red blood cell transfusion requirements increase significantly.

PERSIST-1 Findings Presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper)
PERSIST-1 is a randomized (2:1), controlled Phase 3 registration-directed trial comparing the efficacy and safety of pacritinib to best available therapy (BAT) – which included a range of currently utilized off-label treatments – in 327 patients with myelofibrosis (primary myelofibrosis, post-polycythemia vera myelofibrosis, or post-essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis), regardless of the patients’ platelet counts. At study entry, 46 percent of patients were thrombocytopenic; 32 percent of patients had platelet counts less than 100,000 per microliter (<100,000/uL); and 16 percent of patients had platelet counts less than 50,000 per microliter (<50,000/uL); normal platelet counts range from 150,000 to 450,000 per microliter. The median duration of treatment was 16.2 months in patients treated with pacritinib, compared to 5.9 months in patients treated with BAT. The majority (79 percent) of patients on the BAT arm eventually crossed over to receive pacritinib therapy.

As previously reported, the trial met its primary endpoint of spleen volume reduction (35 percent or greater from baseline to Week 24 by MRI/CT scan) in the intent-to-treat population (ITT). These results included patients with severe or life-threatening thrombocytopenia. Data presented at ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) show that when measuring the volume of spleen reduction, the greatest difference in treatment arms was observed in evaluable patients with the lowest platelet counts (<50,000/uL platelets) (33.3 percent with pacritinib vs 0 percent with BAT) (p=0.037).

Beyond the statistically significant reductions in spleen volume, patients treated with pacritinib also experienced a sustained improvement in myelofibrosis-associated symptoms or Total Symptom Score (TSS) as measured by the Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Symptom Assessment Form electronic diary (MPN-SAF TSS and MPN-SAF TSS 2.0). The patient-reported outcomes instrument captures in an electronic diary how a patient feels or functions in relation to their health condition or treatment, including: fatigue, concentration, early satiety/fullness, inactivity, night sweats, itching, bone pain, abdominal discomfort, weight loss, and fevers. When measuring the secondary endpoint (the proportion of patients with a 50 percent or greater reduction in TSS from baseline to Week 24), patients treated with pacritinib experienced greater improvement in their symptoms when compared to BAT, regardless of their baseline platelet counts (ITT patient population: 24.5 percent of pacritinib-treated patients vs 6.5 percent of BAT-treated patients) (p<0.0001); Evaluable patient population: 40.9 percent of pacritinib-treated patients vs 9.9 percent of BAT-treated patients) (p<0.0001).

Twenty-five percent (25%) of patients treated with pacritinib who were severely anemic and transfusion dependent – requiring at least six units of blood in the 90 days prior to study entry – became transfusion independent, compared to zero patients treated with BAT (p<0.05). Among patients with the lowest baseline platelets (<50,000/uL) who received treatment with pacritinib, a significant increase in platelet counts was observed over time compared to BAT (p=0.003) – with a 35 percent increase in platelet counts from baseline to Week 24.

The most common adverse events, occurring in 10 percent or more of patients treated with pacritinib within 24 weeks, of any grade, were: mild to moderate diarrhea (53.2 percent vs 12.3 percent with BAT), nausea (26.8 percent vs 6.6 percent with BAT), anemia (22.3 percent vs 19.8 percent with BAT), thrombocytopenia (16.8 percent vs 13.2 percent with BAT), and vomiting (15.9 percent vs 5.7 percent with BAT). Of the patients treated with pacritinib, 3 discontinued therapy and 13 patients required dose interruption (average one week) for diarrhea. Patients received a daily full dose of pacritinib over the duration of treatment. Gastrointestinal symptoms typically lasted for approximately one week and few patients discontinued treatment due to side effects. There were no Grade 4 gastrointestinal events reported.

"Results from PERSIST-1 add to the growing body of data showing the potential for pacritinib to address an unmet medical need that currently exists for patients with myelofibrosis, particularly patients with severely low platelet counts that result either from their disease or as a side effect from current treatment," said James A. Bianco, M.D., CTI BioPharma’s President and CEO. "Based on the results observed in this trial, we are continuing to advance the broad clinical development program for pacritinib across a range of hematologic malignancies."

"PERSIST-1 is the most inclusive randomized study of patients with myelofibrosis ever conducted, as we believe it is truly representative of healthcare providers’ real-world clinical experience, including patients with advanced disease, severe cytopenias, and a broad range of platelet count levels with the greatest need for effective treatment options," said David Meek, Head of Oncology at Baxter BioScience. "We look forward to advancing the clinical trial program of pacritinib for the treatment of myelofibrosis and to sharing these data with regulatory authorities."

Data will be presented today by Ruben Mesa, M.D., Deputy Director, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Chair of the Division of Hematology & Medical Oncology, Mayo Clinic Cancer Center in both the official ASCO (Free ASCO Whitepaper) Press Program (titled ‘Targeted Therapy’) at 8:00 a.m. CT, as well as in a late-breaking oral session at 2:37 p.m. CT.

About the PERSIST Phase 3 Development Program of Pacritinib
Pacritinib is currently being evaluated in two Phase 3 clinical trials, known as the PERSIST program, for patients with myelofibrosis. The PERSIST clinical trials are intended to support a New Drug Application (NDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In August 2014, pacritinib was granted Fast Track designation by the FDA for the treatment of intermediate and high risk myelofibrosis, including but not limited to patients with disease-related thrombocytopenia, patients experiencing treatment-emergent thrombocytopenia on other JAK2 inhibitor therapy, or patients who are intolerant of, or whose symptoms are sub-optimally managed on other JAK2 inhibitor therapy. The FDA’s Fast Track process is designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of drugs to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need.

PERSIST-1 is a randomized (2:1), open-label, multinational Phase 3 clinical trial comparing the efficacy and safety of pacritinib with that of best available therapy (BAT), other than JAK inhibitors, in 327 enrolled patients with primary and secondary myelofibrosis (PMF), post-polycythemia vera myelofibrosis (PPV-MF), or post-essential thrombocythemia myelofibrosis (PET-MF), without exclusion for low platelet counts. PERSIST-2 is a randomized (2:1), open-label, multinational Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating pacritinib compared to BAT, including the approved JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor dosed according to product label for patients with myelofibrosis whose platelet counts are less than or equal to 100,000 per microliter. The trial is designed to enroll up to 300 patients in North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Russia. Additional details are available at www.clinicaltrials.gov or www.PERSISTprogram.com.

CTI BioPharma and Baxter BioScience, which is expected to become Baxalta in mid-2015, entered into a worldwide license agreement in November 2013 to develop and commercialize pacritinib. CTI BioPharma and Baxter will jointly commercialize pacritinib in the U.S. while Baxter has exclusive commercialization rights for all indications outside the U.S.

About Pacritinib
Pacritinib is an oral multikinase inhibitor with specificity for JAK2 and FLT3. The JAK family of enzymes is a central component in signal transduction pathways, which are critical to normal blood cell growth and development, as well as inflammatory cytokine expression and immune responses. Mutations in these kinases have been shown to be directly related to the development of a variety of blood-related cancers, including myeloproliferative neoplasms, leukemia, and lymphoma. The kinase profile of pacritinib suggests its potential therapeutic utility in conditions such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) due to its potent inhibition of c-fms, IRAK1, JAK2, and FLT3.1

About Myelofibrosis and Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
Myelofibrosis is a one of three main types of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), which are a closely related group of hematological blood cancers. The three main types of MPNs are myelofibrosis, polycethemia vera, and essential thrombocythemia.2 Myelofibrosis is a serious and life-threatening chronic bone marrow disorder caused by the accumulation of malignant bone marrow cells that triggers an inflammatory response and scars the bone marrow. The replacement of bone marrow with scar tissue limits its ability to produce red blood cells, prompting the spleen and liver to take over this function. Symptoms that arise from this disease include enlargement of the spleen, anemia, extreme fatigue, and pain.

The estimated prevalence of MPNs suggest there are approximately 300,000 people living with the disease in the U.S. of which myelofibrosis accounts for approximately 18,000 patients.3 In Europe, there is a wide variation of prevalence observed across data sources. Myelofibrosis has a median age of 64 at the time of diagnosis3 and is a progressive disease with approximately 20 percent of patients eventually developing acute myeloid leukemia.4 The median survival for high-risk patients is less than one and a half years; median survival for myelofibrosis patients overall is approximately six years.5