Takeda Announces Compelling Data from the Phase 2 Trial of Pevonedistat Plus Azacitidine in Patients with Higher-Risk MDS
Takeda Announces Compelling Data from the Phase 2 Trial of Pevonedistat Plus Azacitidine in Patients with Higher-Risk MDS
– Pevonedistat Combination Demonstrates the Potential to Double Complete Remissions and Improve Outcomes in HR-MDS, With Safety Profile Similar to Azacitidine Alone
– Pevonedistat Could be First New Treatment Option for this Patient Population in More Than a Decade
– Oral Presentations at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the European Hematology Association (EHA) Annual Meetings
Cambridge, Mass. and Osaka, Japan, May 29, 2020 – Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) today announced the results of the Phase 2 Pevonedistat-2001 trial will be presented during oral sessions at the virtual 56th American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting and the virtual 25th European Hematology Association (EHA) Annual Meeting. The study evaluated pevonedistat plus azacitidine versus azacitidine alone in patients with rare leukemias, including higher-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (HR-MDS). These results show that the combination of pevonedistat and azacitidine is a highly active, promising therapeutic approach and suggest benefit in the HR-MDS subgroup across multiple clinically meaningful endpoints, including overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS), complete remission (CR) and transfusion independence, with a safety profile similar to azacitidine alone.
The Pevonedistat-2001 trial was designed as a proof-of-concept study in patients with HR-MDS, higher-risk chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (HR-CMML) and low-blast acute myeloid leukemia (LB-AML). Though it did not achieve pre-defined statistical significance for the primary endpoint of OS, treatment with the pevonedistat combination demonstrated a numerically longer OS compared with azacitidine alone and a trend towards benefit in EFS, defined as death or transformation to AML.
“We are very optimistic about pevonedistat based on these Phase 2 results, particularly in the higher-risk MDS subgroup, which showed that the combination of pevonedistat and azacitidine provided benefit to patients at the level of several key endpoints, without introducing additional safety concerns. Not only did the combination demonstrate longer survival, but patients in the higher-risk MDS subgroup also achieved higher response rates and increased transfusion independence,” said Christopher Arendt, Head, Oncology Therapeutic Area Unit, Takeda. “We are looking forward to building on this dataset with our Phase 3 PANTHER trial, which completed enrollment last fall, and will support registration for pevonedistat globally.”
There have been no treatment advancements for HR-MDS in more than a decade and current treatment options provide limited benefit. Pevonedistat could be the first new treatment option for these patients.
“It’s exciting to see such encouraging results in the Pevonedistat-2001 trial, particularly in higher-risk MDS, an aggressive type of MDS associated with poor prognosis, diminished quality of life, and higher chance of transformation to AML,” said Lionel Adès, MD, PhD, Hôpital Saint-Louis, and a primary investigator of the Pevonedistat-2001 study. “Adding pevonedistat to the current standard of care in higher-risk MDS doubled complete remission rates, increased the duration of response and improved long-term outcomes with a safety profile similar to azacitidine alone, which may address a significant need for people living with this disease.”
Key findings, to be presented by Dr. Lionel Adès, include:
- Intent to treat population (n=120):
- Median OS was 21.8 months (mos.) in the pevonedistat combination arm, vs. 19.0 mos. with azacitidine alone (HR 0.802; p = 0.334).
- EFS trended longer in the pevonedistat combination arm vs. azacitidine alone with a median of 21.0 mos. vs. 16.6 mos.
- HR-MDS Subgroup (n=67):
- Median OS in the pevonedistat combination arm alone was 23.9 mos. vs. 19.1 mos. with azacitidine alone.
- Median EFS in the pevonedistat combination arm was 20.2 mos. vs. 14.8 mos. with azacitidine alone.
- Overall response rate (ORR) in the pevonedistat combination arm was 79.3% vs. 56.7% with azacitidine alone.
- CR rate in the pevonedistat combination arm was 51.7% vs. 26.7% with azacitidine alone.
- Median duration of response (DoR) in the pevonedistat combination arm was 34.6 months vs. 13.1 mos. with azacitidine alone.
- Of the patients who were red blood cell (RBC) transfusion dependent at baseline, 69.2% receiving pevonedistat plus azacitidine vs. 50.0% receiving azacitidine alone became transfusion independent.
- LB-AML (n=36) & HR-CMML (n=17) Subgroups:
- Median OS in LB-AML was 23.6 mos. in the pevonedistat combination arm vs. 16.0 mos. with azacitidine alone.
- Median OS and EFS in HR-CMML favored the azacitidine alone arm, which may be due to low sample size and/or greater patient heterogeneity.
- Safety data includes:
- The safety profile of pevonedistat combined with azacitidine was similar to azacitidine alone, and did not lead to increased myelosuppression.
- The most common grade ≥3 AEs across both arms were neutropenia (33% vs. 27%), febrile neutropenia (26% vs. 29%), decreased neutrophil count (21% vs. 10%), anemia (19% vs. 27%), thrombocytopenia (19% vs. 23%), and pneumonia (12% vs. 10%).
- On-study deaths occurred in 9% of patients in the pevonedistat combination arm versus 16% with azacitidine alone.
About the Pevonedistat-2001 Trial
Pevonedistat-2001 (NCT02610777) is a global, randomized, controlled, open-label, multi-center, Phase 2 clinical trial designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of pevonedistat in combination with azacitidine versus single-agent azacitidine in patients with higher-risk MDS or CMML, or low-blast AML, who were ineligible for stem cell transplant and have not received prior therapies. Approximately 120 participants were enrolled worldwide. The primary endpoint of the trial is OS.
About Pevonedistat
Pevonedistat is a first in class NEDD8-activating enzyme (NAE) inhibitor, which blocks modifications of select proteins. Pevonedistat treatment disrupts cell cycle progression and cell survival, leading to cell death in cancers including leukemias. Pevonedistat in combination with azacitidine demonstrated antitumor activity in preclinical studies and was well tolerated, with promising clinical activity, in a Phase 1 study of patients with AML. Pevonedistat is currently being evaluated in Phase 3 studies as a first-line treatment for patients with HR-MDS, HR-CMML, and AML, who are ineligible (unfit) for transplant or intensive induction chemotherapy and is also being explored in a Phase 2 study in unfit AML in a triple combination with azacitidine and venetoclax.
About MDS, CMML and AML
MDS, CMML and AML are rare forms of bone marrow-related cancer caused by irregular blood cell production within the bone marrow. These cancers most commonly affect older patients, with the median age of diagnosis ranging from 60 to 74 years. As a result of this irregular production, a person with MDS, CMML or AML does not have enough normal red blood cells, white blood cells and/or platelets in circulation. Symptoms for MDS, CMML and AML are often vague and related to low blood counts, and may include fatigue, shortness of breath, easy bruising or bleeding, loss of appetite, weakness, pale skin, fever and frequent or severe infections.
There are several classifications of MDS – very low risk to very high risk – determined by blood counts, blast counts, mutations and cytogenetics. Higher-risk disease is defined as intermediate, high or very high risk on the International Prognostic Scoring System – Revised (IPSS-R), and these patients have a poorer prognosis. Approximately 40% of patients with HR-MDS transform to AML, an aggressive form of acute leukemia in adults, with poor outcomes.
Takeda’s Commitment to Oncology
Our core R&D mission is to deliver novel medicines to patients with cancer worldwide through our commitment to science, breakthrough innovation and passion for improving the lives of patients. Whether it’s with our hematology therapies, our robust pipeline, or solid tumor medicines, we aim to stay both innovative and competitive to bring patients the treatments they need. For more information, visit www.takedaoncology.com.
About Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) is a global, values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Japan, committed to bringing Better Health and a Brighter Future to patients by translating science into highly-innovative medicines. Takeda focuses its R&D efforts on four therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Diseases, Neuroscience, and Gastroenterology (GI). We also make targeted R&D investments in Plasma-Derived Therapies and Vaccines. We are focusing on developing highly innovative medicines that contribute to making a difference in people's lives by advancing the frontier of new treatment options and leveraging our enhanced collaborative R&D engine and capabilities to create a robust, modality-diverse pipeline. Our employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients and to working with our partners in health care in approximately 80 countries.
For more information, visit https://www.takeda.com
Contacts:
|
Japanese Media Kazumi Kobayashi +81 (0) 3-3278-2095 |
Media outside Japan Emy Gruppo +1 617-444-2252 |
Important Notice
For the purposes of this notice, “press release” means this document, any oral presentation, any question and answer session and any written or oral material discussed or distributed by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (“Takeda”) regarding this release. This press release (including any oral briefing and any question-and-answer in connection with it) is not intended to, and does not constitute, represent or form part of any offer, invitation or solicitation of any offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, exchange, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction. No shares or other securities are being offered to the public by means of this press release. No offering of securities shall be made in the United States except pursuant to registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom. This press release is being given (together with any further information which may be provided to the recipient) on the condition that it is for use by the recipient for information purposes only (and not for the evaluation of any investment, acquisition, disposal or any other transaction). Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of applicable securities laws.
The companies in which Takeda directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities. In this press release, “Takeda” is sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Takeda and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release and any materials distributed in connection with this press release may contain forward-looking statements, beliefs or opinions regarding Takeda’s future business, future position and results of operations, including estimates, forecasts, targets and plans for Takeda. Without limitation, forward-looking statements often include words such as “targets”, “plans”, “believes”, “hopes”, “continues”, “expects”, “aims”, “intends”, “ensures”, “will”, “may”, “should”, “would”, “could” “anticipates”, “estimates”, “projects” or similar expressions or the negative thereof. Forward-looking statements in this document are based on Takeda’s estimates and assumptions only as of the date hereof. Such forward-looking statements do not represent any guarantee by Takeda or its management of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including but not limited to: the economic circumstances surrounding Takeda’s global business, including general economic conditions in Japan and the United States; competitive pressures and developments; changes to applicable laws and regulations; the success of or failure of product development programs; decisions of regulatory authorities and the timing thereof; fluctuations in interest and currency exchange rates; claims or concerns regarding the safety or efficacy of marketed products or product candidates; the timing and impact of post-merger integration efforts with acquired companies; and the ability to divest assets that are not core to Takeda’s operations and the timing of any such divestment(s), any of which may cause Takeda’s actual results, performance, achievements or financial position to be materially different from any future results, performance, achievements or financial position expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For more information on these and other factors which may affect Takeda’s results, performance, achievements, or financial position, see “Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors” in Takeda’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and Takeda’s other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, available on Takeda’s website at: https://www.takeda.com/investors/reports/sec-filings/ or at www.sec.gov. Future results, performance, achievements or financial position of Takeda could differ materially from those expressed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Persons receiving this press release should not rely unduly on any forward-looking statements. Takeda undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or any other forward-looking statements it may make, except as required by law or stock exchange rule. Past performance is not an indicator of future results and the results of Takeda in this press release may not be indicative of, and are not an estimate, forecast or projection of Takeda’s future results.