Treatment for Breast cancer
FDA Accepts Genentech’s Biologics License Application for Fixed-Dose Subcutaneous Combination of Perjeta And Herceptin For HER2-Positive Breast Cancer
South San Francisco, CA — February 24, 2020 — Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has accepted the company’s Biologics License Application (BLA) for the fixed-dose combination (FDC) of Perjeta® (pertuzumab) and Herceptin ® (trastuzumab) with hyaluronidase, administered by subcutaneous (SC) injection in combination with intravenous (IV) chemotherapy, for the treatment of eligible patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. The BLA for the FDC is based on results from the Phase III FeDeriCa study, which demonstrated non-inferior levels of Perjeta in the blood (pharmacokinetics) and comparable efficacy and safety to standard IV infusions of Perjeta plus Herceptin and chemotherapy.
For more than two decades, our medicines have redefined the standard of care for people with HER2-positive breast cancer,” said Levi Garraway, M.D., Ph.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. “Today’s acceptance builds upon our commitment by potentially offering patients a faster way to administer Perjeta and Herceptin. We’re working with the FDA to bring this treatment option to patients as quickly as possible.”
SC administration of the FDC takes approximately eight minutes for the initial loading dose and approximately five minutes for each subsequent maintenance dose. This is compared to approximately 150 minutes for infusion of a loading dose of Perjeta and Herceptin using the standard IV formulations, and between 60-150 minutes for subsequent maintenance infusions of the two medicines.
The FeDeriCa study met its primary endpoint, with SC administration of the FDC showing non-inferior levels of Perjeta in the blood during a given dosing interval (Ctrough) when compared to IV administration of Perjeta. A secondary endpoint of non-inferior Ctrough of Herceptin was also met. A non-inferiority endpoint was chosen for the study to ensure that people were receiving sufficient dosing with Perjeta and Herceptin as compared to the established IV doses at the same treatment intervals. In addition, rates of total pathological complete response (pCR), another secondary endpoint, were comparable between the treatment arms. The safety profile of the FDC in combination with chemotherapy was comparable to that of IV administration of Perjeta plus Herceptin and chemotherapy, and no new safety signals were identified, including no meaningful difference in cardiac toxicity. The most common adverse events in both arms were alopecia, nausea, diarrhea and anemia.
In previous studies of other SC formulations, SC administration has been shown to be strongly preferred by the majority of patients compared to IV administration of the same medicine, with the most common reason being that administration required less time in the clinic. In the PHranceSCa study, Genentech is currently investigating patient preference for SC administration of the FDC compared to standard IV administration of Perjeta and Herceptin in people with HER2-positive early breast cancer (EBC). Interim results of this Phase II study will be presented at a future medical meeting.
About the FeDeriCa study
FeDeriCa is an international, multi-center, two-arm, randomized, open-label, Phase III study evaluating the pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety of SC injection of the FDC of Perjeta and Herceptin in combination with chemotherapy, compared with standard IV infusion of Perjeta and Herceptin in combination with chemotherapy, in 500 people with HER2-positive early breast cancer (EBC) who are being treated in the neoadjuvant (before surgery) and adjuvant (after surgery) settings. The primary endpoint of the study is minimum levels of Perjeta in the blood during a given dosing interval (Ctrough). Secondary endpoints include safety; minimum levels of Herceptin in the blood during a given dosing interval (Ctrough); and total pCR, meaning there is no tumor tissue detectable in the tissue removed at the time of surgery. The safety profile of Perjeta and Herceptin FDC was comparable with that of Perjeta and Herceptin administered intravenously.
About HER2-positive breast cancer
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women worldwide. According to the American Cancer Society, close to 280,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and more than 42,000 will die from the disease in 2020. Breast cancer is not one, but many diseases based on the biology of each tumor. In HER2-positive breast cancer, there is excess HER2 protein on the surface of tumor cells. Approximately 15-20% of breast cancers are HER2-positive based on the result of a diagnostic test.
About the FDC of Perjeta and Herceptin
The FDC of Perjeta and Herceptin is a new SC formulation that combines Perjeta and Herceptin with Halozyme Therapeutics’ Enhanze® drug delivery technology.
Trastuzumab in the FDC is the same monoclonal antibody as in IV Herceptin and pertuzumab in the FDC is the same monoclonal antibody as in IV Perjeta. The mechanisms of action of Perjeta and Herceptin are believed to complement each other as both bind to the HER2 receptor, but in different locations. The combination of Perjeta and Herceptin is thought to provide a more comprehensive, dual blockade of the HER signaling pathways.
Halozyme’s Enhanze drug delivery technology may enable and optimize SC drug delivery for appropriate co-administered therapeutics. The technology is based on a proprietary recombinant human hyaluronidase PH20 (rHuPH20), an enzyme that temporarily degrades hyaluronan – a glycosaminoglycan or chain of natural sugars in the body, to aid in the dispersion and absorption of other injected therapeutic drugs.
About Genentech in breast cancer
Genentech has been advancing breast cancer research for more than 30 years with the goal of helping as many people with the disease as possible. Our medicines, along with companion diagnostic tests, have substantially improved outcomes for HER2-positive breast cancer. As our understanding of breast cancer biology rapidly improves, we are working to identify new biomarkers and approaches to treatment for other subtypes of the disease, including triple-negative and hormone receptor-positive.
About Genentech
Founded more than 40 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious and life-threatening medical conditions. The company, a member of the Roche Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco, California. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.gene.com.
Source: Genentech
Posted: February 2020
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