Amgen and Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, a subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4052), today announced that enrollment in the Phase 3 MONET1 trial evaluating motesanib (AMG 706) in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin for the first-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has been temporarily suspended following a planned safety data review of 600 patients by the study’s independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC). Motesanib is part of a broad co-development program between Amgen and Takeda.
The DMC recommended that enrollment in the study, which allowed both squamous and non-squamous NSCLC patients, be suspended based on an observation of higher early mortality rates in the motesanib group compared to the placebo group. In addition, the DMC recommended that the patients with squamous NSCLC immediately discontinue motesanib therapy based on an observation of a higher incidence of hemoptysis. The DMC did not recommend discontinuation of motesanib therapy for the patients with non-squamous NSCLC. The DMC will review updated data after three months. Amgen, in collaboration with Takeda Bio DevelopmentCenter, is implementing both of the DMC’s recommendations and notifying worldwide regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMEA), and Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA), as well as motesanib clinical investigators.
“While we are disappointed in this outcome, it is consistent with data seen with some other anti-VEGF therapies and appears to constitute a class effect of these types of agents,” said Roger M. Perlmutter, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president of Research and Development at Amgen. “Patient safety is our top priority, hence we have acted quickly to implement the recommendations of the DMC. Working with our development partner, Takeda, we will continue to evaluate the therapeutic potential of motesanib in non-squamous NSCLC and metastatic breast cancer, as well as in other solid tumors.”
“NSCLC continues to be an area where new and effective therapies are needed. We look forward to the follow up recommendations from the DMC in order to chart the best path forward for the development of this molecule,” said Nancy Simonian, M.D., chief medical officer, Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company.
MONET1 (Motesanib NSCLC Efficacy and Tolerability Study) Trial Design
This Phase 3, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial has enrolled 1,100 of 1,240 planned patients with advanced NSCLC. Patients with either squamous or non-squamous NSCLC were allowed in this study. Squamous NSCLC is a histological subtype of NSCLC and accounts for approximately one-third of the study population. The primary endpoint is overall survival, and secondary endpoints include progression-free survival, objective response rate in patients with measurable disease, duration of response and safety. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive carboplatin and paclitaxel administered every three weeks with or without 125 mg motesanib taken daily.
About Motesanib
Co-developed by Amgen, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, and Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, motesanib is an investigational, highly selective, oral agent that is being evaluated for its ability to inhibit angiogenesis by targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1, 2 and 3 (VEGFR1-3). It is also under investigation for its potential direct anti-tumor activity by targeting a family of proteins called tyrosine kinases, including platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), and stem cell factor receptor (c-kit), two proteins involved in cell proliferation.
About Amgen
Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science’s promise by bringing safe and effective medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disorder, rheumatoid arthritis, and other serious illnesses. With a deep and broad pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people’s lives. To learn more about our pioneering science and our vital medicines, visit http://www.amgen.com.
About Takeda
Located in Osaka, Japan, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502) is a research-based global company with its main focus on pharmaceuticals. As the largest pharmaceutical company in Japan and one of the global leaders of the industry, Takeda is committed to striving toward better health for individuals and progress in medicine by developing superior pharmaceutical products. Additional information about Takeda is available through its corporate website, http://www.takeda.com.
About Millennium
Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company, a leading biopharmaceutical company based in Cambridge, Mass., markets VELCADE, a novel cancer product, and has a robust clinical development pipeline of product candidates. Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was acquired by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd. in May, 2008. The Company’s research, development and commercialization activities are focused in oncology. Additional information about Millennium is available through its website, http://www.millennium.com. Forward-Looking Statement
This news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including estimates of revenues, operating margins, capital expenditures, cash, other financial metrics, expected legal, arbitration, political, regulatory or clinical results or practices, customer and prescriber patterns or practices, reimbursement activities and outcomes and other such estimates and results. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, including those discussed below and more fully described in the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reports filed by Amgen, including Amgen’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and most recent periodic reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Please refer to Amgen’s most recent Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K for additional information on the uncertainties and risk factors related to our business. Unless otherwise noted, Amgen is providing this information as of Nov. 19, 2008 and expressly disclaims any duty to update information contained in this news release.
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Source: Amgen
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