The randomized, phase III ALFA-0701 trial showed that a reduced and fractionated dose of gemtuzumab ozogamicin added to standard front-line chemotherapy significantly improves event-free survival ...(EFS) in adults with
acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Here we report an independent review of EFS, final overall survival (OS), and additional safety results from ALFA-0701. Patients (n=271) aged 50-70 years with
AML were randomized to receive conventional front-line induction chemotherapy (3+7daunorubicin+cytarabine) with/without gemtuzumab ozogamicin 3 mg/m
on days 1, 4, and 7 during induction. Patients in remission following induction therapy received 2 courses of consolidation therapy (daunorubicin+cytarabine) with/without gemtuzumab ozogamicin (3 mg/m
/day on day 1) according to their initial randomization. The primary end point was investigator-assessed EFS. Secondary end points included OS and safety. A blinded independent review confirmed the investigator-assessed EFS results August 1, 2011; hazard ratio (HR) 0.66; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.49-0.89; 2-sided
=0.006, corresponding to a 34% reduction in risk of events in the gemtuzumab ozogamicin
control arm. Final OS at April 30, 2013 favored gemtuzumab ozogamicin but was not significant. No differences in early death rate were observed between arms. The main toxicity associated with gemtuzumab ozogamicin was prolonged thrombocytopenia. Veno-occlusive disease (including after transplant) was observed in 6 patients in the gemtuzumab ozogamicin arm and 2 in the control arm. In conclusion, gemtuzumab ozogamicin added to standard intensive chemotherapy has a favorable benefit/risk ratio. These results expand front-line treatment options for adult patients with previously untreated AML. (Trial registered at
).
Figitumumab (CP-751,871), a fully human immunoglobulin G2 monoclonal antibody, inhibits the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R). Our multicenter, randomized, phase III study compared ...figitumumab plus chemotherapy with chemotherapy alone as first-line treatment in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Patients with stage IIIB/IV or recurrent NSCLC disease with nonadenocarcinoma histology received open-label figitumumab (20 mg/kg) plus paclitaxel (200 mg/m(2)) and carboplatin (area under the concentration-time curve, 6 mg · min/mL) or paclitaxel and carboplatin alone once every 3 weeks for up to six cycles. The primary end point was overall survival (OS).
Of 681 randomly assigned patients, 671 received treatment. The study was closed early by an independent Data Safety Monitoring Committee because of futility and an increased incidence of serious adverse events (SAEs) and treatment-related deaths with figitumumab. Median OS was 8.6 months for figitumumab plus chemotherapy and 9.8 months for chemotherapy alone (hazard ratio HR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.99 to 1.40; P = .06); median progression-free survival was 4.7 months (95% CI, 4.2 to 5.4) and 4.6 months (95% CI, 4.2 to 5.4), respectively (HR, 1.10; P = .27); the objective response rates were 33% and 35%, respectively. The respective rates of all-causality SAEs were 66% and 51%; P < .01). Treatment-related grade 5 adverse events were also more common with figitumumab (5% v 1%; P < .01).
Adding figitumumab to standard chemotherapy failed to increase OS in patients with advanced nonadenocarcinoma NSCLC. Further clinical development of figitumumab is not being pursued.
This phase III study examined efficacy of the synthetic Toll-like receptor 9-activating oligodeoxynucleotide PF-3512676 in combination with standard paclitaxel/carboplatin chemotherapy in patients ...with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Chemotherapy-naive patients with stage IIIB or IV NSCLC were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive up to six courses of paclitaxel/carboplatin (intravenous paclitaxel 200 mg/m(2) and carboplatin at area under the concentration-time curve 6 on day 1 of a 3-week cycle) alone (control arm) or in combination with 0.2 mg/kg subcutaneous PF-3512676 on days 8 and 15 (investigational arm). Primary end point was overall survival (OS).
Baseline demographics were similar across arms (N = 828). Most patients (88%) had stage IV disease. Median OS and median progression-free survival (PFS) were similar (OS: investigational arm, 10.0 months v control arm, 9.8 months; P = .56; PFS: investigational arm, 4.8 months v control arm, 4.7 months; P = .79). Most commonly reported PF-3512676-related adverse events (AEs) were mild-to-moderate local injection site reactions, pyrexia, and flu-like symptoms. In the investigational arm, grades 3 to 4 AEs, including neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia, were more frequent, and more patients had one or more sepsis-related AEs versus controls (17 v 3). At first interim analysis, the Data Safety Monitoring Committee recommended study discontinuation because of lack of incremental efficacy and more sepsis-related serious AEs in the PF-3512676 arm. Administration of PF-3512676, but not chemotherapy, was halted.
Addition of PF-3512676 to paclitaxel/carboplatin did not improve OS or PFS versus paclitaxel/carboplatin alone for first-line treatment of patients with advanced NSCLC but did increase toxicity. This regimen cannot be recommended for treating patients with advanced NSCLC.
Purpose
Gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) is indicated for treatment of relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The QT interval, pharmacokinetics (PK), and immunogenicity following the ...fractionated GO dosing regimen have not been previously assessed. This phase IV study was designed to obtain this information in patients with R/R AML.
Methods
Patients aged ≥ 18 years with R/R AML received the fractionated dosing regimen of GO 3 mg/m
2
on Days 1, 4, and 7 of each cycle, up to 2 cycles. The primary endpoint was mean change from baseline in QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTc).
Results
Fifty patients received ≥ 1 dose of GO during Cycle 1. The upper limit of the 2-sided 90% confidence interval for least squares mean differences in QTc using Fridericia’s formula (QTcF) was < 10 ms for all time points during Cycle 1. No patients had a post-baseline QTcF > 480 ms or a change from baseline > 60 ms. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) occurred in 98% of patients; 54% were grade 3–4. The most common grade 3–4 TEAEs were febrile neutropenia (36%) and thrombocytopenia (18%). The PK profiles of both conjugated and unconjugated calicheamicin mirror that of total hP67.6 antibody. The incidence of antidrug antibodies (ADAs) and neutralizing antibodies was 12% and 2%, respectively.
Conclusion
Fractionated GO dosing regimen (3 mg/m
2
/dose) is not predicted to pose a clinically significant safety risk for QT interval prolongation in patients with R/R AML. TEAEs are consistent with GO’s known safety profile, and ADA presence appears unassociated with potential safety issues.
Trial registry
Clinicaltrials.gov ID: NCT03727750 (November 1, 2018).
The phase 3 ALFA-0701 trial demonstrated improved outcomes with fractionated-dose gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) combined with standard chemotherapy vs. standard chemotherapy alone in adults with de novo ...acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We examined post-transplant outcomes and occurrence of hepatic veno-occlusive disease/sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (VOD/SOS) in patients who received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) as follow-up therapy in ALFA-0701. Patients aged 50-70 years were randomized to standard chemotherapy with or without GO (3 mg/m2 on days 1, 4, and 7 of induction and day 1 on each of two consolidation courses). Allogeneic HSCT was recommended for patients in first complete remission with matched (related or unrelated) donor, except those with core-binding factor AML or normal karyotype and either NPM1+/FLT3-ITDwt or CEBPA+ AML. Eighty-five patients (GO: n = 32; control: n = 53) received HSCT in first complete remission or after relapse/primary induction failure. Three patients (GO: n = 2; control: n = 1 received GO as follow-up therapy) developed VOD/SOS after HSCT or conditioning. Post-transplant survival, non-relapse mortality, and relapse were not different between arms. Results indicate fractionated-dose GO as part of induction and consolidation chemotherapy for AML does not induce excess post-transplant VOD/SOS or mortality and thus does not preclude the use of HSCT as consolidation treatment.
Several lines of evidence have implied an association between Chlamydia pneumoniae infection and atherogenesis.
To determine the effect of 12 weeks of antibiotic therapy on coronary heart disease ...events in patients with stable coronary artery disease and known C pneumoniae exposure.
Randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 7747 adults with previous myocardial infarction that had occurred at least 6 weeks previously (median, 2.6 years) and a C pneumoniae IgG titer of 1:16 or more. Patients were recruited from 271 clinical practices in North America, Europe, Argentina, and India, from October 10, 1997, to July 22, 2001.
The patients received either azithromycin (600 mg/d for 3 days during week 1, then 600 mg/wk during weeks 2-12; n = 3879) or placebo (n = 3868).
The primary event was the first occurrence of death from any cause, nonfatal reinfarction, coronary revascularization, or hospitalization for angina. Patients were followed up until 1038 events accrued.
After a median of 14 months of follow-up, there was no significant risk reduction in the likelihood of a primary event with azithromycin vs placebo (7% 95% confidence interval, -5% to 17%, P =.23). Analysis of hazard ratios suggested early benefits of azithromycin on the primary event and on death or reinfarction, but these decreased over time. There were no significant risk reductions for any of the components of the primary end point including death (8%), recurrent myocardial infarction (7%), revascularization procedures (5%), or hospitalizations for angina (-1%). Adverse events related to study drug were reported by 13.2% of those randomized to receive azithromycin, predominantly a result of diarrhea, compared with 4.6% randomized to receive placebo, and resulted in discontinuation of drug in 1.6% of those taking azithromycin and 0.4% taking placebo.
Among stable patients with previous myocardial infarction and with evidence of C pneumoniae exposure, a 3-month course of azithromycin did not significantly reduce the clinical sequelae of coronary heart disease.
This phase 2 study assessed PF-3512676 plus erlotinib in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer after prior chemotherapy failure. Patients were ...randomized 1:1 to PF-3512676 (0.20 mg/kg injected subcutaneously once weekly) plus erlotinib (150 mg daily) or erlotinib alone. The primary objective was to estimate progression-free survival (PFS). Patients received PF-3512676 plus erlotinib (n = 18) or erlotinib alone (n = 21). The study was halted because an unplanned interim analysis indicated that large improvement in PFS with addition of PF-3512676 would be unlikely. In the PF-3512676-plus-erlotinib and erlotinib-alone arms, median PFS was 1.6 and 1.7 mo (hazard ratio, 1.00; 95% confidence interval, 0.5-2.0; P = 0.9335), respectively. Salient grade ≥ 3 adverse events in PF-3512676-plus-erlotinib and erlotinib-alone arms were diarrhea (5/0), dyspnea (5/6), fatigue (4/1), other flu-like symptoms (2/0), anemia (2/1), and lymphocytopenia (based on laboratory values, 1/4). Adding PF-3512676 to erlotinib did not show potential for increased progression-free survival over erlotinib alone in patients with advanced recurrent epidermal growth factor receptor-positive non-small cell lung cancer.
Summary
Purpose
To assess the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) of orally administered irinotecan in the semi-solid matrix (SSM) formulation, both as a single agent and ...in sequential combination with capecitabine, in patients with advanced solid tumors.
Patients and Methods
Forty-three patients were treated with irinotecan given as a single oral daily dose on days 1–5 every three weeks. An additional forty patients were treated with sequential oral irinotecan given daily on days 1–5 followed by capecitabine given orally as a divided dose twice daily on days 6–14 of each three week cycle.
Results
The MTD of single-agent oral irinotecan was estimated to be 60 mg/m
2
/day, and DLT included diarrhea, nausea, and neutropenia. In an initial group of patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of 0 to 2, the MTD of sequential oral irinotecan/capecitabine was estimated to be 40/1600 mg/m
2
/day with DLT of delayed diarrhea. In a subsequent group of patients with ECOG PS of 0 or 1, the MTD for the sequential combination was 50/2000 mg/m
2
/day. The most common adverse events were fatigue, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting and dehydration. Pharmacokinetic (PK) evaluation showed that oral irinotecan was rapidly absorbed and effectively converted to the active metabolite, SN-38, achieving approximately 50% of the SN-38 systemic exposure resulting from an equivalent IV dose.
Conclusions
Oral irinotecan can be safely administered as a single agent or in sequential combination with capecitabine. The efficacy of oral irinotecan should be explored further as a potentially convenient alternative to IV chemotherapy.
A novel oral, extended-release, microsphere formulation of azithromycin (AZSR) was developed to improve the gastrointestinal tolerability profile while allowing administration of an entire treatment ...course of azithromycin in a single dose. Several phase I clinical pharmacology studies were conducted to (i) identify a well-tolerated single-dose formulation that met a predefined exposure target; and (ii) evaluate the effect of food and antacid on the absorption of this formulation. Of these, five pivotal studies are described here.
The pharmacokinetic profile of AZSR was compared with that of the commercially available immediate-release azithromycin formulation (AZM) in an open-label, crossover, single-dose study (Study A), and their gastrointestinal tolerability profiles were compared in an observer-blind, parallel group, single-dose study (Study B). The effects of food (a high-fat meal and a standard meal) and antacid (a single 20 mL dose of Maalox Regular Strength, containing magnesium hydroxide, aluminium hydroxide and simethicone) on the absorption of azithromycin from AZSR were evaluated in three separate open-label, crossover, single-dose studies (Studies C, D and E). Healthy adult subjects were enrolled in all five studies, and all subjects were evaluable for tolerability. The dose used for all azithromycin formulations was 2.0 g. Serum azithromycin concentrations were determined using a validated high-performance liquid chromatography/electrochemical detection method, and pharmacokinetic parameters were analysed using noncompartmental methods.
377 subjects received a single 2.0 g dose of azithromycin as AZSR and/or AZM in the five studies. Compared with AZM, AZSR had a slower absorption rate (57% decrease in the mean peak concentration C(max) and an approximate 2.5-hour delay in the time to reach C(max) t(max)), with a mean relative bioavailability of 82.8%, which met the predefined exposure target (at least 80% bioavailability relative to AZM). Compared with AZM, AZSR was associated with significantly lower rates of nausea and vomiting. A high-fat meal increased the mean area under the serum concentration-time curve AUC from time zero to 72 hours post-dose (AUC(72 h)) by 23% and increased the C(max) of azithromycin by 115%. A standard meal increased the mean C(max) by 119% but had no clinically significant effect on the AUC(72 h). AZSR appeared to be better tolerated in the fasted state than in the fed state. The AUC(72 h) and C(max) of AZSR were not significantly affected by co-administration with a single dose of antacid.
The extended-release microsphere formulation of azithromycin, AZSR, allows administration of an entire therapeutic course of azithromycin as a well-tolerated single 2.0 g dose. This formulation should be administered on an empty stomach and can be co-administered with antacids.
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Introduction: The randomized phase 3 ALFA-0701 study demonstrated improved outcomes with the addition of gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) to standard 7+3 chemotherapy in patients with de novo acute ...myeloid leukemia (AML; Castaigne et al, Lancet 2012). 85 of 271 patients in the study received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) at any time during study. Here we describe transplant characteristics and compare survival and veno-occlusive disease (VOD) outcomes in these patients.
Methods: Patients aged 50-70 years with de novo AML who received standard chemotherapy treatment (daunorubicin and cytarabine) with the addition of GO (GO arm) or alone (control arm) and underwent HSCT as part of the open-label, randomized phase 3 ALFA-0701 study were included in this analysis. Patients who experienced complete remission could be considered for allogeneic HSCT according to performance status, age, the existence or not of a related donor, and cytogenetic and molecular risk categories. Allogeneic HSCT was considered for patients in the European LeukemiaNet (ELN) intermediate 2 or adverse risk group. The type of pre-transplant conditioning regimen was left to the discretion of the transplant center. An interval of 2 months between the last dose of GO and HSCT was recommended. Post-transplant survival was defined as the time from HSCT to death due to any cause. Data on VOD events were extensively collected from screening up to the patient's death or the data collection cutoff date (November 1, 2013), whichever occurred first.
Results: A total of 32 patients in the GO arm and 53 patients in the control arm underwent HSCT (Table). All patients received allogeneic HSCT except for 1 patient in the control arm who received autologous HSCT. In the GO arm, 17 patients received HSCT in first remission, 2 after induction failure, and 13 after relapse. In the control arm, 22 patients received HSCT in first remission, 9 after induction failure, and 22 after relapse. Median (range) age was 60 (51-67) years in the GO arm and 59 (50-69) years in the control arm, and 47% and 45% were male, respectively. The distribution of ELN risk classification was similar for the GO vs control arm, respectively (favorable/intermediate: 63% vs 72%; adverse: 28% vs 25%). Only 1 patient in the control arm who received GO as follow-up therapy received transplant <2 months after the last GO dose.
As of April 30, 2013, 18 (56%) patients in the GO arm and 28 (53%) in the control arm had died: 7 and 16 of these deaths were attributed to disease progression/relapse, and 4 and 7 were attributed to graft versus host disease, respectively. Median post-transplant survival was 21.4 months in the GO arm vs 17.1 months in the control arm, with 3-year survival probability (95% confidence interval CI) of 39% (22-57) vs 45% (31-58), respectively (hazard ratio HR=0.97). Median post-transplant survival was not yet reached in the GO arm vs 19.2 months in the control arm for patients who received HSCT while in first remission, with 3-year survival probability (95% CI) of 53% (28-73) vs 46% (24-64), respectively (HR=0.71; Figure). In patients who received HSCT after relapse or induction failure, median post-transplant survival was 14.5 vs 10.5 months in the GO vs control arm, with 3-year survival probability (95% CI) of 21% (4-48) vs 44% (26-61), respectively (HR=1.42).
In all, 3 patients in the GO arm and 2 in the control arm (both of whom received GO as follow-up therapy) developed VOD; 3 of these cases (2 in GO arm; 1 in control arm) occurred post-transplant. All but 1 patient fully recovered.
Conclusions: Similar post-transplant outcomes were observed in patients with AML treated with standard chemotherapy with and without GO. The use of GO was not associated with an excess of VOD events after HSCT. The results suggest that the administration of GO as part of induction and consolidation chemotherapy for AML does not induce excess post-transplant mortality and thus does not preclude the use of transplant as consolidation treatment following induction or salvage treatment.
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Benner:Pfizer: Employment, Equity Ownership. Vandendries:Pfizer Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership. Gogat:Pfizer Inc: Employment, Equity Ownership. Castaigne:Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding.
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