U.S. Food and Drug Administration accepts GSK’s application for ZEJULA (niraparib) in late stage ovarian cancer with priority review
Issued: London, UK
GlaxoSmithKline plc today announced that TESARO, an oncology-focused business acquired by GSK, submitted a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for ZEJULA (niraparib). The application was granted priority review and has an action date of 24 October 2019.
The sNDA supports a potential new indication for the treatment of advanced ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer patients who have been treated with three or more prior chemotherapy regimens and whose cancer is associated with either:
- BRCA mutation or
- Homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) and have progressed more than six months after the last platinum-based chemotherapy.
Mary Lynne Hedley, Ph.D., President and Chief Operating Officer of TESARO, said, “The results of the QUADRA study demonstrate that ZEJULA is active as a late-line treatment for patients beyond those with BRCA mutations. With this study, we continue to advance our mission to provide more patients with ovarian cancer an opportunity to benefit from treatment with ZEJULA.”
Dr Hal Barron, Chief Scientific Officer and President, R&D, GSK, said: “We know ZEJULA plays an important role in helping women with ovarian cancer whose disease has progressed despite initial therapy. Our hope is that over time, our ongoing clinical trials will demonstrate that this medicine can benefit even more patients.”
The niraparib sNDA is supported by data from the QUADRA trial. Data from the QUADRA trial were recently published in Lancet Oncology.[1]
About QUADRA
QUADRA is a large multicenter, open-label, single-arm, phase 2 study that evaluated the safety and activity of niraparib in adult patients with relapsed, high-grade serous epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who were treated with three or more previous chemotherapy regimens. Patients received oral niraparib 300 mg once daily continuously until disease progression. The primary objective was the proportion of patients achieving an investigator-assessed confirmed overall response in patients with homologous recombination deficiency (HRD)-positive tumours (including patients with BRCA and without BRCA mutations) sensitive to their last platinum-based therapy. Additional objectives of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of niraparib in the broad late-line ovarian cancer population overall, and in subgroups defined by clinical and molecular biomarkers, such as platinum-sensitivity and BRCAmut and HRD status.”
About Ovarian Cancer
Approximately 22,000 women are diagnosed each year with ovarian cancer in the United States, and more than 65,000 women are diagnosed annually in Europe. Ovarian cancer is the fifth most frequent cause of cancer death among women. Despite high response rates to platinum-based chemotherapy in the second-line advanced treatment setting, approximately 85% of patients will experience recurrence within two years.
About niraparib
Niraparib is an oral, once-daily PARP inhibitor that is currently being evaluated in three pivotal trials. TESARO is building a robust niraparib franchise by assessing activity across multiple tumor types and by evaluating several potential combinations of niraparib with other therapeutics. The ongoing development program for niraparib includes a Phase 3 trial in patients with first-line ovarian cancer (the PRIMA trial), a Phase 3 trial for the treatment of patients with germline BRCA-mutated, metastatic breast cancer (the BRAVO trial), and a registrational Phase 2 treatment trial in patients with ovarian cancer (the QUADRA trial). Several combination studies are also underway, including trials of niraparib plus pembrolizumab in metastatic, triple-negative breast cancer and advanced, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer (the TOPACIO trial) and niraparib plus bevacizumab in recurrent, platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer (the ENGOT-OV24/AVANOVA trial). Janssen Biotech has licensed rights to develop and commercialize niraparib specifically for patients with prostate cancer worldwide, except in Japan.
About TESARO
TESARO, an oncology-focused business within GSK, devoted to providing transformative therapies to people facing cancer. For more information, visit www.tesarobio.com, and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
About GSK
GSK is a science-led global healthcare company with a special purpose: to help people do more, feel better, live longer. For further information please visit www.gsk.com.
Important Safety Information for ZEJULA
Myelodysplastic Syndrome/Acute Myeloid Leukemia (MDS/AML), including some fatal cases, was reported in 1.4% of patients receiving ZEJULA vs 1.1% of patients receiving placebo in Trial 1 (NOVA), and 0.9% of patients treated with ZEJULA in all clinical studies. The duration of ZEJULA treatment in patients prior to developing MDS/AML varied from <1 month to 2 years. All patients had received prior chemotherapy with platinum and some had also received other DNA damaging agents and radiotherapy. Discontinue ZEJULA if MDS/AML is confirmed.
Hematologic adverse reactions (thrombocytopenia, anemia and neutropenia) have been reported in patients receiving ZEJULA. Grade ≥3 thrombocytopenia, anemia and neutropenia were reported in 29%, 25%, and 20% of patients receiving ZEJULA, respectively. Discontinuation due to thrombocytopenia, anemia, and neutropenia occurred, in 3%, 1%, and 2% of patients, respectively. Do not start ZEJULA until patients have recovered from hematological toxicity caused by prior chemotherapy (≤ Grade 1). Monitor complete blood counts weekly for the first month, monthly for the next 11 months of treatment, and periodically thereafter. If hematological toxicities do not resolve within 28 days following interruption, discontinue ZEJULA, and refer the patient to a hematologist for further investigations.
Hypertension and hypertensive crisis have been reported in patients receiving ZEJULA. Grade 3-4 hypertension occurred in 9% of patients receiving ZEJULA vs 2% of patients receiving placebo in Trial 1, with discontinuation occurring in <1% of patients. Monitor blood pressure and heart rate monthly for the first year and periodically thereafter during treatment with ZEJULA. Closely monitor patients with cardiovascular disorders, especially coronary insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmias, and hypertension. Manage hypertension with antihypertensive medications and adjustment of the ZEJULA dose, if necessary.
Based on its mechanism of action, ZEJULA can cause fetal harm. Advise females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus and to use effective contraception during treatment and for 6 months after receiving their final dose. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions from ZEJULA in breastfed infants, advise lactating women to not breastfeed during treatment with ZEJULA and for 1 month after receiving the final dose.
In clinical studies, the most common adverse reactions (Grades 1-4) in ≥10% of patients included: thrombocytopenia (61%), anemia (50%), neutropenia (30%), leukopenia (17%), palpitations (10%), nausea (74%), constipation (40%), vomiting (34%), abdominal pain/distention (33%), mucositis/stomatitis (20%), diarrhea (20%), dyspepsia (18%), dry mouth (10%), fatigue/asthenia (57%), decreased appetite (25%), urinary tract infection (13%), aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevation (10%), myalgia (19%), back pain (18%), arthralgia (13%), headache (26%), dizziness (18%), dysgeusia (10%), insomnia (27%), anxiety (11%), nasopharyngitis (23%), dyspnea (20%), cough (16%), rash (21%) and hypertension (20%).
Common lab abnormalities (Grades 1-4) in ≥25% of patients included: decrease in hemoglobin (85%), decrease in platelet count (72%), decrease in white blood cell count (66%), decrease in absolute neutrophil count (53%), increase in AST (36%) and increase in ALT (28%).
Cautionary statement regarding forward-looking statements
GSK cautions investors that any forward-looking statements or projections made by GSK, including those made in this announcement, are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such factors include, but are not limited to, those described under Item 3.D 'Principal risks and uncertainties' in the company's Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2018.
References
[1] https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470-2045(19)30029-4/fulltext. Last accessed on 23 May 2019
