Sanofi-Aventis (France) and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Cancer Drug Misses Study Goal
The companies also announced that six abstracts describing the results of clinical trials with aflibercept will be presented at the upcoming annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and an additional two abstracts were summarized in the ASCO proceedings. All of the abstracts can be accessed on the ASCO website at www.asco.org. Aflibercept, an innovative fusion protein targeting Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), is being developed by sanofi-aventis and Regeneron for the treatment of several types of cancer.
Phase 3 Studies of Aflibercept in Combination with Chemotherapy
Sanofi-aventis and Regeneron currently are enrolling approximately 4000 patients in the U.S., Europe, and other countries around the world, in four Phase 3 studies that combine aflibercept with standard chemotherapy regimens:
* 2nd-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer in combination with folinic acid, 5-FU, and irinotecan. * 1st-line treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer in combination with gemcitabine. * 1st-line treatment for metastatic androgen-independent prostate cancer in combination with docetaxel and prednisone. * 2nd-line treatment for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer in combination with docetaxel.
A Phase 2 1st-line study of aflibercept in metastatic colorectal cancer in combination with folinic acid, 5-FU, and oxaliplatin is expected to begin later this year.
Phase 2 Study of Single-Agent Aflibercept in Advanced Ovarian Cancer
The companies reported results of a randomized, double-blind, Phase 2 study of 215 women with advanced ovarian cancer who were treated with aflibercept at a dose of either 2 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) or 4 mg/kg every two weeks. Response to treatment was assessed both by the clinical investigators and an independent review committee (IRC). As assessed by the investigators, RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors) response rates were 7.3 percent with the 4 mg/kg dose and 3.8 percent with the 2 mg/kg dose. As assessed by the IRC, patients achieved a response rate according to RECIST criteria of 4.6 percent in the 4 mg/kg arm and 0.9 percent in the 2 mg/kg arm. The study did not achieve its primary endpoint of demonstrating that patients in either arm of the study achieved a RECIST response rate as assessed by the IRC that was statistically significantly greater than 5 percent. The results were consistent with the interim data of the same trial reported at the 2007 ASCO meeting.
CA-125 response, an important marker of disease activity in ovarian cancer, was a key secondary endpoint of the study. Response rates, defined as at least a 50 percent reduction in CA-125 protein levels, were 11.6 percent in the evaluable patients treated with 4 mg/kg and 11.5 percent in the evaluable patients treated with 2 mg/kg. Eighteen (13.8 percent) of the 130 patients evaluable for CA-125 response from the combined groups had either a RECIST (as assessed by the IRC) or CA-125 response.
In the entire study population, as assessed by the IRC, median progression-free survival was 13.3 and 13.0 weeks with the 4 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg doses, respectively. Median overall survival was 49.3 and 55.4 weeks with the 4 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg doses, respectively.
Of the 40 patients in both dose groups who had evaluable ascites at baseline, 77.5 percent had either a complete disappearance or stabilization of their ascites over the study period, as assessed by the investigators.
Side effects of treatment with aflibercept were typical of this class of anti-angiogenic agents, with hypertension being the most common grade 3/4 adverse event. Other grade 3/4 adverse events occurring in at least 5 percent of patients included abdominal pain, anorexia, arthralgia, asthenia, diarrhrea, dysphonia, fatigue, headache, proteinuria, and vomiting. Bowel perforations were observed in 1.8 percent of patients. There were no significant differences in safety between the dose groups.
“We are encouraged by the results reported with the use of single-agent aflibercept in this advanced ovarian cancer patient population for whom few therapeutic options are available,” stated Dr. Marc Cluzel, Senior Vice President, R&D of sanofi-aventis.
“We and sanofi-aventis are continuing to evaluate the data from this trial in order to determine the next steps for aflibercept in advanced ovarian cancer,” commented George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., President of Regeneron Research Laboratories.
Phase 2 Studies of Aflibercept in Symptomatic Malignant Ascites (SMA)
One of the early-stage clinical studies of aflibercept summarized in the published ASCO abstracts (abstract # 14598) is a non-blinded study of patients with advanced ovarian cancer and SMA who were treated with aflibercept dosed 4 mg/kg every 2 weeks. In that study, 8 out of the 10 evaluable patients achieved a repeat paracentesis response rate, the primary endpoint of the study, defined as at least a doubling of time to first paracentesis compared to baseline average. Grade 3/4 adverse events included bowel obstruction, nausea, vomiting, anorexia, edema, general health deterioration, and one case of bowel perforation.
A double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial of 54 advanced ovarian cancer patients with SMA is about two-thirds enrolled. The primary endpoint of the study is time to repeat paracentesis.
Phase 1 Studies of Aflibercept in Combination with Chemotherapy
Results from four Phase 1 dose-escalation studies of aflibercept in combination with chemotherapy in solid tumors will be presented at ASCO. Aflibercept was studied in combination with two standard regimens in the treatment of colorectal cancer: FOLFOX-4 (abstract # 3556) and irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin (I-LV5FU2) (abstract # 3557). Aflibercept was also studied in combination with docetaxel (abstract # 3599) and gemcitabine (abstract # 3558), both widely used in the treatment of several types of solid tumors.
Results from these studies highlight the rationale for the tumor types, the chemotherapy combinations, and the doses selected for the Phase 3 combination studies currently underway.
NCI-Sponsored Studies
More than 12 studies are currently being sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program (CTEP) under a Clinical Trials Agreement with sanofi-aventis evaluating aflibercept as a single agent or in combination with chemotherapy regimens in a variety of cancer indications. Preliminary results from two of these studies will be presented as posters at ASCO demonstrating the activity of single-agent aflibercept in metastatic colorectal cancer (abstract # 4027) and glioblastoma/anaplastic glioma (abstract # 2020).
Notably, investigators reported preliminary results of a study of 48 patients with either relapsed or first recurrence temozolomide-resistant glioblastoma multiforme or anaplastic glioma. Responses were achieved in 50 percent of patients with anaplastic glioma and 30 percent of patients with glioblastoma. Grade 3 adverse events included fatigue, hypertension, hand-foot syndrome, lymphopenia, thrombosis, and proteinuria.
About Aflibercept (VEGF Trap) in Oncology
Aflibercept is a fully human soluble VEGF receptor fusion protein with a unique mechanism of action. It is a potent angiogenesis inhibitor, which binds VEGF-A more tightly than monoclonal antibodies. It blocks all VEGF-A isoforms plus placental growth factor (PIGF), another angiogenic growth factor that appears to play a role in tumor angiogenesis. Aflibercept has a relatively long half-life of approximately two weeks. Other anti-VEGF drugs have been approved for certain cancer indications and neo-vascular age-related macular degeneration.
About sanofi-aventis
Sanofi-aventis, a leading global pharmaceutical company, discovers, develops, and distributes therapeutic solutions to improve the lives of everyone. Sanofi-aventis is listed in Paris (EURONEXT PARIS: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY - News).
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About Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Regeneron is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, and commercializes medicines for the treatment of serious medical conditions. In addition to ARCALYST™ (rilonacept) Injection for Subcutaneous Use, its first commercialized product, Regeneron has therapeutic candidates in clinical trials for the potential treatment of cancer, eye diseases, and inflammatory diseases, and has preclinical programs in other diseases and disorders. Additional information about Regeneron and recent news releases are available on Regeneron's web site at www.regeneron.com.
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Contact:
sanofi-aventis Anne Bancillon, + 33 6 86 31 03 89 Director Global Oncology Communication anne.bancillon@sanofi-aventis.com or Regeneron Laura Lindsay, 914-345-7800 Corporate Communications laura.lindsay@regeneron.com or Kimberly Chen, 212-845-5634 Media Relations kchen@biosector2.com
Source: Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. / Sanofi-aventis