Earlier today, Pfizer Inc. confirmed that it had discontinued a Phase III randomized, open-label, two-arm study (B1931008) evaluating the safety and efficacy of the investigational compound inotuzumab ozogamicin (CMC-544) in patients with relapsed or refractory CD22+ aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) who are not candidates for intensive high-dose chemotherapy.
In this study, inotuzumab ozogamicin was administered on a once-a-month schedule in combination with rituximab (Rituxan®; Genentech/Biogen Idec/Mabthera®; Roche) compared with an active comparator arm which included the investigator’s choice of bendamustine (Treanda®; Cephalon/Teva Pharmaceutical Industries)plus rituximab or gemcitabine (Gemzar®; Eli Lilly and Company) plus rituximab.
No improved survival advantage
During a scheduled interim analysis, an independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) concluded that in this study treatment with inotuzumab ozogamicin plus rituximab would not meet the primary objective of improving overall survival (OS) when compared to the comparator arm. No new or unexpected safety issues were identified.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is one of the most commonly occurring hematologic cancers among adults.[1] In 2008, there were approximately 355,900 new cases of NHL worldwide, and approximately 191,400 related deaths.[2] Indolent lymphomas, such as follicular lymphoma, show a high level of relapse, as treatment with chemotherapy alone has not yet resulted in an improvement in OS.[3] Similarly, in aggressive disease, standard of care treatment achieves long-term remission in less than half of NHL cases, demonstrating an unmet need for both newly diagnosed and relapsed patients.[4]
About Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is one of the four main types of leukemia. ALL is an aggressive type of leukemia and without treatment, most patients with acute leukemia would live only a few months.[5] Of the estimated 48,610 new cases of all kinds of leukemia that will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2013,[6] about 6,070 cases will be diagnosed as ALL, of which about one out of three cases are in adults.[5] The five-year relative survival rate of ALL overall (including adults and children) for 2003 – 2009 was approximately 66%.[7] Survival rates in adults only are less favorable, with a five-year survival rate of less than 10% in this patient population.[8]
“We are working to better understand the findings from this review to determine if there are any patterns of outcome that may help us gain greater understanding of the potential effect of inotuzumab ozogamicin in specific patient subsets within the heterogeneous patient population enrolled in this trial,” said Mace Rothenberg, MD, senior vice president of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs for Pfizer’s Oncology Business Unit. “Hematologic cancers are a complex group of diseases, with more than 70 different types of lymphomas, leukemias or myelomas that require unique treatment options. We remain committed to evaluating inotuzumab ozogamicin in patients with hematologic malignancies.”
Pfizer has notified the study investigators and appropriate regulatory authorities of the decision to discontinue the study. Investigators will work with patients in the study on an individual basis to determine an appropriate course of action.
Inotuzumab ozogamicin, administered on a weekly basis, 3 weeks out of 4, continues to be evaluated in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The INO-VATE ALL Study (B1931022) is an open-label, randomized, Phase 3 study of inotuzumab ozogamicin compared to a defined investigator’s choice of chemotherapy in adult patients with relapsed or refractory CD22+ ALL.
Anitbody-drug Conjugate
Inotuzumab ozogamicin is an investigational antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) comprised of the humanized monoclonal antibody inotuzumab targeting CD22,[9] a cell surface antigen expressed on approximately 90% of B-cell malignancies [10] linked to a cytotoxic agent from the class of calicheamicins.
When inotuzumab ozogamicin binds to the CD22 antigen on malignant B-cells, it is internalized into the cell, where the cytotoxic agent calicheamicin is released to destroy the cell.[11]
Inotuzumab ozogamicin originates from a collaboration between Pfizer and Celltech (now part of UCB]. Pfizer has responsibility for all manufacturing and development activities for this molecule.
