"Advanced melanoma is highly aggressive and can require multiple treatment approaches over the course of the disease," said
IMLYGIC is designed to rupture cancer cells causing the release of tumor-derived antigens, which along with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), may help to initiate an anti-tumor immune response. However, the exact mechanism of action is unknown. This may be complementary to ipilimumab's mechanism of action, as the blockade of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 has been shown to augment activation and proliferation of tumor infiltrating T-effector cells.
Melanoma is one of the most dangerous types of skin cancers, especially when it spreads to other parts of the body.1 The study showed that responses occurred in both injected and uninjected lesions, including visceral lesions, demonstrating a systemic anti-tumor response. Thirty-one (32 percent) and 22 (22 percent) of the patients were shown to have visceral disease at baseline in the combination and ipilimumab arms, respectively. Of these patients, 16 (52 percent) in the combination arm and five (23 percent) in the ipilimumab arm were observed to have a decrease in visceral lesion tumor burden. Patients in the combination arm also experienced a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 8.2 months (median follow up 68 weeks) versus 6.4 months in the ipilimumab arm. The effect was not statistically significant (HR=0.83, 95 percent CI: 0.56, 1.23; p=0.35); however, the PFS analysis was not event-driven and is still ongoing. Evaluation of overall survival (OS) is ongoing and continues to be monitored.
The most common adverse events in the IMLYGIC plus ipilimumab arm compared to the ipilimumab alone arm were fatigue (59 percent versus 42 percent, respectively), chills (53 percent versus 3 percent, respectively), diarrhea (42 percent versus 35 percent, respectively), pruritus (40 percent versus 36 percent, respectively), rash (39 percent versus 28 percent, respectively) and nausea (38 percent versus 24 percent, respectively).
"IMLYGIC is the first and only approved oncolytic viral therapy in the U.S. and
In the study, response rate was also higher in the combination arm across subsets of the disease. ORR for patients with stage IIIB/IIIC/IVM1a disease was 44 percent in the combination arm and 19 percent in the ipilimumab arm (overall response [OR]=3.3, 95 percent CI: 1.4, 7.8; p=0.007). In patients with stage IVM1b/IVM1c disease, ORR was 33 percent and 16 percent, respectively (OR=2.6, 95 percent CI: 0.9, 7.0; p=0.09). Among BRAF wild-type patients, ORR was 42 percent in the combination arm versus 10 percent in the ipilimumab arm (OR=6.5, 95 percent CI: 2.4, 17.4; p<0.0001). In patients with BRAF-mutant tumors, which comprised a minority of each arm at 35 (36 percent) and 34 (34 percent) for the combination and ipilimumab arms respectively, ORR was 34 percent in the combination arm versus 32 percent in the ipilimumab arm (OR=1.1, 95 percent CI: 0.4, 3.0; p=1.0). The disease control rate (DCR) was 58 percent in the combination arm and 42 percent in the ipilimumab arm (OR=1.9, 95 percent CI: 1.1, 3.4; p=0.033). DCR in all subgroups, with the exception of patients with BRAF mutations, favored the combination arm.
About the '264 Study
The '264 study is a Phase 1b/2, multicenter, open-label trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of IMLYGIC in combination with ipilimumab compared to ipilimumab alone in patients with unresectable stage IIIB-IV melanoma. The primary endpoint of the Phase 2 portion of study is ORR. Secondary endpoints include duration of response, DCR, PFS, OS and safety. The study randomized 198 patients, 98 in the IMLYGIC plus ipilimumab arm and 100 in the ipilimumab arm.
About Metastatic Melanoma
Melanoma remains a significant public health concern across the globe. Unlike some other cancers, melanoma incidence rates have doubled in the past 40 years, with 132,000 cases occurring worldwide each year.2,3 Melanoma is more dangerous than other skin cancers, especially when it spreads to other parts of the body, which is referred to as metastatic disease.1 The overall five-year risk of relapse after surgery increases as disease stage advances, from 48 percent for stage IIIA to 85 percent for stage IIIC.4 Risk of recurrence is even higher for patients in stage IV undergoing surgery, with 91 percent experiencing relapse.5 Despite new options, additional treatments are needed – particularly for patients with metastatic disease.
About IMLYGIC® (talimogene laherparepvec)
IMLYGIC is a genetically modified herpes simplex type 1 virus that is injected directly into tumors. IMLYGIC replicates inside tumor cells and produces GM-CSF, an immunostimulatory protein. IMLYGIC then causes the cell to rupture and die in a process called lysis. The rupture of the cancer cells causes the release of tumor-derived antigens, which together with virally derived GM-CSF may help to promote an anti-tumor immune response. However, the exact mechanism of action is unknown.
IMLYGIC is the first oncolytic viral therapy approved by the
Important U.S. Safety Information
Contraindications
Warnings and Precautions
Adverse Reactions
Please see full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide for IMLYGIC®.
About Amgen's Commitment to Oncology
Amgen Oncology is committed to helping patients take on some of the toughest cancers, such as those that have been resistant to drugs, those that progress rapidly through the body and those where limited treatment options exist. Amgen's supportive care treatments help patients combat certain side effects of strong chemotherapy, and our targeted medicines and immunotherapies focus on more than a dozen different malignancies, ranging from blood cancers to solid tumors. With decades of experience providing therapies for cancer patients, Amgen continues to grow its portfolio of innovative and biosimilar oncology medicines.
About Amgen
Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.
Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world's leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential.
For more information, visit www.amgen.com and follow us on www.twitter.com/amgen.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on the current expectations and beliefs of Amgen. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including estimates of revenues, operating margins, capital expenditures, cash, other financial metrics, expected legal, arbitration, political, regulatory or clinical results or practices, customer and prescriber patterns or practices, reimbursement activities and outcomes and other such estimates and results. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, including those discussed below and more fully described in the Securities and Exchange Commission reports filed by Amgen, including our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Unless otherwise noted, Amgen is providing this information as of the date of this news release and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this document as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual results may differ materially from those we project. Discovery or identification of new product candidates or development of new indications for existing products cannot be guaranteed and movement from concept to product is uncertain; consequently, there can be no guarantee that any particular product candidate or development of a new indication for an existing product will be successful and become a commercial product. Further, preclinical results do not guarantee safe and effective performance of product candidates in humans. The complexity of the human body cannot be perfectly, or sometimes, even adequately modeled by computer or cell culture systems or animal models. The length of time that it takes for us to complete clinical trials and obtain regulatory approval for product marketing has in the past varied and we expect similar variability in the future. Even when clinical trials are successful, regulatory authorities may question the sufficiency for approval of the trial endpoints we have selected. We develop product candidates internally and through licensing collaborations, partnerships and joint ventures. Product candidates that are derived from relationships may be subject to disputes between the parties or may prove to be not as effective or as safe as we may have believed at the time of entering into such relationship. Also, we or others could identify safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with our products after they are on the market.
Our results may be affected by our ability to successfully market both new and existing products domestically and internationally, clinical and regulatory developments involving current and future products, sales growth of recently launched products, competition from other products including biosimilars, difficulties or delays in manufacturing our products and global economic conditions. In addition, sales of our products are affected by pricing pressure, political and public scrutiny and reimbursement policies imposed by third-party payers, including governments, private insurance plans and managed care providers and may be affected by regulatory, clinical and guideline developments and domestic and international trends toward managed care and healthcare cost containment. Furthermore, our research, testing, pricing, marketing and other operations are subject to extensive regulation by domestic and foreign government regulatory authorities. We or others could identify safety, side effects or manufacturing problems with our products after they are on the market. Our business may be impacted by government investigations, litigation and product liability claims. In addition, our business may be impacted by the adoption of new tax legislation or exposure to additional tax liabilities. If we fail to meet the compliance obligations in the corporate integrity agreement between us and the U.S. government, we could become subject to significant sanctions. Further, while we routinely obtain patents for our products and technology, the protection offered by our patents and patent applications may be challenged, invalidated or circumvented by our competitors, or we may fail to prevail in present and future intellectual property litigation. We perform a substantial amount of our commercial manufacturing activities at a few key facilities and also depend on third parties for a portion of our manufacturing activities, and limits on supply may constrain sales of certain of our current products and product candidate development. In addition, we compete with other companies with respect to many of our marketed products as well as for the discovery and development of new products. Further, some raw materials, medical devices and component parts for our products are supplied by sole third-party suppliers. Certain of our distributors, customers and payers have substantial purchasing leverage in their dealings with us. The discovery of significant problems with a product similar to one of our products that implicate an entire class of products could have a material adverse effect on sales of the affected products and on our business and results of operations. Our efforts to acquire other companies or products and to integrate the operations of companies we have acquired may not be successful. We may not be able to access the capital and credit markets on terms that are favorable to us, or at all. We are increasingly dependent on information technology systems, infrastructure and data security. Our stock price is volatile and may be affected by a number of events. Our business performance could affect or limit the ability of our Board of Directors to declare a dividend or our ability to pay a dividend or repurchase our common stock.
The scientific information discussed in this news release relating to new indications for our products is preliminary and investigative and is not part of the labeling approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the products. The products are not approved for the investigational use(s) discussed in this news release, and no conclusions can or should be drawn regarding the safety or effectiveness of the products for these uses.
*YERVOY is marketed by
CONTACT:
References:
View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-randomized-study-to-evaluate-imlygic-talimogene-laherparepvec-an-oncolytic-viral-therapy-in-combination-with-a-checkpoint-inhibitor-published-in-the-journal-of-clinical-oncology-300532107.html
SOURCE