Background
Phase III clinical trials and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory decisions are critical for success of new drugs and can influence a company's market valuation. Knowledge of ...trial results before they are made public (ie, "inside information") can affect the price of a drug company's stock. We examined the stock prices of companies before and after public announcements regarding experimental anticancer drugs owned by the companies.
Methods
We identified drugs that were undergoing evaluation in phase III trials or for regulatory approval by the US FDA from January 2000 to January 2009. Stock prices of companies that owned such drugs were analyzed for 120 trading days before and after the first public announcement of 1) results of clinical trials with positive and negative outcomes and 2) positive and negative regulatory decisions. All statistical tests were two-sided.
Results
We identified public announcements from 23 positive trials and 36 negative trials and from 41 positive and nine negative FDA regulatory decisions. The mean stock price for the 120 trading days before a phase III clinical trial announcement increased by 13.7% (95% confidence interval = −2.2% to 29.6%) for companies that reported positive trials and decreased by 0.7% (95% confidence interval = −13.8% to 12.3%) for companies that reported negative trials (P = .09). In a post hoc analysis comparing the stock price averaged over 60 trading days before and after day −60 relative to the clinical trial announcement, the mean stock price increased by 9.4% for companies that reported positive trials and decreased by 4.5% for companies that reported negative trials (P = .03). Changes in company stock prices before FDA regulatory decisions did not differ statistically between companies with positive decision and companies with negative decisions.
Conclusions
Trends in company stock prices before the first public announcement differ for companies that report positive vs negative trials. This finding has important legal and ethical implications for investigators, drug companies, and the investment industry.
Introduction:
Rearranged during transfection (RET) gene fusions are rare genetic drivers in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Selective RET-inhibitors such as selpercatinib have shown therapeutic ...activity in early clinical trials; however, their efficacy in the real-world setting is unknown.
Methods:
A retrospective efficacy and safety analysis was performed on data from RET fusion-positive NSCLC patients who participated in a selpercatinib access program (named patient protocol) between August 2019 and January 2021.
Results:
Data from 50 patients with RET fusion-positive advanced NSCLC treated with selpercatinib at 27 centers in 12 countries was analyzed. Most patients were Non-Asian (90%), female (60%), never-smokers (74%), with a median age of 65 years (range, 38–89). 32% of the patients had known brain metastasis at the time of selpercatinib treatment. Overall, 13 patients were treatment-naïve, while 37 were pretreated with a median of three lines of therapy (range, 1–8). The objective response rate (ORR) was 68% 95% confidence interval (CI), 53–81 in the overall population. The disease control rate was 92%. The median progression-free survival was 15.6 months (95% CI, 8.8–22.4) after a median follow-up of 9 months. In patients with measurable brain metastases (n = 8) intracranial ORR reached 100%. In total, 88% of patients experienced treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs), a large majority of them being grade 1 or 2. The most common grade ⩾ 3 TRAEs were increased liver enzyme levels (in 10% of patients), prolonged QTc time (4%), abdominal pain (4%), hypertension (4%), and fatigue/asthenia (4%). None of patients discontinued selpercatinib treatment for safety reasons. No new safety concerns were observed, nor where there any treatment-related death.
Conclusions:
In this real-world setting, the selective RET-inhibitor selpercatinib demonstrated durable systemic and intracranial antitumor activity in RET fusion-positive NSCLC and was well tolerated.
Liquid biopsy is recommended to diagnose molecular resistance to targeted therapy in patients with lung cancer. Nevertheless, not all jurisdictions provide funding and patient access. We report ...patients’ perceived value of liquid biopsy in targeted therapy resistance.
Canadian patients participating in a national EGFR T790M liquid biopsy validation study completed structured interviews measuring perceived value and willingness-to-pay for plasma circulating tumor DNA testing as an alternative to tumor biopsy using open-ended and iterative bidding approaches.
A total of 60 patients with advanced lung cancer participated with a median age of 64 years (range: 31–87 y); 69% were Asian and 45% female. All had received prior EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor; 17% also received chemotherapy. All patients preferred to have plasma testing over repeat tumor biopsy. In the context of the Canadian publicly funded system, patients estimated that a median of 300 (interquartile range: 150–800) Canadian dollars was a reasonable price to pay for liquid biopsy. Patients were personally willing to pay a median 100 (interquartile range: 33–350) Canadian dollars.
In a system that covers the cost of standard diagnostic tests, patients with lung cancer indicated high willingness-to-pay out-of-pocket for liquid biopsy in the setting of acquired targeted therapy resistance. Patients have high perceived value of plasma genotyping and prefer it to repeat tumor biopsy.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
TGF-β is a multifunctional factor involved in regulating a variety of cellular activities. In mammals, TGF-β is known to regulate reproduction, including ovarian functions. The role of TGF-β in lower ...vertebrates, such as fish, is poorly understood. To examine the role of TGF-β in fish reproduction, cDNAs encoding TGF-β1 and the type II TGF-β receptor (TβRII) were cloned from the zebrafish ovary using PCR- based strategies. The mature peptide region of the zebrafish TGF-β1 shows 70–85% identity with TGF-β1 from other species. The zebrafish TβRII cDNA sequence is the first to be reported from a fish species, and it shows a high level of conservation at the kinase domain. Using RT-PCR, we have detected mRNA expression of TGF-β1, TβRII, as well as its downstream signaling molecules Smad2, 3, and 4 in ovarian follicles at different stages of development. In addition, we have examined the effect of TGF-β1 on oocyte maturation. TGF-β1 significantly inhibited both gonadotropin- and 17α, 20β-dihydroxyprogesterone-induced oocyte maturation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. These findings demonstrate, for the first time, that TGF-β1 plays a role in regulating oocyte maturation in fish and suggest that a TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway is present in the zebrafish ovary.
The treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (nsclc) has undergone a paradigm shift since the early 2000s. The identification of molecular subtypes of the disease, based on oncogenic drivers, ...has led to the development of personalized medicine and the ability to deliver molecularly targeted therapies to patients. In the 10 years that have elapsed since the discovery of the
gene in a patient with nsclc, several active drugs have moved rapidly from bench to bedside, and multiple others are currently in clinical trials. Those developments have led to important improvements in patient outcomes, while simultaneously raising key questions about the optimal treatment for
-positive nsclc. The inevitable emergence of resistance to alk-directed therapy is central to ongoing research and daily clinical practice for affected patients. In the present review, we highlight the current treatment landscape, the available and emerging clinical trials, and the evolving clinical decision-making in
-positive nsclc, with a focus on Canadian practice.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
Purpose BIRCH was designed to examine the efficacy of atezolizumab, a humanized anti-programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) monoclonal antibody, in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) across lines ...of therapy. Patients were selected on the basis of PD-L1 expression on tumor cells (TC) or tumor-infiltrating immune cells (IC). Patients and Methods Eligible patients had advanced-stage NSCLC, no CNS metastases, and zero to two or more lines of prior chemotherapy. Patients whose tumors expressed PD-L1 using the SP142 immunohistochemistry assay on ≥ 5% of TC or IC (TC2/3 or IC2/3 TC or IC ≥ 5% PD-L1-expressing cells, respectively) were enrolled. Atezolizumab 1,200 mg was administered intravenously every 3 weeks. Efficacy-evaluable patients (N = 659) comprised three cohorts: first line (cohort 1; n = 139); second line (cohort 2; n = 268); and third line or higher (cohort 3; n = 252). The primary end point was independent review facility-assessed objective response rate (ORR; Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors RECIST version 1.1). Secondary end points included median duration of response, progression-free survival, and overall survival (OS). Results BIRCH met its primary objective of demonstrating a significant ORR versus historical controls. With a minimum of 12 months of follow-up, the independent review facility-assessed ORR was 18% to 22% for the three cohorts, and 26% to 31% for the TC3 or IC3 subgroup; most responses are ongoing. Responses occurred regardless of EGFR or KRAS mutation status. The median OS from an updated survival analysis (minimum of 20 month follow up) for cohort 1 was 23.5 months (26.9 months for TC3 or IC3 patients); the median OS in cohorts 2 and 3 was 15.5 and 13.2 months, respectively. The safety profile was similar across cohorts and consistent with previous atezolizumab monotherapy trials. Conclusion BIRCH demonstrated responses with atezolizumab monotherapy in patients with PD-L1-selected advanced NSCLC, with good tolerability. PD-L1 status may serve as a predictive biomarker for identifying patients most likely to benefit from atezolizumab.
Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) rearrangements have been identified as key oncogenic drivers in a small subset of non-small-cell lung cancers (nsclcs). Small-molecule Alk kinase inhibitors such as ...crizotinib have transformed the natural history of nsclc for this subgroup of patients. Because of the prevalence of nsclc, ALK-positive patients represent an important example of the paradigm for personalized medicine. Although Alk inhibitors such as crizotinib are well tolerated, there is a potential for adverse events to occur. Proactive monitoring, treatment, and education concerning those adverse events will help to optimize the therapeutic index of the drugs. The present review summarizes the management of treatment-related adverse events that can arise with Alk inhibitors such as crizotinib.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
Atezolizumab, bevacizumab, carboplatin, and paclitaxel (ABCP) demonstrated survival benefit versus bevacizumab, carboplatin, and paclitaxel (BCP) in chemotherapy-naïve nonsquamous non-small-cell lung ...cancer (NSCLC). We present safety and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) to provide additional information on the relative impact of adding atezolizumab to chemotherapy with and without bevacizumab in nonsquamous NSCLC.
Patients were randomly assigned to receive atezolizumab, carboplatin, and paclitaxel (ACP), ABCP, or BCP. Coprimary end points were overall survival and investigator-assessed progression-free survival. The incidence, nature, and severity of adverse events (AEs) were assessed. PROs, a secondary end point, were evaluated using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ)-Core 30 and EORTC QLQ-Lung Cancer 13.
Overall, 400 (ACP), 393 (ABCP), and 394 (BCP) patients were safety evaluable (ie, intention-to-treat population that received one or more doses of any study treatment). More patients had grade 3/4 treatment-related AEs during the induction versus maintenance phase (ACP, 40.5%
8.2%; ABCP, 48.6%
21.2%; BCP, 44.7%
11.1%). During induction, the incidence of serious AEs (SAEs) was 28.3%, 28.5%, and 26.4% in the ACP, ABCP, and BCP arms, respectively. During maintenance, SAE incidences were 20.0%, 26.3%, and 13.0%, respectively. Completion rates of the PRO questionnaires were > 88% at baseline and remained ≥ 70% throughout most study visits. Across arms, patients on average reported no clinically meaningful worsening of global health status or physical functioning scores through cycle 13. Patients across arms rated common symptoms with chemotherapy and immunotherapy similarly.
ABCP seems tolerable and manageable versus ACP and BCP in first-line nonsquamous NSCLC. Treatment tolerability differed between induction and maintenance phases across treatment arms. PROs reflect a minimal treatment burden (eg, health-related quality of life, symptoms) with each regimen.
TPS9160
Background: The results of the FLAURA study established osimertinib as the new first-line standard of care for patients with the two ‘common’ types of epidermal growth factor receptor ...mutation-positive (EGFR+) advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (aNSCLC). Second-line (2L) treatment is typically platinum pemetrexed chemotherapy and the standard third-line (3L) treatment is docetaxel throughout much of the globe, which has a modest response rate of 7 – 15%. Previously, when first generation (1G) EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKIs) were standard of care in the first-line setting, a number of prospective and retrospective studies examined 3L rechallenge with the same 1G EGFR TKI following 2L chemotherapy, with varying levels of success. Osimertinib is a well-tolerated EGFR TKI which is active against the T790M resistance mutation, which would have limited the efficacy of rechallenge with 1G EGFR TKIs. Methods: This is a multicentered international phase II investigator-initiated study of osimertinib in the 3L rechallenge of patients with EGFR+ aNSCLC, following 1L treatment with osimertinib and 2L therapy with platinum pemetrexed chemotherapy. A maximum of 255 patients will be enrolled. Patients with ‘common’ EGFR exon 19 deletions or L858R mutations will enroll at the start of 2L chemotherapy or 3L osimertinib rechallenge. The primary objective is 3L objective response rate (ORR) in the first 100 evaluable patients, according to RECIST 1.1. Secondary objectives include disease control rate (DCR), progression free survival (PFS), time to treatment failure, overall survival and toxicity for 3L osimertinib rechallenge. Exploratory objectives include assessment of osimertinib resistance based on serial ctDNA samples collected from all participants. The OCELOT study, NCT04335292, is actively enrolling participants. Clinical trial information: NCT04335292 .
•No difference in efficacy/toxicity for intermittent or continuous selumetinib.•Combination of selumetinib and platinum associated with higher ORR in first line.•No association between KRAS status ...and efficacy.•Skin and GI adverse events were more common with addition of selumetinib.•High incidence of venous thromboembolism was seen in all arms.
Activation of the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway may confer resistance to chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Selumetinib (AZD6244, ARRY142886), a MEK1/2 inhibitor combined with chemotherapy in patients with NSCLC was evaluated in two schedules to evaluate efficacy and toxicity.
IND.219 was a three-arm study of first line pemetrexed/platinum chemotherapy with two schedules of selumetinib (Arm A: intermittent given on days 2–19; Arm B: continuous given on days 1–21) versus chemotherapy alone (Arm C). The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR); secondary objectives were tolerability, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS). The trial was stopped at the planned interim analysis.
Arms A/B/C enrolled 20/21/21 patients, ORR was 35% (95% CI 15–59% median duration 3.8 months), 62% (95% CI 38–82%; median duration 6.3 months), 24% (95% CI 8–47%; median duration 11.6 months) respectively. The PFS (months Arm A, B, C) was 7.5, 6.7, 4.0 respectively (hazard ratio (HR) PFS Arm A over Arm C: 0.76 95% CI, 0.38–1.51, 2-sided p = 0.42; Arm B over Arm C 0.75 95% CI 0.37–1.54, p = 0.43. Skin and gastrointestinal adverse events were more common with the addition of selumetinib. A high incidence of venous thromboembolism was seen in all arms.
Selumetinib combined with chemotherapy was associated with a higher response rate. Continuous selumetinib appeared to be superior to an intermittent schedule. PFS was prolonged with the addition of selumetinib, however this was not statistically significant.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
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