Strong, durable responses seen against lung tumors and brain metastases across multiple lines of therapy
NEW YORK, NY, USA I October 16, 2017 I Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) today announced full results from the Phase 2 clinical trial of the investigational, next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor lorlatinib that exhibited clinically meaningful activity against lung tumors and brain metastases in a range of patients with ALK-positive and ROS1-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including those who were heavily pretreated. Further, side effects were generally manageable and primarily mild to moderate in severity. The results [Abstract #OA 05.06] were presented by Professor Benjamin Solomon, lead investigator and medical oncologist at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia, today during an oral session at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 18th World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) in Yokohama, Japan. Pfizer will also present data from several other lung cancer clinical programs.
“The findings presented today suggest that lorlatinib, if approved, may represent an effective treatment option for patients with ALK-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer across multiple lines of therapy. These are comprehensive data in non-small cell lung cancer patients previously treated with second-generation ALK inhibitors who currently have few available treatment options,” said Professor Benjamin Solomon, lead investigator and medical oncologist at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia. “Controlling brain metastases is very important to these patients and an especially challenging aspect of treating this disease. We saw excellent intracranial responses in all patient groups, including those who were heavily pretreated.”
“Lorlatinib is an extraordinary example of what can be achieved through translational research and precision medicine development. Recall that Xalkori (crizotinib) was the first drug approved for patients with ALK-positive and ROS1-positive NSCLC. By understanding the mutations that occurred in patients that rendered their tumors resistant to Xalkori and other ALK inhibitors, medicinal chemists working at Pfizer were able to design a molecule with the potential to overcome that resistance and inhibit ALK despite these mutations. We are very encouraged by the results of this Phase 2 trial that provide the first clinical evidence of the activity of lorlatinib in this setting,” said Mace Rothenberg, MD, chief development officer, Oncology, Pfizer Global Product Development.
The Phase 2 study examined the antitumor activity and safety of lorlatinib in 275 patients with or without asymptomatic, untreated or treated brain metastases. Patients were enrolled in six cohorts based on biomarker (ALK-positive or ROS1-positive) and prior therapy. The primary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR) and intracranial ORR (IC-ORR) confirmed by independent central review (ICR). Results by clinically relevant groups showed:
- ALK-positive treatment-naïve: ORR was 90% (27/30; 95% CI: 74, 98) and IC-ORR was 75% (6/8; 95% CI: 35, 97).
- ALK-positive previously treated with crizotinib with or without chemotherapy: ORR was 69% (41/59; 95% CI: 56, 81) and IC-ORR was 68%(25/37; 95% CI: 50, 82).
- ALK-positive previously treated with a non-crizotinib ALK inhibitor with or without chemotherapy: ORR was 33% (9/27; 95% CI: 16, 54) and IC-ORR was 42% (5/12; 95% CI: 15, 72).
- ALK-positive previously treated with two or three prior ALK inhibitors with or without chemotherapy: ORR was 39% (43/111; 95% CI: 30, 49) and IC-ORR 48% (40/83; 95% CI: 37, 59).
- ROS1-positive regardless of prior treatment: ORR was 36% (17/47; 95% CI: 23, 52) and IC-ORR was 56% (14/25; 95% CI: 35, 76).
Lorlatinib was generally tolerable. Most adverse events were mild to moderate and were managed by dose reductions or delay or with standard medical therapy. There were no treatment-related deaths and a low (3%) rate of discontinuation due to drug-related adverse events. The most common adverse events were: hypercholesterolemia (81%), hypertriglyceridemia (60%), edema (43%), peripheral neuropathy (30%), weight increase (18%), cognitive effects (18%), mood effects (15%), fatigue (13%), diarrhea (11%), arthralgia (10%), and increased AST (10%).
The Phase 2 data will form the basis of discussions with global regulatory authorities, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. On April 26, 2017, the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation for lorlatinib for the treatment of patients with ALK-positive metastatic NSCLC previously treated with one or more ALK inhibitors.
Pfizer Oncology continues to build on its heritage in biomarker-driven therapies by investigating novel targeted therapies and immunotherapy combination approaches aimed at addressing significant unmet needs for patients. In addition to the lorlatinib results, Pfizer will present data at the conference from studies examining its current and investigational lung cancer medicines:
- Plasma genomic profiling and outcomes of patients with MET exon-14 altered NSCLC treated with crizotinib on PROFILE 1001 (Late-breaker oral presentation: Abstract #OA 12.06)
- First-line dacomitinib versus gefitinib in advanced non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR mutation subgroups (Oral presentation: Abstract #OA 05.01)
- Next-generation sequencing shows mechanisms of intrinsic resistance in ALK-positive NSCLC patients treated with crizotinib (Poster presentation: Abstract #P1.01-016)
- Dacomitinib versus gefitinib for first-line treatment of advanced EGFR NSCLC in Japanese patients (ARCHER 1050) (Poster presentation: Abstract #P3.01-072)
- Symptom impact of first-line dacomitinib versus gefitinib in EGFR-positive NSCLC: Results from a randomized phase 3 study (Poster presentation: Abstract #P3.01-012)
About Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide.1 NSCLC accounts for about 85 percent of lung cancer cases and remains difficult to treat, particularly in the metastatic setting.2 Approximately 75 percent of NSCLC patients are diagnosed late with metastatic or advanced disease where the five-year survival rate is only five percent.2,3,4
About Lorlatinib
Lorlatinib is an investigational next-generation ALK/ROS1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has been shown to be highly active in preclinical lung cancer models harboring chromosomal rearrangements of both ALK and ROS1. Lorlatinib was specifically designed to inhibit tumor mutations that drive resistance to other ALK inhibitors and to penetrate the blood brain barrier.
The Phase 3 CROWN study (NCT03052608) of lorlatinib began enrolling patients earlier this year. CROWN is an ongoing, open label, randomized, two-arm study comparing lorlatinib to crizotinib in the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic ALK-positive NSCLC.
Lorlatinib is an investigational agent and has not received regulatory approval for any indication anywhere in the world.
About Dacomitinib
Dacomitinib is an investigational, second-generation, oral, once-daily, irreversible epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor. It has not received regulatory approval anywhere in the world.
About XALKORI® (crizotinib)
XALKORI is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor indicated in the U.S. for the treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors are anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) or ROS1-positive as detected by an FDA-approved test. XALKORI has received approval for patients with ALK-positive NSCLC in more than 90 countries, including Australia, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea and the European Union.
About Pfizer Oncology
Pfizer Oncology is committed to pursuing innovative treatments that have a meaningful impact on those living with cancer. As a leader in oncology speeding cures and accessible breakthrough medicines to patients, Pfizer Oncology is helping to redefine life with cancer. Our strong pipeline of biologics, small molecules and immunotherapies, one of the most robust in the industry, is studied with precise focus on identifying and translating the best scientific breakthroughs into clinical application for patients across a wide range of cancers. By working collaboratively with academic institutions, individual researchers, cooperative research groups, governments and licensing partners, Pfizer Oncology strives to cure or control cancer with its breakthrough medicines. Because Pfizer Oncology knows that success in oncology is not measured solely by the medicines you manufacture, but rather by the meaningful partnerships you make to have a more positive impact on people’s lives.
Working together for a healthier world®
At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products. Our global portfolio includes medicines and vaccines as well as many of the world’s best-known consumer health care products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world’s premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, please visit us on www.pfizer.com and follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @Pfizer_News, LinkedIn, YouTube, and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer.
About the World Conference on Lung Cancer
The World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) is the world’s largest meeting dedicated to lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies, attracting over 6,000 researchers, physicians and specialists from more than 100 countries. The goal is to disseminate the latest scientific achievements; increase awareness, collaboration and understanding of lung cancer; and to help participants implement the latest developments across the globe. Organized under the theme of “Synergy to Conquer Lung Cancer,” the conference will cover a wide range of disciplines and unveil several research studies and clinical trial results. For more information, visit http://wclc2017.iaslc.org/.
1 The International Agency for Research on Cancer, the World Health Organization, GLOBOCAN 2008, Available at: http://globocan.iarc.fr/Pages/fact_sheets_cancer.aspx (select “Lung” from the drop-down menu). Accessed October 13, 2017.
2 Reade CA, Ganti AK. EGFR targeted therapy in non-small cell lung cancer: potential role of cetuximab. Biologics. 2009; 3: 215–224.
3 Yang P, Allen MS, Aubry MC, et al. Clinical features of 5,628 primary lung cancer patients: experience at Mayo Clinic from 1997 to 2003. Chest. 2005;128(1):452–462
4 American Cancer Society. Detailed Guide: Lung Cancer (Non-Small Cell). Available at: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/lungcancer-non-smallcell/detailedguide/non-small-cell-lung-cancer-survival-rates. Accessed October 13, 2017.
SOURCE: Pfizer
Post Views: 15
Strong, durable responses seen against lung tumors and brain metastases across multiple lines of therapy
NEW YORK, NY, USA I October 16, 2017 I Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) today announced full results from the Phase 2 clinical trial of the investigational, next-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor lorlatinib that exhibited clinically meaningful activity against lung tumors and brain metastases in a range of patients with ALK-positive and ROS1-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), including those who were heavily pretreated. Further, side effects were generally manageable and primarily mild to moderate in severity. The results [Abstract #OA 05.06] were presented by Professor Benjamin Solomon, lead investigator and medical oncologist at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia, today during an oral session at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 18th World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) in Yokohama, Japan. Pfizer will also present data from several other lung cancer clinical programs.
“The findings presented today suggest that lorlatinib, if approved, may represent an effective treatment option for patients with ALK-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer across multiple lines of therapy. These are comprehensive data in non-small cell lung cancer patients previously treated with second-generation ALK inhibitors who currently have few available treatment options,” said Professor Benjamin Solomon, lead investigator and medical oncologist at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Australia. “Controlling brain metastases is very important to these patients and an especially challenging aspect of treating this disease. We saw excellent intracranial responses in all patient groups, including those who were heavily pretreated.”
“Lorlatinib is an extraordinary example of what can be achieved through translational research and precision medicine development. Recall that Xalkori (crizotinib) was the first drug approved for patients with ALK-positive and ROS1-positive NSCLC. By understanding the mutations that occurred in patients that rendered their tumors resistant to Xalkori and other ALK inhibitors, medicinal chemists working at Pfizer were able to design a molecule with the potential to overcome that resistance and inhibit ALK despite these mutations. We are very encouraged by the results of this Phase 2 trial that provide the first clinical evidence of the activity of lorlatinib in this setting,” said Mace Rothenberg, MD, chief development officer, Oncology, Pfizer Global Product Development.
The Phase 2 study examined the antitumor activity and safety of lorlatinib in 275 patients with or without asymptomatic, untreated or treated brain metastases. Patients were enrolled in six cohorts based on biomarker (ALK-positive or ROS1-positive) and prior therapy. The primary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR) and intracranial ORR (IC-ORR) confirmed by independent central review (ICR). Results by clinically relevant groups showed:
- ALK-positive treatment-naïve: ORR was 90% (27/30; 95% CI: 74, 98) and IC-ORR was 75% (6/8; 95% CI: 35, 97).
- ALK-positive previously treated with crizotinib with or without chemotherapy: ORR was 69% (41/59; 95% CI: 56, 81) and IC-ORR was 68%(25/37; 95% CI: 50, 82).
- ALK-positive previously treated with a non-crizotinib ALK inhibitor with or without chemotherapy: ORR was 33% (9/27; 95% CI: 16, 54) and IC-ORR was 42% (5/12; 95% CI: 15, 72).
- ALK-positive previously treated with two or three prior ALK inhibitors with or without chemotherapy: ORR was 39% (43/111; 95% CI: 30, 49) and IC-ORR 48% (40/83; 95% CI: 37, 59).
- ROS1-positive regardless of prior treatment: ORR was 36% (17/47; 95% CI: 23, 52) and IC-ORR was 56% (14/25; 95% CI: 35, 76).
Lorlatinib was generally tolerable. Most adverse events were mild to moderate and were managed by dose reductions or delay or with standard medical therapy. There were no treatment-related deaths and a low (3%) rate of discontinuation due to drug-related adverse events. The most common adverse events were: hypercholesterolemia (81%), hypertriglyceridemia (60%), edema (43%), peripheral neuropathy (30%), weight increase (18%), cognitive effects (18%), mood effects (15%), fatigue (13%), diarrhea (11%), arthralgia (10%), and increased AST (10%).
The Phase 2 data will form the basis of discussions with global regulatory authorities, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. On April 26, 2017, the FDA granted Breakthrough Therapy designation for lorlatinib for the treatment of patients with ALK-positive metastatic NSCLC previously treated with one or more ALK inhibitors.
Pfizer Oncology continues to build on its heritage in biomarker-driven therapies by investigating novel targeted therapies and immunotherapy combination approaches aimed at addressing significant unmet needs for patients. In addition to the lorlatinib results, Pfizer will present data at the conference from studies examining its current and investigational lung cancer medicines:
- Plasma genomic profiling and outcomes of patients with MET exon-14 altered NSCLC treated with crizotinib on PROFILE 1001 (Late-breaker oral presentation: Abstract #OA 12.06)
- First-line dacomitinib versus gefitinib in advanced non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR mutation subgroups (Oral presentation: Abstract #OA 05.01)
- Next-generation sequencing shows mechanisms of intrinsic resistance in ALK-positive NSCLC patients treated with crizotinib (Poster presentation: Abstract #P1.01-016)
- Dacomitinib versus gefitinib for first-line treatment of advanced EGFR NSCLC in Japanese patients (ARCHER 1050) (Poster presentation: Abstract #P3.01-072)
- Symptom impact of first-line dacomitinib versus gefitinib in EGFR-positive NSCLC: Results from a randomized phase 3 study (Poster presentation: Abstract #P3.01-012)
About Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide.1 NSCLC accounts for about 85 percent of lung cancer cases and remains difficult to treat, particularly in the metastatic setting.2 Approximately 75 percent of NSCLC patients are diagnosed late with metastatic or advanced disease where the five-year survival rate is only five percent.2,3,4
About Lorlatinib
Lorlatinib is an investigational next-generation ALK/ROS1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has been shown to be highly active in preclinical lung cancer models harboring chromosomal rearrangements of both ALK and ROS1. Lorlatinib was specifically designed to inhibit tumor mutations that drive resistance to other ALK inhibitors and to penetrate the blood brain barrier.
The Phase 3 CROWN study (NCT03052608) of lorlatinib began enrolling patients earlier this year. CROWN is an ongoing, open label, randomized, two-arm study comparing lorlatinib to crizotinib in the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic ALK-positive NSCLC.
Lorlatinib is an investigational agent and has not received regulatory approval for any indication anywhere in the world.
About Dacomitinib
Dacomitinib is an investigational, second-generation, oral, once-daily, irreversible epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor. It has not received regulatory approval anywhere in the world.
About XALKORI® (crizotinib)
XALKORI is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor indicated in the U.S. for the treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumors are anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) or ROS1-positive as detected by an FDA-approved test. XALKORI has received approval for patients with ALK-positive NSCLC in more than 90 countries, including Australia, Canada, China, Japan, South Korea and the European Union.
About Pfizer Oncology
Pfizer Oncology is committed to pursuing innovative treatments that have a meaningful impact on those living with cancer. As a leader in oncology speeding cures and accessible breakthrough medicines to patients, Pfizer Oncology is helping to redefine life with cancer. Our strong pipeline of biologics, small molecules and immunotherapies, one of the most robust in the industry, is studied with precise focus on identifying and translating the best scientific breakthroughs into clinical application for patients across a wide range of cancers. By working collaboratively with academic institutions, individual researchers, cooperative research groups, governments and licensing partners, Pfizer Oncology strives to cure or control cancer with its breakthrough medicines. Because Pfizer Oncology knows that success in oncology is not measured solely by the medicines you manufacture, but rather by the meaningful partnerships you make to have a more positive impact on people’s lives.
Working together for a healthier world®
At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products. Our global portfolio includes medicines and vaccines as well as many of the world’s best-known consumer health care products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world’s premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, please visit us on www.pfizer.com and follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @Pfizer_News, LinkedIn, YouTube, and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer.
About the World Conference on Lung Cancer
The World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) is the world’s largest meeting dedicated to lung cancer and other thoracic malignancies, attracting over 6,000 researchers, physicians and specialists from more than 100 countries. The goal is to disseminate the latest scientific achievements; increase awareness, collaboration and understanding of lung cancer; and to help participants implement the latest developments across the globe. Organized under the theme of “Synergy to Conquer Lung Cancer,” the conference will cover a wide range of disciplines and unveil several research studies and clinical trial results. For more information, visit http://wclc2017.iaslc.org/.
1 The International Agency for Research on Cancer, the World Health Organization, GLOBOCAN 2008, Available at: http://globocan.iarc.fr/Pages/fact_sheets_cancer.aspx (select “Lung” from the drop-down menu). Accessed October 13, 2017.
2 Reade CA, Ganti AK. EGFR targeted therapy in non-small cell lung cancer: potential role of cetuximab. Biologics. 2009; 3: 215–224.
3 Yang P, Allen MS, Aubry MC, et al. Clinical features of 5,628 primary lung cancer patients: experience at Mayo Clinic from 1997 to 2003. Chest. 2005;128(1):452–462
4 American Cancer Society. Detailed Guide: Lung Cancer (Non-Small Cell). Available at: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/lungcancer-non-smallcell/detailedguide/non-small-cell-lung-cancer-survival-rates. Accessed October 13, 2017.
SOURCE: Pfizer
Post Views: 15
