On January 25, 2018 Synthon Biopharmaceuticals (‘Synthon’) reported that the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation for its investigational anti-HER2 antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) [vic-]trastuzumab duocarmazine (SYD985) (Press release, Synthon, JAN 25, 2018, View Source [SID1234523560]). This designation is for treating patients diagnosed with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC) that has progressed during or after at least two HER2-targeting treatment regimens for locally advanced or metastatic disease, or progressed during or after [ado-]trastuzumab emtansine treatment.
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U.S. FDA Fast Track designation is one of four programs that are intended to facilitate and expedite development and review of new drugs to address unmet medical need in the treatment of a serious or life threatening condition.
Fast Track designation for [vic-]trastuzumab duocarmazine was granted based on promising data from heavily pre-treated last-line HER2-positive MBC patients participating in a two-part Phase I clinical trial (SYD985.001). The positive clinical results indicate that this HER2-targeting ADC is efficacious and safe and could therefore provide substantial benefit to patients with no other treatment options.
In November 2017, Synthon initiated the pivotal Phase III TULIP trial, a multi-center, open-label, randomized clinical trial comparing the efficacy and safety of the ADC
[vic-]trastuzumab duocarmazine to physician’s choice treatment in patients with HER2-positive unresectable locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer. Patients are currently being enrolled in this trial, which will be conducted in up to 100 sites in the United States, Canada, Europe and Singapore.
Dr. Jacques Lemmens, chief executive officer of Synthon, commented: "We are very pleased with this Fast Track designation for [vic-]trastuzumab duocarmazine based on the promising Phase I data. There is a high unmet medical need in patients that have HER2-positive MBC and have progressed on trastuzumab and [ado-]trastuzumab emtansine. I believe that the benefit/risk balance of [vic-]trastuzumab duocarmazine is favorable and that it can provide extended benefit to these patients. Fast Track designation will support efficient development and review of [vic-]trastuzumab duocarmazine and enable early access of this promising new single-agent therapy option."