U.S. FDA Grants Breakthrough Therapy Designation to Trodelvy® (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) for Second-Line Treatment of Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

Rhea-AI Summary

Gilead Sciences (Nasdaq: GILD) announced that the U.S. FDA has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to Trodelvy® (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) for treating adult patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) whose disease has progressed after platinum-based chemotherapy. This designation is based on positive results from the Phase 2 TROPiCS-03 study, which showed promising antitumor activity and a consistent safety profile. Gilead plans to initiate a Phase 3 clinical trial in this patient population. Lung cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer in the U.S., with SCLC accounting for about 15% of cases. Approximately 70% of SCLC diagnoses are at the extensive stage, where current treatment options are and prognosis is poor. Trodelvy, a Trop-2-directed antibody-drug conjugate, is already approved for certain types of metastatic breast cancer and is being explored for multiple other cancers.

Positive

• Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Trodelvy in ES-SCLC.
• Promising antitumor activity in Phase 2 TROPiCS-03 study.
• Plans to initiate Phase 3 clinical trial in ES-SCLC.

Negative

• None.

Insights

Medical Research Analyst

The FDA's Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Trodelvy in extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) represents a significant development. The designation, based on promising Phase 2 TROPiCS-03 study results, could expedite Trodelvy's path to becoming a second-line treatment option in an area with alternatives. SCLC's aggressive nature, with 70% of patients diagnosed at extensive stage, makes this particularly noteworthy.

The drug's demonstrated efficacy in both platinum-resistant and platinum-sensitive disease populations suggests broad potential applicability. With Trodelvy already proven in breast cancer treatments, this expansion into lung cancer - especially targeting Trop-2 expression present in 90% of lung cancers - could significantly expand its therapeutic reach.

Financial Analyst

This regulatory milestone could substantially impact Gilead's market position in oncology. Trodelvy, already approved in over 50 countries for breast cancer indications, could see significant market expansion with this new potential indication. Small cell lung cancer represents a considerable market opportunity, given lung cancer's position as the second most diagnosed cancer in the U.S.

The Breakthrough Designation typically accelerates the regulatory review process, potentially bringing forward future revenue streams. With Gilead's plans for a Phase 3 trial, successful expansion into ES-SCLC could drive meaningful growth in Trodelvy's commercial potential, particularly given the treatment options currently available in this indication.

FOSTER CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation to Trodelvy^® (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) for the treatment of adult patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) whose disease has progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy.

The Breakthrough Therapy Designation is based on results from the global Phase 2 TROPiCS-03 study ES-SCLC cohort, which showed encouraging results with Trodelvy as a second-line treatment for ES-SCLC. As recently presented at the IASLC 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer, Trodelvy demonstrated promising antitumor activity in both platinum-resistant (PR) and platinum-sensitive (PS) disease, and the safety profile was consistent with previous Trodelvy studies. These data support further investigation of Trodelvy in ES-SCLC and Gilead plans to initiate a Phase 3 clinical trial in this patient population.

Lung cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer in the U.S., and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Approximately 15% of lung cancer cases are SCLC, with nearly 70% of patients with SCLC diagnosed at extensive-stage, which occurs when the cancer has spread to both lungs or beyond the lungs to lymph nodes or other organs. For people with ES-SCLC whose disease does not respond to current first-line standard of care (platinum-based chemotherapy or immunotherapy), the prognosis is often poor, and treatment options are limited. There is an urgent need for new and more effective approaches to care that can improve survival and slow the progression of the disease.

Breakthrough Therapy Designation is designed to expedite the development and regulatory review of investigational treatments for serious or life-threatening conditions that, based on preliminary clinical evidence, have the potential to substantially improve clinical outcomes compared with available therapy. This is the second Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Trodelvy.

Trodelvy is the first and only approved Trop-2-directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that has demonstrated meaningful survival advantages in two different types of metastatic breast cancers. Across Phase 3 trials, we are exploring Trodelvy alone or in combination with other agents across many diverse tumor types and stages of disease. This includes collaborations with partners in academia, industry and the global cancer community.

About Trodelvy

Trodelvy^® (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) is a first-in-class Trop-2-directed antibody-drug conjugate. Trop-2 is a cell surface antigen highly expressed in multiple tumor types, including in more than 90% of breast and lung cancers. Trodelvy is intentionally designed with a proprietary hydrolyzable linker attached to SN-38, a topoisomerase I inhibitor payload. This unique combination delivers potent activity to both Trop-2 expressing cells and the tumor microenvironment through a bystander effect.

Trodelvy is currently approved in more than 50 countries for second-line or later metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients and in more than 40 countries for certain patients with pre-treated HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer.

Trodelvy is being investigated for use in other TNBC and HR+/HER2- breast cancer populations, as well as a range of tumor types where Trop-2 is highly expressed, including small cell lung cancer and first-line metastatic non-small cell lung cancer where Trodelvy has shown clinical activity through the TROPiCS-03 proof-of-concept study and the EVOKE-02 proof-of-concept study, respectively. Trodelvy is also being studied in head and neck cancer and gynecological cancers.

U.S. Indications for Trodelvy

In the United States, Trodelvy is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with:

• Unresectable locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) who have received two or more prior systemic therapies, at least one of them for metastatic disease.
• Unresectable locally advanced or metastatic hormone receptor (HR)-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative (IHC 0, IHC 1+ or IHC 2+/ISH–) breast cancer who have received endocrine-based therapy and at least two additional systemic therapies in the metastatic setting.

U.S. Important Safety Information for Trodelvy

BOXED WARNING: NEUTROPENIA AND DIARRHEA

• Severe or life-threatening neutropenia may occur. Withhold Trodelvy for absolute neutrophil count below 1500/mm³ or neutropenic fever. Monitor blood cell counts periodically during treatment. Consider G-CSF for secondary prophylaxis. Initiate anti-infective treatment in patients with febrile neutropenia without delay.
• Severe diarrhea may occur. Monitor patients with diarrhea and give fluid and electrolytes as needed. At the onset of diarrhea, evaluate for infectious causes and, if negative, promptly initiate loperamide. If severe diarrhea occurs, withhold Trodelvy until resolved to ≤Grade 1 and reduce subsequent doses.

CONTRAINDICATIONS

• Severe hypersensitivity reaction to Trodelvy.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Neutropenia: Severe, life-threatening, or fatal neutropenia can occur and may require dose modification. Neutropenia occurred in 64% of patients treated with Trodelvy. Grade 3-4 neutropenia occurred in 49% of patients. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 6%. Neutropenic colitis occurred in 1.4%. Withhold Trodelvy for absolute neutrophil count below 1500/mm³ on Day 1 of any cycle or neutrophil count below 1000/mm³ on Day 8 of any cycle. Withhold Trodelvy for neutropenic fever. Administer G-CSF as clinically indicated or indicated in Table 1 of USPI.

Diarrhea: Diarrhea occurred in 64% of all patients treated with Trodelvy. Grade 3-4 diarrhea occurred in 11% of patients. One patient had intestinal perforation following diarrhea. Diarrhea that led to dehydration and subsequent acute kidney injury occurred in 0.7% of all patients. Withhold Trodelvy for Grade 3-4 diarrhea and resume when resolved to ≤Grade 1. At onset, evaluate for infectious causes and if negative, promptly initiate loperamide, 4 mg initially followed by 2 mg with every episode of diarrhea for a maximum of 16 mg daily. Discontinue loperamide 12 hours after diarrhea resolves. Additional supportive measures (e.g., fluid and electrolyte substitution) may also be employed as clinically indicated. Patients who exhibit an excessive cholinergic response to treatment can receive appropriate premedication (e.g., atropine) for subsequent treatments.

Hypersensitivity and Infusion-Related Reactions: Serious hypersensitivity reactions including life-threatening anaphylactic reactions have occurred with Trodelvy. Severe signs and symptoms included cardiac arrest, hypotension, wheezing, angioedema, swelling, pneumonitis, and skin reactions. Hypersensitivity reactions within 24 hours of dosing occurred in 35% of patients. Grade 3-4 hypersensitivity occurred in 2% of patients. The incidence of hypersensitivity reactions leading to permanent discontinuation of Trodelvy was 0.2%. The incidence of anaphylactic reactions was 0.2%. Pre-infusion medication is recommended. Have medications and emergency equipment to treat such reactions available for immediate use. Observe patients closely for hypersensitivity and infusion-related reactions during each infusion and for at least 30 minutes after completion of each infusion. Permanently discontinue Trodelvy for Grade 4 infusion-related reactions.

Nausea and Vomiting: Nausea occurred in 64% of all patients treated with Trodelvy and Grade 3-4 nausea occurred in 3% of these patients. Vomiting occurred in 35% of patients and Grade 3-4 vomiting occurred in 2% of these patients. Premedicate with a two or three drug combination regimen (e.g., dexamethasone with either a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist or an NK₁ receptor antagonist as well as other drugs as indicated) for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). Withhold Trodelvy doses for Grade 3 nausea or Grade 3-4 vomiting and resume with additional supportive measures when resolved to Grade ≤1. Additional antiemetics and other supportive measures may also be employed as clinically indicated. All patients should be given take-home medications with clear instructions for prevention and treatment of nausea and vomiting.

Increased Risk of Adverse Reactions in Patients with Reduced UGT1A1 Activity: Patients homozygous for the uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyl transferase 1A1 (UGT1A1)*28 allele are at increased risk for neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, and anemia and may be at increased risk for other adverse reactions with Trodelvy. The incidence of Grade 3-4 neutropenia was 58% in patients homozygous for the UGT1A1*28, 49% in patients heterozygous for the UGT1A1*28 allele, and 43% in patients homozygous for the wild-type allele. The incidence of Grade 3-4 anemia was 21% in patients homozygous for the UGT1A1*28 allele, 10% in patients heterozygous for the UGT1A1*28 allele, and 9% in patients homozygous for the wild-type allele. Closely monitor patients with known reduced UGT1A1 activity for adverse reactions. Withhold or permanently discontinue Trodelvy based on clinical assessment of the onset, duration and severity of the observed adverse reactions in patients with evidence of acute early-onset or unusually severe adverse reactions, which may indicate reduced UGT1A1 function.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Based on its mechanism of action, Trodelvy can cause teratogenicity and/or embryo-fetal lethality when administered to a pregnant woman. Trodelvy contains a genotoxic component, SN-38, and targets rapidly dividing cells. Advise pregnant women and females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with Trodelvy and for 6 months after the last dose. Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during treatment with Trodelvy and for 3 months after the last dose.

ADVERSE REACTIONS

In the pooled safety population, the most common (≥ 25%) adverse reactions including laboratory abnormalities were decreased leukocyte count (84%), decreased neutrophil count (75%), decreased hemoglobin (69%), diarrhea (64%), nausea (64%), decreased lymphocyte count (63%), fatigue (51%), alopecia (45%), constipation (37%), increased glucose (37%), decreased albumin (35%), vomiting (35%), decreased appetite (30%), decreased creatinine clearance (28%), increased alkaline phosphatase (28%), decreased magnesium (27%), decreased potassium (26%), and decreased sodium (26%).

In the ASCENT study (locally advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer), the most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥25%) were fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, alopecia, constipation, vomiting, abdominal pain, and decreased appetite. The most frequent serious adverse reactions (SAR) (>1%) were neutropenia (7%), diarrhea (4%), and pneumonia (3%). SAR were reported in 27% of patients, and 5% discontinued therapy due to adverse reactions. The most common Grade 3-4 lab abnormalities (incidence ≥25%) in the ASCENT study were reduced neutrophils, leukocytes, and lymphocytes.

In the TROPiCS-02 study (locally advanced or metastatic HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer), the most common adverse reactions (incidence ≥25%) were diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, alopecia, and constipation. The most frequent serious adverse reactions (SAR) (>1%) were diarrhea (5%), febrile neutropenia (4%), neutropenia (3%), abdominal pain, colitis, neutropenic colitis, pneumonia, and vomiting (each 2%). SAR were reported in 28% of patients, and 6% discontinued therapy due to adverse reactions. The most common Grade 3-4 lab abnormalities (incidence ≥25%) in the TROPiCS-02 study were reduced neutrophils and leukocytes.

DRUG INTERACTIONS

UGT1A1 Inhibitors: Concomitant administration of Trodelvy with inhibitors of UGT1A1 may increase the incidence of adverse reactions due to potential increase in systemic exposure to SN-38. Avoid administering UGT1A1 inhibitors with Trodelvy.

UGT1A1 Inducers: Exposure to SN-38 may be reduced in patients concomitantly receiving UGT1A1 enzyme inducers. Avoid administering UGT1A1 inducers with Trodelvy.

Please see full Prescribing Information, including BOXED WARNING.

About Gilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company that has pursued and achieved breakthroughs in medicine for more than three decades, with the goal of creating a healthier world for all people. The company is committed to advancing innovative medicines to prevent and treat life-threatening diseases, including HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19, cancer, and inflammation. Gilead operates in more than 35 countries worldwide, with headquarters in Foster City, Calif.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, including Gilead’s ability to initiate, progress or complete clinical trials or studies within currently anticipated timelines or at all, and the possibility of unfavorable results from ongoing and additional clinical trials or studies, including those involving Trodelvy (such as TROPiCS-03); uncertainties relating to regulatory applications and related filing and approval timelines, including potential applications for programs and/or indications currently under evaluation; the possibility that Gilead may make a strategic decision to discontinue development of these programs and, as a result, these programs may never be successfully commercialized for the indications currently under evaluation; and any assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. These and other risks, uncertainties and factors are described in detail in Gilead’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks, uncertainties and other factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those referred to in the forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties and is cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to Gilead, and Gilead assumes no obligation and disclaims any intent to update any such forward-looking statements.

Trodelvy, Gilead and the Gilead logo are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies.

U.S. Prescribing Information for Trodelvy, including BOXED WARNING, is available at www.gilead.com.

For more information about Gilead, please visit the company’s website at www.gilead.com, follow Gilead on X/Twitter (@GileadSciences) and LinkedIn (@Gilead-Sciences).

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241216528668/en/

Blair Baumwell, Media

public_affairs@gilead.com

Jacquie Ross, Investors

investor_relations@gilead.com

Source: Gilead Sciences, Inc.

FAQ

What is the significance of the FDA granting Breakthrough Therapy Designation to Trodelvy for ES-SCLC?

The designation is based on promising results from the Phase 2 TROPiCS-03 study and aims to expedite the development and review of Trodelvy for ES-SCLC.

What were the results of the Phase 2 TROPiCS-03 study for Trodelvy?

The study showed promising antitumor activity and a consistent safety profile for Trodelvy as a second-line treatment for ES-SCLC.

What is the next step for Trodelvy after receiving Breakthrough Therapy Designation?

Gilead plans to initiate a Phase 3 clinical trial to further investigate Trodelvy in ES-SCLC.

How prevalent is small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in the U.S.?

SCLC accounts for about 15% of lung cancer cases in the U.S., with nearly 70% being diagnosed at the extensive stage.

What are the current treatment options for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer?

Current options include platinum-based chemotherapy and immunotherapy, but the prognosis remains poor for patients whose disease progresses.

What other cancers is Trodelvy being explored for?

Trodelvy is being investigated for various cancers, including metastatic breast cancer, head and neck cancer, and gynecological cancers.