AVEO Oncology Announces Positive Results from Randomized Phase 2 Study of Ficlatuzumab in Combination with Cetuximab in Pan-Refractory, Metastatic HNSCC
AVEO Oncology (Nasdaq: AVEO) announced results from a Phase 2 study of ficlatuzumab with or without cetuximab in patients with metastatic HNSCC who are refractory to previous treatments. The combination showed a 38% response rate in HPV negative patients, highlighting prolonged progression-free survival (PFS) of 4.1 months. The study met its primary endpoint, leading to plans for a Phase 3 trial by mid-2022. The treatment was generally well tolerated, despite reports of two treatment-related deaths.
- Ficlatuzumab/cetuximab combination achieved a 38% response rate in HPV negative patients.
- Demonstrated prolonged median PFS of 4.1 months in HPV negative subgroup.
- Positive feedback from FDA expected to facilitate a Phase 3 study initiation in mid-2022.
- Two treatment-related deaths reported, including cases of pneumonitis and cardiopulmonary arrest.
AVEO Oncology (Nasdaq: AVEO), a commercial and clinical development stage biopharmaceutical company, today announced results from a randomized confirmatory Phase 2 study of ficlatuzumab as a single agent or in combination with cetuximab (ERBITUX®), an EGFR-targeted antibody, in patients who relapsed or were refractory to prior immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and cetuximab (pan-refractory) with metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Ficlatuzumab is AVEO’s potent humanized immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody that targets hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). The results will be presented by lead investigator Julie E. Bauman, M.D., MPH, Professor of Medicine, Chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Associate Director of Translational Research, Deputy Director, University of Arizona Cancer Center, at a poster discussion session of the 2021 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, which is being held June 4-8 in a virtual setting.
“Human papillomavirus (HPV) negative HNSCC is associated with poorer outcomes compared to HPV positive disease, particularly in pan-refractory disease, where there are currently no effective treatment options,” said Michael Needle, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of AVEO. “Crosstalk between EGFR and HGF/cMet pathways is a known tumor intrinsic resistance mechanism, and HGF expression is known to be high in HPV negative disease, suggesting that the simultaneous inhibition of these pathways with cetuximab and ficlatuzumab could enhance anti-cancer response in this population. Results from this study are highly encouraging, with notable activity in pan-refractory, HPV negative disease warranting Phase 3 investigation.”
“Results in patients with HPV negative disease who received ficlatuzumab and cetuximab produced prolonged progression free survival (PFS) and a response rate of
In the Phase 2 study, a total of 60 patients with metastatic HNSCC who relapsed or were refractory to prior immunotherapy, chemotherapy, and cetuximab were randomized 1:1 to receive either ficlatuzumab alone (20 mg/kg IV) or ficlatuzumab in combination with cetuximab (500 mg/m2 IV) every two weeks. The ficlatuzumab/cetuximab combination arm met the study’s primary endpoint of median PFS, with the 32 evaluable patients in the arm demonstrating a median PFS of 3.6 months (lower bound
Enrolled patients were stratified by HPV status, as HPV negative patients are known to have poorer outcomes. In an exploratory comparison of the HPV positive (n=16) and HPV negative (n=16) subgroups of the combination arm, HPV negative patients demonstrated both a superior ORR of
The combination of ficlatuzumab and cetuximab was generally well-tolerated with expected class toxicities from HGF/cMet inhibitors observed, including common adverse events of edema and hypoalbuminemia, and an uncommon adverse event of pneumonitis. Two treatment related deaths occurred, including pneumonitis (ficlatuzumab arm) and cardiopulmonary arrest (combination arm).
A copy of the poster will be available at www.aveooncology.com after its presentation at the 2021 ASCO Annual Meeting.
ASCO Presentation Details
- Title: Randomized Phase II trial of ficlatuzumab with or without cetuximab in pan-refractory, advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).
- Presenter: Julie E. Bauman, M.D., MPH, Professor of Medicine, Chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Associate Director of Translational Research, University of Arizona Cancer Center
- Abstract: 6015
- Track: Head and Neck Cancer
- Date and Time: June 4, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time
About Ficlatuzumab
Ficlatuzumab (formerly known as AV-299) is a potent hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) inhibitory antibody that binds to the HGF ligand with high affinity and specificity. HGF is the natural ligand of c-Met and blocking HGF inhibits signaling through the HGF/c-Met signaling pathway. Ficlatuzumab is currently being evaluated in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) and metastatic pancreatic ductal cancer (PDAC).
About AVEO Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
AVEO is an oncology-focused biopharmaceutical company committed to delivering medicines that provide a better life for cancer patients. AVEO’s strategy is to focus its resources toward the development and commercialization of its product candidates in North America, while leveraging partnerships to support development and commercialization in other geographies. AVEO’s lead candidate, FOTIVDA® (tivozanib), received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval on March 10, 2021 for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory renal cell carcinoma (RCC) following two or more prior systemic therapies. FOTIVDA® was approved in August 2017 in the European Union and other countries in the EUSA territory for the treatment of adult patients with advanced RCC. AVEO has previously reported promising clinical data on ficlatuzumab (anti-HGF IgG1 mAb) in head and neck cancer squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), pancreatic cancer and acute myeloid leukemia, and expects to make a go/no-go decision on the initiation of a pivotal Phase 3 study of ficlatuzumab in HPV negative HNSCC following feedback from the FDA. AVEO’s pipeline of product candidates also includes AV-380 (anti-GDF15 IgG1 mAb). AVEO has previously reported the acceptance of its investigational new drug application in the U.S. for AV-380 and its initiation of a Phase 1 clinical trial for the potential treatment of cancer cachexia. AVEO’s earlier-stage pipeline includes monoclonal antibodies in oncology development, including AV-203 (anti-ErbB3 mAb) and AV-353 (anti-Notch 3 mAb). AVEO is committed to creating an environment of diversity and inclusion.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements of AVEO within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “design,” “expect,” “hope,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “could,” “should,” “would,” “seek,” “look forward,” “advance,” “goal,” “strategy,” or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements about: the potential for ficlatuzumab as a treatment option for patients with HPV negative HNSCC; the potential efficacy, safety, and tolerability of ficlatuzumab, both as a stand-alone drug candidate and in combination with other therapies in HPV negative HNSCC and other indications; AVEO’s execution of its clinical and regulatory strategy for ficlatuzumab; AVEO’s plans and strategies for current and future clinical trials of tivozanib, ficlatuzumab and AV-380 and for commercialization of FOTIVDA in the United States; the potential efficacy, safety, and tolerability of tivozanib, both as a stand-alone drug candidate and in combination with other therapies in several indications; the advancement of AVEO’s pipeline, including the advancement of ficlatuzumab and AV-380 in multiple clinical studies; the potential outcomes from studies of ficlatuzumab to provide AVEO with opportunities to pursue regulatory strategies; the potential clinical utility of ficlatuzumab and AV-380 in areas of unmet need; and AVEO’s strategy, prospects, plans and objectives for FOTIVDA and its product candidates and for AVEO generally. AVEO has based its expectations and estimates on assumptions that may prove to be incorrect. As a result, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these expectations and estimates. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements that AVEO makes due to a number of important factors, including risks relating to: AVEO’s ability to successfully implement its strategic plans, including its ability to advance ficlatuzumab as a treatment option for patients with HPV negative HNSCC and successfully commercialize FOTIVDA; AVEO’s ability, and the ability of its licensees, to demonstrate to the satisfaction of applicable regulatory agencies such as the FDA the safety, efficacy, and clinically meaningful benefit of AVEO’s product candidates, and risks relating to the timing and costs of seeking and obtaining regulatory approvals; AVEO’s dependence on third-party vendors for the development, manufacture, supply, storage and distribution of FOTIVDA and its product candidates; AVEO’s ability to enter into and maintain its third party collaboration and license agreements, and its ability, and the ability of its strategic partners, to achieve development and commercialization objectives under these arrangements; AVEO’s and its collaborators’ ability to successfully enroll and complete clinical trials; AVEO’s ability to maintain compliance with regulatory requirements applicable to FOTIVDA and its product candidates; AVEO’s ability to obtain and maintain adequate protection for intellectual property rights relating to FOTIVDA and its product candidates; adverse general economic, political and industry conditions; the potential adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on AVEO’s business continuity, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and ability to successfully and timely enroll, complete and read-out data from its clinical trials; competitive factors; and those risks discussed in the sections titled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources” included in AVEO’s quarterly and annual reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and in other filings that AVEO makes with the SEC. The forward-looking statements in this press release represent AVEO’s views as of the date of this press release, and subsequent events and developments may cause its views to change. While AVEO may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, it specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing AVEO's views as of any date other than the date of this press release.
Any reference to AVEO’s website address in this press release is intended to be an inactive textual reference only and not an active hyperlink.
References
- Pawlowski N et al. AACR 2013. Poster 3971
- J Angulo and O Shapiro, Cancers (Basel) 2019 Sep; 11(9): 1227. [10.3390/cancers11091227]
- Decision Resources. RCC landscape and forecast. December 12, 2019.
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