Policy & Regulation
FDA Approves Genentech's Rozlytrek for People with ROS1-Positive, Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer and NTRK Gene Fusion-Positive Solid Tumors
19 August 2019 - - The US Food and Drug Administration has approved Rozlytrek(entrectinib) for the treatment of adults with ROS1-positive, metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), US-based Genentech said.

Genentech a member of Switzerland's Roche Group (SIX: RO) (OTCQX: RHHBY).

The FDA has also granted accelerated approval to Rozlytrek for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with solid tumors that have a neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase gene fusion without a known acquired resistance mutation, are metastatic or where surgical resection is likely to result in severe morbidity, and have progressed following treatment or have no satisfactory alternative therapy.

These approvals are based on results from the integrated analysis of the pivotal Phase II STARTRK-2, Phase I STARTRK-1 and Phase I ALKA-372-001 trials, and data from the Phase I/II STARTRK-NG study.

In the integrated analysis, Rozlytrek was studied in several solid tumor types, including breast, cholangiocarcinoma, colorectal, gynecological, neuroendocrine, non-small cell lung, salivary gland, pancreatic, sarcoma and thyroid cancers.

In ROS1-positive, metastatic NSCLC, Rozlytrek shrank tumors in 78% of people with the disease (overall response rate [ORR]; N=51) and the duration of response ranged from 1.8 to 36.8+ months (N=40 out of 51).

Rozlytrek also shrank tumors in more than half of people with NTRK gene fusion-positive, locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors (ORR=57%; N=54), and objective responses were observed across 10 tumor types (DoR ranged from 2.8 to 26.0+ months; N=31 out of 54).

Objective responses to Rozlytrek were seen in people with central nervous system metastases at baseline.

The most common adverse reactions (≥20 %) with Rozlytrek were fatigue, constipation, altered sense of taste (dysgeusia), swelling (edema), dizziness, diarrhea, nausea, nervous system disorders (dysesthesia), shortness of breath (dyspnea), muscle pain (myalgia), cognitive impairment, increased weight, cough, vomiting, fever (pyrexia), joint pain (arthralgia) and vision disorders.

The FDA's Accelerated Approval Program allows conditional approval of a medicine that fills an unmet medical need for a serious or life-threatening disease or condition.

The accelerated approval of Rozlytrek for NTRK gene fusion-positive solid tumors is based on tumor response rate and durability of response, and continued approval may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory trials.

Biomarker testing for ROS1 in NSCLC and NTRK gene fusions across all solid tumors is the only way to identify people who are eligible for treatment with Rozlytrek. Genentech is leveraging its expertise in developing personalised medicines and advanced diagnostics, in conjunction with Foundation Medicine, to help identify people with ROS1 and NTRK gene fusions.

Foundation Medicine will submit FoundationOne CDx to the FDA for approval as a companion diagnostic for Rozlytrek. An FDA-approved companion diagnostic for Rozlytrek is not available at this time.

Rozlytrek is now available in the United States for adults and children 12 years of age and older. For those who qualify, Genentech offers patient assistance programs for people prescribed Rozlytrek by their doctor through Genentech Access Solutions.

This approval is based on an integrated analysis including data from 51 people with ROS1-positive NSCLC and 54 people with locally advanced or metastatic NTRK gene fusion-positive solid tumors (10 tumor types, >19 histopathologies) from the Phase II STARTRK-2, Phase I STARTRK-1 and Phase I ALKA-372-001 trials.

This approval is also based on data from the Phase I/II STARTRK-NG study in pediatric patients. The studies enrolled people across 15 countries and more than 150 clinical trial sites. Safety was assessed from an integrated analysis of 355 people across these four trials.

According to the American Cancer Society, it is estimated that more than 228,000 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2019, and NSCLC accounts for 84% of all lung cancers.

It is estimated that approximately 60% of lung cancer diagnoses in the United States are made when the disease is in the advanced stages.

While the ROS1 gene fusion can be found in any person with NSCLC, young never-smokers have the highest incidence of ROS1-positive NSCLC. NTRK gene fusions have been identified in a broad range of solid tumor types, with a higher incidence in certain tumor types including NSCLC.

Neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase gene fusion-positive cancer occurs when the NTRK1/2/3 genes fuse with other genes, resulting in altered TRK proteins (TRKA/TRKB/TRKC) that can activate signaling pathways involved in the proliferation of certain types of cancer.

NTRK gene fusions are present in tumors irrespective of site of origin.

These fusions have been identified in a broad range of solid tumor types, including breast, cholangiocarcinoma, colorectal, gynecological, neuroendocrine, non-small cell lung, salivary gland, pancreatic, sarcoma and thyroid cancers.

Rozlytrek (entrectinib) is an oral medicine for the treatment of adults with ROS1-positive, metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as well as for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with solid tumors that have a neurotrophic tyrosine receptor kinase gene fusion without a known acquired resistance mutation, are metastatic or where surgical resection is likely to result in severe morbidity, and have progressed following treatment or have no satisfactory alternative therapy.

It is a selective tyrosine kinase inhibitor designed to inhibit the kinase activity of the TRK A/B/C and ROS1 proteins, whose activating fusions drive proliferation in certain types of cancer.

Rozlytrek can block ROS1 and NTRK kinase activity and may result in the death of cancer cells with ROS1 or NTRK gene fusions.

Founded more than 40 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercialises 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.
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