MERU, a Phase III trial evaluating rovalpituzumab tesirine (Rova-T / SC16LD6.5; AbbVie) as a first-line maintenance therapy for advanced small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), demonstrated no survival benefit at a pre-planned interim analysis for patients receiving the trial drug as compared with placebo. [1]
The overall safety profile of the investigational drug was generally consistent with that observed in previous studies. Based on the results, AbbVie, in a statement, announced that the MERU trial had been closed. The company also announced that the rovalpituzumab tesirine research and development program had been terminated. However, the company will move forward prioritizing other development programs within its oncology pipeline.
Rovalpituzumab tesirine is an investigational antibody-drug conjugate or ADC targeting the cancer-stem cell-associated delta-like protein 3 (DLL3) [2], which is expressed in more than 80% of small-cell lung cancer patient tumors, where it is prevalent on tumor cells, including cancer stem cells, but not present in healthy tissue.[3] The drug includes the cytotoxic payload D6.5 Pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) conjugated to cysteine residues on the SC16 antibody via a maleimide-containing linker with an eight-carbon polyethylene glycol spacer, cathepsin B–cleavable valine-alanine dipeptide, and self-immolating group, with a mean drug-to-antibody ratio (DAR) of 2.
Stemcentrix
In April 2016 AbbVie announced that it would acquire Stemcentrx, the original developer of rovalpituzumab tesirine, for approximately $5.8 billion in cash and stock. At the time of the acquisition, Stemcentrx had four novel compounds in clinical trials across several solid tumor indications including triple-negative breast cancer, ovarian cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. The company also had additional pre-clinical compounds advancing toward clinical trials as well as a proprietary technology platform leveraging stem cell biology to identify and screen potential targets against live tumor tissue to more predictably advance discovery and development of new assets.
Recommendation
An Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) recommended terminating MERU due to lack of survival benefit for patients receiving rovalpituzumab tesirine compared with the placebo control arm based on results at a pre-planned interim analysis. Results from the MERU trial will be presented at a future medical meeting and/or published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.
“Small-cell lung cancer continues to be one of the most difficult-to-treat cancers where there is a significant need for transformative therapies. We are disappointed with this outcome for the patients who suffer from this disease,” said Margaret Foley, MD, vice president, global head of solid tumor development, AbbVie.
“We remain committed to researching and developing other therapies with the potential to transform care for patients with small-cell lung cancer and other malignancies,” Foley added.
Moving forward, AbbVie will continue to focus research and development efforts on other therapies in its oncology portfolio of investigational and marketed medicines. The company’s oncology portfolio currently consists of marketed medicines and investigational medicines being evaluated worldwide in more than 300 clinical trials and in more than 20 different tumor types.
Reference
[1] A Study of Rovalpituzumab Tesirine as Maintenance Therapy Following First- Line Platinum-Based Chemotherapy in Participants With Extensive Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer (MERU) (MERU) [Clinical Trial]
[2] Saunders L. R. et al. A DLL3-targeted antibody-drug conjugate eradicates high-grade pulmonary neuroendocrine tumor-initiating cells in vivo. Sci. Transl. Med. 2015;7(302): 1-13.
[3] Study of Rovalpituzumab Tesirine (SC16LD6.5) for Third-line and Later Treatment of Subjects With Relapsed or Refractory Delta-Like Protein 3-Expressing Small-Cell Lung Cancer (TRINITY). Accessed March 21, 2018. [Clinical Trial]
