The FDA on May 24, 2019 approved JAKAFI® for steroid-refractory acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease (GVHD) in adult and pediatric patients 12 years and older. JAKAFI® is a product of Incyte Corporation.
Author: RR
FDA Approves Fixed Duration VENCLEXTA® for Frontline Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia or Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma
SUMMARY: The FDA on May 15, 2019 approved VENCLEXTA® (Venetoclax) for adult patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) or Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL). The FDA in 2018 had approved VENCLEXTA® for patients with CLL or SLL with or without 17p deletion, who have received at least one prior therapy. The American Cancer Society estimates that for 2019, about 20,720 new cases of CLL will be diagnosed in the US and 3,930 patients will die of the disease. B-cell CLL is the most common type of leukemia in adults, accounting for about 11% of all hematologic malignancies.
The pro-survival (anti-apoptotic) protein BCL2 is over expressed by CLL cells and regulates clonal selection and cell survival. A new class of anticancer agents known as BH3-mimetic drugs mimic the activity of the physiologic antagonists of BCL2 and related proteins and promote apoptosis (programmed cell death). VENCLEXTA® is a second generation, oral, selective, small molecule inhibitor of BCL2 and restores the apoptotic processes in tumor cells. 
CLL14 Trial is a prospective, multicenter, open-label, randomized Phase III study, conducted in close collaboration with the German CLL Study Group (DCLLSG). This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a fixed duration combination of VENCLEXTA® and GAZYVA® (Obinutuzumab) versus GAZYVA® and Chlorambucil in previously-untreated patients with CLL and coexisting medical conditions. In this trial, 432 treatment-naïve patients with CLL were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive fixed duration of 12 months of VENCLEXTA® in combination with six cycles of GAZYVA®, or 6 cycles of GAZYVA® in combination with Chlorambucil. Both treatment groups were well balanced and the median patient age was 72 years. The Primary endpoint was Progression Free Survival (PFS) assessed by an Independent Review Committee. Secondary endpoints included Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) status, Overall Response Rate, Complete Response, Complete Remission with Incomplete Hematologic Recovery (CRi), Overall Survival, duration of response, time to next CLL treatment, and safety.
The trial demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in PFS for patients who received VENCLEXTA® plus GAZYVA® compared with those who received GAZYVA® plus Chlorambucil (HR 0.33; P<0.0001), suggesting a 67% reduction in the risk of progression or death with the VENCLEXTA® plus GAZYVA® combination. The median PFS was not reached in either treatment groups after a median follow-up of 28 months. The Overall Response Rate was 85% in VENCLEXTA® plus GAZYVA® group compared to 71% in GAZYVA® plus Chlorambucil group (P=0.0007). The trial also demonstrated statistically significant improvements in rates of Minimal Residual Disease (MRD) negativity (less than one CLL cell per 104 leukocytes) in bone marrow and peripheral blood. The rate of MRD-negativity in the bone marrow was 57% in the VENCLEXTA® group compared with 17% in the GAZYVA® plus Chlorambucil group. The MRD-negativity rates in the peripheral blood were 76% versus 35%, respectively. Overall Survival data were not mature at this analysis. The most common adverse events in the VENCLEXTA® plus GAZYVA® group included neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia, diarrhea, nausea, upper respiratory tract infection, cough, musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and edema.
It was concluded that a combination of VENCLEXTA® and GAZYVA® among patients with previously untreated CLL significantly improved Progression Free Survival, compared to patients treated with standard of care GAZYVA® plus Chlorambucil. The authors added that VENCLEXTA® plus GAZYVA® is the only chemotherapy-free regimen of fixed duration, and is a major step forward in the management of previously untreated CLL patients. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-approves-venetoclax-cll-and-sll
ELIQUIS® for Thromboprophylaxis in Ambulatory Patients with Cancer
SUMMARY: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 1-2 per 1000 individuals develop Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)/Pulmonary Embolism (PE) each year in the United States, resulting in 60,000-100,000 deaths. Venous ThromboEmbolism (VTE) is the third leading cause of cardiovascular mortality, after myocardial infarction and stroke. Ambulatory cancer patients initiating chemotherapy are at varying risk for Venous Thromboembolism (VTE), which in turn can have a substantial effect on health care costs, with negative impact on quality of life. Approximately 20% of cancer patients develop VTE and there is a two-fold increase in the risk of recurrent thrombosis in patients with cancer, compared with those without cancer. The benefit of thromboprophylaxis in this patient population however is uncertain. This is because previously published randomized trials included cancer patients both at both low and high risk for VTE.
Khorana score is a validated risk tool which helps to identify patients at increased risk for VTE. Several studies have suggested benefit from thromboprophylaxis in patients with a score of 3 or higher, whereas the benefit of thromboprophylaxis in patients with a score of 2 is unclear, although there is a substantial risk of VTE in this group as well. The current recommendations are treatment with parenteral Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH) preparations for at least 6 months or probably longer, as long as the cancer is active. This however can be inconvenient and expensive, leading to premature discontinuation of treatment. LMWH accelerates the inhibition by Antithrombin of activated Factor X, in the conversion of Prothrombin to Thrombin. Direct Oral AntiCoagulants (DOACs) have been proven to be noninferior to COUMADIN® (Warfarin), a Vitamin K antagonist, for the treatment of acute VTE, and are associated with less frequent and less severe bleeding and fewer drug interactions. The Direct Oral AntiCoagulants (DOACs) include PRADAXA® (Dabigatran), which is a direct Thrombin inhibitor and XARELTO® (Rivaroxaban), ELIQUIS® (Apixaban), SAVAYSA® (Edoxaban), BEVYXXA® (Betrixaban) which are Factor Xa inhibitors. Compared to COUMADIN® , the New Oral Anticoagulants have a rapid onset of action, wider therapeutic window, shorter half-lives (7-14 hours in healthy individuals), no laboratory monitoring and fixed dosing schedule.
The AVERT (Apixaban for the Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism in High-Risk Ambulatory Cancer Patients ) trial is a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial which evaluated the efficacy and safety of apixaban (2.5 mg twice daily) for thromboprophylaxis in ambulatory patients with cancer who were at intermediate-to-high risk for venous thromboembolism (Khorana score 2 or more). Eligible patients (N=574) were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive apixaban or placebo and 563 patients were included in the modified intention-to-treat analysis. The first dose of apixaban or placebo was administered within 24 hours after the initiation of chemotherapy. The mean patient age was 61 years, and the common types of primary malignancies were gynecologic (25.8%), lymphoma (25.3%), and pancreatic (13.6%). Eligible patients included those who had a newly diagnosed cancer or progression of known cancer after complete or partial remission and who were initiating a new course of chemotherapy with a minimum treatment intent of 3 months. Inclusion required a Khorana score of 2 or higher. Exclusion criteria included hepatic disease associated with coagulopathy, platelet count of less than 50,000 per cubic millimeter, acute leukemia, myeloproliferative neoplasm, planned stem-cell transplantation and GFR of less than 30 ml/min. The Primary efficacy outcome was objectively documented venous thromboembolism over a follow-up period of 180 days. The main Safety outcome was a major bleeding episode.
Venous thromboembolism occurred in 4.2% in the apixaban group and 10.2% in the placebo group (HR=0.41; P<0.001). This benefit and was predominantly driven by a lower rate of pulmonary embolism in the apixaban group than in the placebo group. The rate of major bleeding was significantly higher with apixaban than with placebo in the modified intention-to-treat analysis (3.5% versus 1.8%, respectively; HR=2.00), but the rate however was not significantly higher with apixaban than with placebo in the analysis of outcomes during the treatment period (2.1% versus 1.1%, respectively; HR=1.89). There was no significant difference in the Overall Survival between the treatment groups and the authors attributed this to trial design and the fact that most of the patients had advanced cancer, which was the most common cause of death.
It was concluded that thromboprophylaxis with apixaban at a dose of 2.5 mg twice daily resulted in a significantly lower risk of venous thromboembolism when compared to placebo, among ambulatory cancer patients who were initiating chemotherapy, and had an intermediate to high risk of venous thromboembolism. Apixaban to Prevent Venous Thromboembolism in Patients with Cancer. Carrier M, Abou-Nassar K, Mallick R, et al. for the AVERT Investigators. N Engl J Med 2019;380:711-719
FRAGMIN® (Dalteparin sodium)
The FDA on May 16, 2019 approved FRAGMIN®, to reduce the recurrence of symptomatic Venous ThromboEmbolism (VTE) in pediatric patients 1 month of age and older. FRAGMIN® is a product of Pfizer, Inc.
VENCLEXTA® (Venetoclax)
The FDA on May 15, 2019 approved VENCLEXTA® for adult patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) or Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma (SLL). VENCLEXTA® is a product of AbbVie Inc. and Genentech Inc.
BAVENCIO® and INLYTA®
The FDA on May 14, 2019 approved BAVENCIO® (Avelumab) in combination with INLYTA® (Axitinib) for first-line treatment of patients with advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC). BAVENCIO® is a product of EMD Serono, Inc. and INLYTA® is a product of Pfizer, Inc.
CYRAMZA® (Ramucirumab)
The FDA on May 10, 2019 approved CYRAMZA® as a single agent for HepatoCellular Carcinoma (HCC) in patients who have an Alpha FetoProtein (AFP) of 400 ng/mL or more, and have been previously treated with NEXAVAR® (Sorafenib). CYRAMZA® is a product of Eli Lilly and Company.
FDA Approves KADCYLA® for Early Breast Cancer
SUMMARY: The FDA on May 3, 2019, approved KADCYLA® (Ado-Trastuzumab Emtansine) for the adjuvant treatment of patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer, who have residual invasive disease after neoadjuvant Taxane and HERCEPTIN® (Trastuzumab)-based treatment. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the US and about 1 in 8 women (12%) will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. Approximately 268,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in 2019 and about 41,760 women will die of the disease. The HER or erbB family of receptors consist of HER1, HER2, HER3 and HER4. Approximately 15-20% of invasive breast cancers overexpress HER2/neu oncogene, which is a negative predictor of outcomes without systemic therapy. HERCEPTIN® (Trastuzumab) is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting HER2, and adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy given along with HERCEPTIN® reduces the risk of disease recurrence and death, among patients with HER2-positive, early stage as well as advanced metastatic breast cancer. Since the approval of HERCEPTIN®, several other HER2-targeted therapies have become available. The duration of adjuvant HERCEPTIN® therapy has been 12 months and this length of treatment was empirically adopted from the pivotal registration trials. 
KADCYLA® is an Antibody-Drug Conjugate (ADC) comprised of the antibody HERCEPTIN® and the chemotherapy agent Emtansine, linked together. Upon binding to the HER2 receptor, it not only inhibits the HER2 signaling pathways but also delivers a chemotherapy agent Emtansine, a microtubule inhibitor, directly inside the tumor cells. This agent is internalized by lysosomes and destroys the HER2-positive tumor cells upon intracellular release. In the EMILIA trial, KADCYLA® was associated with significant increase in Overall Survival when compared with TYKERB® (Lapatinib) plus XELODA® (Capecitabine), in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer patients, who had previously received HERCEPTIN® and a Taxane.
It is well established that patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer following HERCEPTIN® based neoadjuvant therapies have a pathological Complete Response rate of 40-60%. Those without a pathological Complete Response tend to have significantly less favorable outcomes. These patients irrespective of pathological response status complete their standard adjuvant therapy which includes 12 months of HER2-targeted therapy. KATHERINE trial was conducted to evaluate the benefit of switching from standard HER2-directed therapy to single-agent KADCYLA®, after neoadjuvant chemotherapy along with either single or dual HER2 targeted therapy, in patients with residual invasive cancer at surgery. This study was conducted to address the unmet need of patients who have residual invasive breast cancer after receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus HER2-targeted therapy.
The KATHERINE trial is an open-label, phase III global study, which compared KADCYLA® with HERCEPTIN®, as an adjuvant treatment for patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer, who had residual invasive disease following neoadjuvant chemotherapy and HERCEPTIN®. This study included 1,486 patients with HER2-positive early stage breast cancer, who were found to have residual invasive disease in the breast or axillary lymph nodes at surgery, following at least six cycles (16 weeks) of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with a Taxane (with or without Anthracycline) and HERCEPTIN®. Within 12 weeks of surgery, patients (N=1486) were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to KADCYLA® 3.6 mg/kg IV every 3 weeks or HERCEPTIN® 6 mg/kg IV every 3 weeks, for 14 cycles (743 patients in each group). Both treatment groups were well balanced and hormone receptor positive disease was present in 72% of the patients. The majority of the patients (77%) had received an Anthracycline-containing neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen, and in 19% of the patients, another HER2-targeted agent in addition to HERCEPTIN® (dual HER2 blockade) had been administered as a component of neoadjuvant therapy. The Primary end point was invasive Disease Free Survival (defined as freedom from ipsilateral invasive breast tumor recurrence, ipsilateral locoregional invasive breast cancer recurrence, contralateral invasive breast cancer, distant recurrence, or death from any cause). The median duration of follow up was 41.4 months in the KADCYLA® group and 40.9 months in the HERCEPTIN® group.
At the prespecified interim analysis, invasive disease occurred in 12.2% of patients who received KADCYLA® and 22.2% of patients who received HERCEPTIN®. The estimated percentage of patients who were free of invasive disease at 3 years was 88.3% in the KADCYLA® group and 77.0% in the HERCEPTIN® group. Invasive Disease Free Survival, which was the Primary end point of the study, was significantly higher in the KADCYLA® group than in the HERCEPTIN® group (HR=0.50; P<0.001).This suggested that KADCYLA® reduced the risk of developing an invasive breast cancer recurrence or death by 50%. Distant recurrence as the first invasive disease event occurred in 10.5% of patients in the KADCYLA® group and in 15.9% of the HERCEPTIN® group. A consistent benefit was seen across all prespecified subgroups. Adverse events were consistent with the known safety profile of KADCYLA®, with more toxicities associated with KADCYLA® than with HERCEPTIN®. Additional follow-up will be necessary to determine the Overall Survival benefit with adjuvant KADCYLA®.
It was concluded that among patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer who had residual invasive disease after completion of neoadjuvant therapy, substituting KADCYLA® for adjuvant HERCEPTIN® reduced the risk of recurrence of invasive breast cancer or death by 50%, with the benefit seen across all patient subgroups. The authors added that even though KATHERINE trial focused on higher-risk patients with residual invasive breast cancer after completion of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, CNS recurrence remains a persistent problem. Trastuzumab Emtansine for Residual Invasive HER2-Positive Breast Cancer. von Minckwitz G, Huang C-S, Mano MS, et al. for the KATHERINE Investigators. N Engl J Med 2019;380:617-628
Concomitant Use of Direct Oral Anticoagulants with Antiplatelet Agents Associated with Lower Risk of Major Bleeding Compared with Concomitant Warfarin and Antiplatelet Agents
SUMMARY: It is estimated that up to 30% of patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation may receive antiplatelet agents along with oral anticoagulants, due to comorbid cardiovascular conditions. The concomitant use of Vitamin K Antagonist (VKA) such as Warfarin along with antiplatelet agents, has in previously published studies, shown to increase the risk of bleeding, compared with VKAs alone.
Direct Oral AntiCoagulants (DOACs) are often prescribed for thromboembolic events. This class of anticoagulants, have a rapid onset and offset of action, short half-life, predictable anticoagulant effects, no laboratory monitoring and fixed dosing schedule. The half-life of these agents can however be prolonged in those with renal insufficiency and may be unsafe and DOACs are ineffective in patients with mechanical heart valves. Direct Oral AntiCoagulants have a favorable efficacy and safety profile, compared with Vitamin K Antagonists (VKAs) and are increasingly being used for ischemic stroke prevention among patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. In several clinical studies, DOACs have been shown to reduce the rate of major bleeding by 28% and the rates of intracranial and fatal hemorrhage by 50%, when compared to Vitamin K Antagonist (VKA) such as Warfarin. Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the efficacy of DOACs along with AcetylSalicylic Acid (ASA), in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation has shown similar risk of major bleeding but a decreased risk of intracranial hemorrhage, when compared with VKAs plus ASA. Some of the studies included in this meta-analysis however had methodological limitations.
In order to address this clinically important safety issue, the authors conducted this population-based study to compare the incidence of intracranial hemorrhage, gastrointestinal bleeding, and other major bleeding between concomitant DOAC/antiplatelet use and concomitant VKA/antiplatelet use, in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. This study was conducted among a cohort of patients with newly diagnosed nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, between January 2011 and March 2014, using computerized health care databases from Quebec. Of the 14, 407 patients included in this study, 5301 patients initiated concomitant DOAC/antiplatelet use, while 9106 patients initiated concomitant VKA/antiplatelet use. DOACs included PRADAXA® (Dabigatran), XARELTO® (Rivaroxaban), or ELIQUIS® (Apixaban) and antiplatelet agents included ASA (Aspirin), Dipyridamole, PLAVIX® (Clopidogrel), EFFIENT® (Prasugrel), or BRILINTA® (Ticagrelor). Three separate analyses were conducted for intracranial hemorrhage, gastrointestinal bleeding, and other major bleeding. The median follow up was 1.6 months which was primarily driven by discontinuation of antiplatelet therapy.
It was noted that concomitant DOAC/antiplatelet therapy was associated with a similar risk of gastrointestinal bleeding (HR 1.08) but with a decreased risk of intracranial hemorrhage (HR 0.46) and other major bleeding (HR 0.68), compared with concomitant VKA/antiplatelet therapy.
The authors concluded that based on the results of this population-based study, compared with concomitant Vitamin K Antagonist /antiplatelet use, concomitant Direct Oral AntiCoagulants/antiplatelet use was associated with a similar risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, but a lower risk of intracranial hemorrhage and other major bleeding. These findings could provide guidance to physicians and help in decision making, for patients requiring concomitant treatment with oral anticoagulants and antiplatelets. Concomitant Use of Direct Oral Anticoagulants with Antiplatelet Agents and the Risk of Major Bleeding in Patients with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation. Douros A, Renoux C, Yin H, et al. The American Journal of Medicine 2019; 132:191-199
KADCYLA® (Ado-trastuzumab Emtansine)
The FDA on May 3, 2019, approved KADCYLA® for the adjuvant treatment of patients with HER2-positive early breast cancer (EBC), who have residual invasive disease after neoadjuvant Taxane and HERCEPTIN® (trastuzumab)-based treatment.KADCYLA® is a product of Genentech, Inc.
Patients should be selected based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic for KADCYLA®. FDA also approved both the Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. PATHWAY anti-HER-2/neu (4B5) Rabbit Monoclonal Primary Antibody assay and the INFORM HER2 Dual ISH DNA Probe Cocktail assay as companion diagnostic devices for selecting patients.