Merck announces positive event-free survival data from phase 3 KEYNOTE-522 study of Keytruda to treat triple-negative breast cancer
Merck announced positive event-free survival (EFS) data from the pivotal neoadjuvant/adjuvant phase 3 study KEYNOTE-522. The trial investigated neoadjuvant Keytruda, Merck’s anti-PD-1 therapy, plus chemotherapy followed by adjuvant Keytruda as monotherapy (the Keytruda regimen) compared with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by adjuvant placebo (the chemotherapy-placebo regimen) in patients with high-risk early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). This is the first time an anti-PD-1/L1 therapy has demonstrated a statistically significant EFS result as combined neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy for these patients. These results are being presented today during a European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Virtual Plenary.
After a median follow-up of 39 months, the Keytruda regimen reduced the risk of EFS events by 37% (HR=0.63 [95% CI, 0.48-0.82]; p=0.00031) versus the chemotherapy-placebo regimen – a statistically significant and clinically meaningful EFS result. EFS was defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of either disease progression that precluded definitive surgery, a local/distant recurrence, a second primary cancer, or death from any cause. As previously announced, KEYNOTE-522 met the dual primary endpoint of pathological complete response (pCR) at the first interim analysis. The trial is continuing to allow for additional follow-up of overall survival (OS), a key secondary endpoint. At this fourth interim analysis, although these data have not crossed the boundary for statistical significance, there was a 28% reduction in the risk of death with the Keytruda regimen versus the chemotherapy-placebo regimen (HR=0.72 [95% CI, 0.51-1.02]; p=0.03214).
“Given the high rates of recurrence within the first five years of diagnosis, patients with high-risk early-stage TNBC need new treatment options,” said Dr. Peter Schmid, lead, Centre for Experimental Cancer Medicine, Barts Cancer Institute in London, England. “KEYNOTE-522 was designed to study whether the combined neoadjuvant and adjuvant regimen with Keytruda could help treat the cancer earlier. Now, with more than three years of follow-up, we see the potential of this approach. These event-free survival data are very encouraging for patients and show that this combination of Keytruda plus chemotherapy as neoadjuvant therapy, followed by single-agent Keytruda as adjuvant therapy, may offer women with high-risk early-stage TNBC a new treatment option for this aggressive disease.”
“These highly anticipated event-free survival results in this TNBC population build upon earlier findings from the KEYNOTE-522 trial and further support the potential use of Keytruda in these patients,” said Dr. Vicki Goodman, vice president, clinical research, Merck Research Laboratories. “KEYNOTE-522 is the first large randomized phase 3 study to report a statistically significant and clinically meaningful EFS result among patients with stage II and stage III TNBC. We have submitted these data to the FDA and are working closely with the agency on its review of our application.”
Keytruda is currently approved under accelerated approval in the US in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with locally recurrent unresectable or metastatic TNBC whose tumors express PD-L1 (Combined Positive Score [CPS] =10) as determined by an FDA-approved test.
KEYNOTE-522 is a phase 3, randomized, double-blind trial. The dual primary endpoints are pCR, defined as pathological stage ypT0/Tis ypN0 at the time of definitive surgery, and EFS, defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of either disease progression that precluded definitive surgery, a local/distant recurrence, a second primary cancer, or death from any cause in all patients randomized. Secondary endpoints include pCR rate using alternative definitions, OS in all patients randomized, pCR rate according to all definitions, EFS and OS in patients whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS =1), safety and health-related quality of life assessments. The study enrolled 1,174 patients who were randomized 2:1 to receive either:
Triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive type of breast cancer that characteristically has a high recurrence rate within the first five years after diagnosis. While some breast cancers may test positive for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors or overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2).
Keytruda is an anti-programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) therapy that works by increasing the ability of the body’s immune system to help detect and fight tumor cells. Keytruda is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, thereby activating T lymphocytes which may affect both tumor cells and healthy cells.
Source:http://www.pharmabiz.com/NewsDetails.aspx?aid=140104&sid=2
After a median follow-up of 39 months, the Keytruda regimen reduced the risk of EFS events by 37% (HR=0.63 [95% CI, 0.48-0.82]; p=0.00031) versus the chemotherapy-placebo regimen – a statistically significant and clinically meaningful EFS result. EFS was defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of either disease progression that precluded definitive surgery, a local/distant recurrence, a second primary cancer, or death from any cause. As previously announced, KEYNOTE-522 met the dual primary endpoint of pathological complete response (pCR) at the first interim analysis. The trial is continuing to allow for additional follow-up of overall survival (OS), a key secondary endpoint. At this fourth interim analysis, although these data have not crossed the boundary for statistical significance, there was a 28% reduction in the risk of death with the Keytruda regimen versus the chemotherapy-placebo regimen (HR=0.72 [95% CI, 0.51-1.02]; p=0.03214).
“Given the high rates of recurrence within the first five years of diagnosis, patients with high-risk early-stage TNBC need new treatment options,” said Dr. Peter Schmid, lead, Centre for Experimental Cancer Medicine, Barts Cancer Institute in London, England. “KEYNOTE-522 was designed to study whether the combined neoadjuvant and adjuvant regimen with Keytruda could help treat the cancer earlier. Now, with more than three years of follow-up, we see the potential of this approach. These event-free survival data are very encouraging for patients and show that this combination of Keytruda plus chemotherapy as neoadjuvant therapy, followed by single-agent Keytruda as adjuvant therapy, may offer women with high-risk early-stage TNBC a new treatment option for this aggressive disease.”
“These highly anticipated event-free survival results in this TNBC population build upon earlier findings from the KEYNOTE-522 trial and further support the potential use of Keytruda in these patients,” said Dr. Vicki Goodman, vice president, clinical research, Merck Research Laboratories. “KEYNOTE-522 is the first large randomized phase 3 study to report a statistically significant and clinically meaningful EFS result among patients with stage II and stage III TNBC. We have submitted these data to the FDA and are working closely with the agency on its review of our application.”
Keytruda is currently approved under accelerated approval in the US in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with locally recurrent unresectable or metastatic TNBC whose tumors express PD-L1 (Combined Positive Score [CPS] =10) as determined by an FDA-approved test.
KEYNOTE-522 is a phase 3, randomized, double-blind trial. The dual primary endpoints are pCR, defined as pathological stage ypT0/Tis ypN0 at the time of definitive surgery, and EFS, defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of either disease progression that precluded definitive surgery, a local/distant recurrence, a second primary cancer, or death from any cause in all patients randomized. Secondary endpoints include pCR rate using alternative definitions, OS in all patients randomized, pCR rate according to all definitions, EFS and OS in patients whose tumors express PD-L1 (CPS =1), safety and health-related quality of life assessments. The study enrolled 1,174 patients who were randomized 2:1 to receive either:
Triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive type of breast cancer that characteristically has a high recurrence rate within the first five years after diagnosis. While some breast cancers may test positive for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors or overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2).
Keytruda is an anti-programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1) therapy that works by increasing the ability of the body’s immune system to help detect and fight tumor cells. Keytruda is a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, thereby activating T lymphocytes which may affect both tumor cells and healthy cells.
Source:http://www.pharmabiz.com/NewsDetails.aspx?aid=140104&sid=2
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