BeiGene Receives European Commission Approval for Tislelizumab as Treatment for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Rhea-AI Summary

BeiGene receives European Commission approval for tislelizumab as a treatment for non-small cell lung cancer, marking the second approval in the region. The comprehensive development program included three Phase 3 clinical trials demonstrating the benefits of tislelizumab for both treatment-naïve and relapsed NSCLC patients.

Insights

Oncology Doctor

The European Commission's approval of tislelizumab for NSCLC is a significant step forward in cancer therapy, particularly because lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. From a medical perspective, the drug's efficacy in improving progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), regardless of the PD-L1 expression levels, makes it a valuable addition to oncologists' arsenal. This is pertinent since PD-L1 is a protein that can suppress the immune system and allow cancer cells to grow and drugs that target PD-L1 can help to stimulate the immune system to attack cancer cells. The clinical trials referenced show that tislelizumab can be used both as a monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy, offering flexibility in treatment regimens. The reported manageable safety profile is also noteworthy as tolerability is a key concern in cancer therapies. Going forward, the real-world effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and post-marketing safety data of tislelizumab will be important for its adoption and impact on BeiGene's market share in the oncology sector.

Financial Analyst

BeiGene's receipt of the European Commission's approval for tislelizumab is a noteworthy development for the company's financial health. This approval potentially opens up a significant European market for BeiGene and may lead to increased revenue streams. Investors should note that the company has plans to unify the branding for NSCLC and ESCC indications under TEVIMBRA, which could streamline marketing efforts and strengthen the drug's identity in the oncology market. The approval may also serve as a catalyst for BeiGene's stock valuation, as market expansion is often viewed as a positive indicator of a company's growth trajectory. However, it is important to monitor the drug's uptake in the market and competition from existing and new therapies. Additionally, the broad indication of use and the positive clinical trial results provide a competitive edge, but investors should also consider the costs associated with marketing, sales and further development when evaluating the company's long-term profitability.

Market Research Analyst

The EC's approval of tislelizumab in NSCLC treatment is a strategic milestone for BeiGene in a highly competitive oncology market. Lung cancer treatments represent a high-demand segment due to the disease's prevalence and mortality rate. The approval may augment BeiGene's market positioning in Europe, a key market for cancer therapeutics. The company's ability to carve out a niche hinges on differentiators such as the therapeutic's benefit across multiple tumor types and its performance in patients with PD-L1 expression, a group often associated with poorer outcomes. As BeiGene prepares for a 2024 launch in the first EU countries, the integration of market access strategies, competitive pricing and awareness campaigns will be pivotal. The impact on the company's market capitalization will be influenced by the execution of these commercial strategies and the reception by the medical community. Investors should watch for the drug's adoption rate post-launch and any strategic partnerships that might expand distribution channels or enhance market presence.

Comprehensive development program, including three Phase 3 clinical trials, demonstrated benefit of tislelizumab for patients with treatment-naïve and relapsed NSCLC

Decision represents tislelizumab’s second approval in the region

BASEL, Switzerland & BEIJING & CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- BeiGene, Ltd. (NASDAQ: BGNE; HKEX: 06160; SSE: 688235), a global oncology company, today announced that the European Commission (EC) has approved tislelizumab as a treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) across three indications, including first- and second-line use.

“Tislelizumab is foundational for BeiGene’s solid tumor portfolio and has demonstrated its potential across multiple tumor types, including NSCLC, in which there remains a significant unmet need at all stages of the disease,” said Mark Lanasa, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer, Solid Tumors at BeiGene. “Today’s EC authorization marks the second in the region for tislelizumab, with both NSCLC and locally advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma now approved in the European Union. Second-line use in ESCC was also approved just weeks ago by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, putting us well on our way to fulfilling our commitment to bring this innovative therapy to many more patients around the world.”

The approved indications for tislelizumab are:

• In combination with carboplatin and either paclitaxel or nab-paclitaxel for the first-line treatment of adult patients with squamous NSCLC who have locally advanced NSCLC and are not candidates for surgical resection or platinum-based chemoradiation, or metastatic NSCLC.
• In combination with pemetrexed and platinum-containing chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of adult patients with non-squamous NSCLC whose tumors have PD-L1 expression on ≥50% of tumor cells with no EGFR or ALK positive mutations and who have locally advanced NSCLC and are not candidates for surgical resection or platinum-based chemoradiation, or metastatic NSCLC.
• As monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC after prior platinum-based therapy. Patients with EGFR mutant or ALK positive NSCLC should also have received targeted therapies before receiving tislelizumab.

“Non-small cell lung cancer remains one of the most common and deadly cancers in Europe, with 50% of patients diagnosed already progressed to advanced stages, making it difficult to treat,” said Luis Paz-Ares, M.D., Ph.D., Head of the Medical Oncology Service at the Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid. “Across three Phase 3 studies, tislelizumab has been shown to improve outcomes for patients with certain types of NSCLC, providing a new option for those facing the disease.”

Tislelizumab was approved for these NSCLC indications under the brand name TIZVENI^®. BeiGene plans to combine the NSCLC indications with the second-line ESCC indication under the brand name TEVIMBRA^®, which will launch in the first EU countries later in 2024. TEVIMBRA is approved in the U.S. and EU for advanced or metastatic ESCC after prior chemotherapy and is under review by the European Medicines Agency and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a first-line treatment for patients with unresectable, recurrent, locally advanced or metastatic ESCC and for first-line gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancers.

The EC approval is based on the results from three Phase 3 studies in the RATIONALE program that enrolled 1,499 patients:

• RATIONALE 307 (NCT03594747) is an open-label, randomized Phase 3 trial that enrolled 360 patients with advanced squamous NSCLC. The study met its primary endpoint, with first-line tislelizumab in combination with chemotherapy resulting in statistically significant improvement in progression free survival (PFS), as well as higher objective response rates and a manageable safety/tolerability profile, regardless of PD-L1 expression. The most common grade ≥3 treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were decreased neutrophil levels, neutropenia and leukopenia. See full study results published in JAMA Oncology.
• RATIONALE 304 (NCT03663205) is an open-label, randomized Phase 3 trial that enrolled 334 patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-squamous NSCLC. The study met its primary endpoint, with first-line tislelizumab in combination with chemotherapy resulting in statistically significant improvement in PFS compared to chemotherapy (HR: 0.65 [95% CI: 0.47-0.91]; P=0.0054) along with higher response rates and longer response duration. The most common grade ≥3 TEAEs were associated with chemotherapy and included neutropenia and leukopenia. See full study results published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology.
• RATIONALE 303 (NCT03358875) is an open-label, randomized Phase 3 trial with tislelizumab versus docetaxel that enrolled 805 patients with advanced NSCLC who progressed on prior platinum-based chemotherapy. The study met its primary endpoint, with second- or third-line tislelizumab resulting in statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival compared with docetaxel in the intent-to-treat population (HR: 0.66 [95% CI: 0.56-0.79]; P<0.0001), regardless of PD-L1 expression. The most commonly reported grade ≥3 TEAEs were pneumonia, anemia and dyspnea. See full study results published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology.

BeiGene has launched more than 17 potentially registration-enabling trials with tislelizumab, of which 11 Phase 3 randomized trials and four Phase 2 trials have already had positive readouts. Through these trials, tislelizumab has demonstrated its potential to deliver clinically meaningful improvements in survival benefits and quality of life for hundreds of thousands of cancer patients across a range of tumor types – in many cases, regardless of PD-(L)1 status – both as monotherapy and in combination with other regimens. More than 900,000 patients have been prescribed tislelizumab globally to date.

About NSCLC

Lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide.¹ Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in Europe; NSCLC represents 85–90% of all lung cancers.² In 2020, the number of new cases of lung cancer diagnosed in Europe was estimated at 477,534.³

About Tislelizumab

Tislelizumab is a uniquely designed humanized immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) monoclonal antibody with high affinity and binding specificity against PD-1. It is designed to minimize binding to Fc-gamma (Fcγ) receptors on macrophages, helping to aid the body’s immune cells to detect and fight tumors.

Important Safety Information

The full European Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) for the NSCLC indications for tislelizumab, which includes safety data for NSCLC and ESCC, is available from the European Medicines Agency.

About BeiGene

BeiGene is a global oncology company that is discovering and developing innovative oncology treatments that are more affordable and accessible to cancer patients worldwide. With a broad portfolio, we are expediting development of our diverse pipeline of novel therapeutics through our internal capabilities and collaborations. We are committed to radically improving access to medicines for far more patients who need them. Our growing global team of more than 10,000 colleagues spans five continents, with administrative offices in Basel, Beijing, and Cambridge, U.S. To learn more about BeiGene, please visit www.beigene.com and follow us on LinkedIn, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Facebook.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other federal securities laws, including statements regarding BeiGene’s ability to fulfill its commitment to bring tislelizumab to more patients around the world; tislelizumab’s potential to deliver clinically meaningful improvements in survival benefits and quality of life for hundreds of thousands of cancer patients across a range of tumor types; and BeiGene’s plans, commitments, aspirations, and goals under the heading “About BeiGene.” Actual results may differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including BeiGene's ability to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of its drug candidates; the clinical results for its drug candidates, which may not support further development or marketing approval; actions of regulatory agencies, which may affect the initiation, timing, and progress of clinical trials and marketing approval; BeiGene's ability to achieve commercial success for its marketed medicines and drug candidates, if approved; BeiGene's ability to obtain and maintain protection of intellectual property for its medicines and technology; BeiGene's reliance on third parties to conduct drug development, manufacturing, commercialization, and other services; BeiGene’s limited experience in obtaining regulatory approvals and commercializing pharmaceutical products and its ability to obtain additional funding for operations and to complete the development of its drug candidates and achieve and maintain profitability; and those risks more fully discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in BeiGene’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in BeiGene's subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and BeiGene undertakes no duty to update such information unless required by law.

To access BeiGene media resources, please visit our News & Media site.

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1 Globocan 2020. 900-world-fact-sheets.pdf (iarc.fr).

2 European Society of Medical Oncology. What is Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer? https://www.esmo.org/content/download/7252/143219/file/en-non-small-cell-lung-cancer-guide-for-patients.pdf.

3 Sung H, et al. Global cancer statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2021;71(3):209-49.

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240423616830/en/

Investor:

Liza Heapes

+1 857-302-5663

ir@beigene.com

Media:

Kyle Blankenship

+1 667-351-5176

media@beigene.com

Source: BeiGene, Ltd.

FAQ

What is the significance of the European Commission approval for tislelizumab for non-small cell lung cancer?

The approval marks the second in the region and includes three indications for first- and second-line use, showcasing the potential of tislelizumab in addressing the unmet needs of NSCLC patients.

What are the approved indications for tislelizumab in the treatment of NSCLC?

The approved indications include use in combination with different chemotherapy regimens for first-line treatment of squamous and non-squamous NSCLC, as well as monotherapy for patients after prior platinum-based therapy.

What are the plans for launching the treatment in EU countries under the brand name TEVIMBRA?

BeiGene plans to combine the NSCLC indications with the ESCC indication under the brand name TEVIMBRA, set to launch in the first EU countries later in 2024.

What were the key results from the Phase 3 studies supporting the EC approval of tislelizumab for NSCLC?

The results from three Phase 3 studies in the RATIONALE program showed statistically significant improvements in progression-free survival, response rates, and overall survival with tislelizumab treatment across different types of NSCLC.

How many potentially registration-enabling trials have been launched with tislelizumab?

BeiGene has launched over 17 potentially registration-enabling trials with tislelizumab, demonstrating its potential to benefit cancer patients across various tumor types globally.