LYNPARZA® (olaparib) Tablets Receive EU Approval for the Treatment of Platinum-Sensitive Relapsed Ovarian Cancer

Women with Platinum-Sensitive Ovarian Cancer Now Have Access to Maintenance Therapy with AstraZeneca and Merck’s LYNPARZA, Regardless of BRCA status

LYNPARZA Has Over Five Years’ Efficacy and Safety Follow-Up Data

New Tablet Formulation Reduces Dosing to Two Tablets Twice Daily

KENILWORTH, N.J.--()--AstraZeneca and Merck (NYSE:MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, today announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has approved LYNPARZA® (olaparib) tablets (300 mg twice daily) for use as a maintenance therapy for patients with platinum-sensitive relapsed high-grade, epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer who are in complete response or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy, regardless of BRCA status.

Dave Fredrickson, executive vice president, head of the oncology business unit at AstraZeneca, said, “With this new approval for LYNPARZA, we will now be able to offer more women with platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer, regardless of their BRCA status, a chance to achieve long-term disease control with an oral medicine that has a well-characterized safety and tolerability profile.”

Dr. Roy Baynes, senior vice president and head of global clinical development, chief medical officer, Merck Research Laboratories, said, “This is an important development for the thousands of women in Europe living with advanced ovarian cancer, historically a difficult-to-treat disease. Working with AstraZeneca, we are able to bring this innovative, targeted treatment that helps delay progression of the disease to a broader group of women.”

The EU approval was based on two randomized trials, SOLO-2 and Study 19, which showed that LYNPARZA reduced the risk of disease progression or death for platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer patients compared to placebo.

Table 1. Summary of key efficacy results from randomized trials

                 
Analysis      

SOLO-2
(germline BRCA-mutated
platinum-sensitive relapsed)
n=295

 

     

Study 19
(platinum-sensitive relapsed)
n=265

 

      LYNPARZA     Placebo       LYNPARZA     Placebo

Reduction in the risk
of disease
progression or death
(PFS)

     

70%
(HR 0.30 [95% CI, 0.22-0.41],
p<0.0001; median 19.1 vs 5.5
months)*

     

65%
(HR 0.35 [95% CI, 0.25-0.49],
p<0.0001; median 8.4 vs 4.8
months)*

* By investigator-assessed analysis

In SOLO-2, the investigator-assessed analysis of PFS was supported with a blinded, independent, central radiological review of PFS, which showed a two-year difference in median PFS between LYNPARZA and placebo (HR 0.25 [95% CI, 0.18 0.35], p<0.0001; median 30.2 months vs 5.5 months). Overall survival (OS) data from SOLO-2 is currently immature.

In the final analysis of Study 19, with greater than five years of follow-up, the significant improvement in PFS translated into improvements in other key efficacy endpoints, regardless of BRCA status (Table 2). Additionally, the analysis showed 13 percent of patients treated with LYNPARZA remained progression-free and on therapy for five or more years.

Table 2. Summary of other key efficacy endpoints from Study 19

         
Analysis       Study 19

(platinum-sensitive relapsed)

n=265

      LYNPARZA     Placebo

Time to First
Subsequent
Treatment or
Death (TFST)*

     

HR 0.39 (95% CI, 0.30–0.52), p<0.00001;
median 13.3 months vs. 6.7 months

OS      

HR 0.73 (95% CI, 0.55-0.95), p=0.02138**;
median 29.8 vs. 27.8 months***

* Statistical tests not adjusted for multiplicity
** p-value considered nominal as criterion for statistical significance (p<0.0095) not met
*** Not adjusted for treatment crossover

The most frequently observed adverse reactions across clinical trials in patients receiving LYNPARZA monotherapy (≥10%) were nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dyspepsia, fatigue, headache, dysgeusia, decreased appetite, dizziness and anemia. The majority of patients on LYNPARZA remained on the starting dose, and only six to 11 percent of patients discontinued treatment due to an adverse event.

Approximately half of women with high-grade epithelial ovarian cancer are expected to have deficiencies in homologous recombination repair (HRR), an important DNA damage response (DDR) pathway. Mutations most often occur within one of the BRCA genes, however other gene mutations can also impact the HRR pathway. While there are currently no routine tests to identify patients with these deficiencies beyond BRCA mutations, responsiveness to platinum-based chemotherapy can predict sensitivity to PARP inhibition.

LYNPARZA, the first PARP inhibitor approved, was initially licensed in Europe as a capsule formulation for women with BRCA-mutated platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer. The new tablet formulation, which reduces dosing from eight capsules twice daily to two tablets twice daily, will now be available for a broader group of women with platinum-sensitive relapsed ovarian cancer.

LYNPARZA tablets were also recently submitted to the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for approval in patients with BRCA-mutated, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer based upon the successful Phase 3 OlympiAD trial.

Indications for LYNPARZA® (olaparib) in the U.S.

LYNPARZA is a poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor indicated:

For the maintenance treatment of adult patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian,

fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer, who are in complete or partial response to platinum-based chemotherapy.

For the treatment of adult patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious germline BRCA-mutated (gBRCAm) advanced ovarian cancer who have been treated with 3 or more prior lines of chemotherapy. Select patients for therapy based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic for LYNPARZA.

In patients with deleterious or suspected deleterious gBRCAm, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative metastatic breast cancer who have previously been treated with chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant, adjuvant or metastatic setting. Patients with hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer should have been treated with a prior endocrine therapy or be considered inappropriate for endocrine treatment. Select patients for therapy based on an FDA-approved companion diagnostic for LYNPARZA.

Important Safety Information for LYNPARZA® (olaparib)

Contraindications

There are no contraindications for LYNPARZA.

Warnings and Precautions

Myelodysplastic Syndrome/Acute Myeloid Leukemia (MDS/AML): Occurred in <1.5% of patients exposed to LYNPARZA monotherapy, and the majority of events had a fatal outcome. The duration of therapy in patients who developed secondary MDS/AML varied from <6 months to >2 years. All of these patients had previous chemotherapy with platinum agents and/or other DNA-damaging agents, including radiotherapy, and some also had a history of more than one primary malignancy or of bone marrow dysplasia.

Do not start LYNPARZA until patients have recovered from hematological toxicity caused by previous chemotherapy (≤Grade 1). Monitor complete blood count for cytopenia at baseline and monthly thereafter for clinically significant changes during treatment. For prolonged hematological toxicities, interrupt LYNPARZA and monitor blood count weekly until recovery.

If the levels have not recovered to Grade 1 or less after 4 weeks, refer the patient to a hematologist for further investigations, including bone marrow analysis and blood sample for cytogenetics. Discontinue LYNPARZA (olaparib) if MDS/AML is confirmed.

Pneumonitis: Occurred in <1% of patients exposed to LYNPARZA, and some cases were fatal. If patients present with new or worsening respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, and fever, or a radiological abnormality occurs, interrupt LYNPARZA treatment and initiate prompt investigation. Discontinue LYNPARZA if pneumonitis is confirmed and treat patient appropriately.

Embryo-Fetal Toxicity: Based on its mechanism of action and findings in animals,

LYNPARZA can cause fetal harm. A pregnancy test is recommended for females of

reproductive potential prior to initiating treatment.

Females

Advise females of reproductive potential of the potential risk to a fetus and to use effective contraception during treatment and for 6 months following the last dose.

Males

Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential or who are pregnant to use effective contraception during treatment and for 3 months following the last dose of LYNPARZA and to not donate sperm during this time.

Adverse Reactions—Maintenance Setting

Most common adverse reactions (Grades 1-4) in ≥20% of patients in clinical trials of LYNPARZA in the maintenance setting for SOLO-2: nausea (76%), fatigue (including asthenia) (66%), anemia (44%), vomiting (37%), nasopharyngitis/upper respiratory tract infection (URI)/influenza (36%), diarrhea (33%), arthralgia/myalgia (30%), dysgeusia (27%), headache (26%), decreased appetite (22%), and stomatitis (20%).

Study 19: nausea (71%), fatigue (including asthenia) (63%), vomiting (35%), diarrhea (28%), anemia (23%), respiratory tract infection (22%), constipation (22%), headache (21%), and decreased appetite (21%).

Most common laboratory abnormalities (Grades 1-4) in ≥25% of patients in clinical trials of LYNPARZA in the maintenance setting (SOLO-2/Study 19) were: increase in mean corpuscular volume (89%/82%), decrease in hemoglobin (83%/82%), decrease in leukocytes (69%/58%), decrease in lymphocytes (67%/52%), decrease in absolute neutrophil count (51%/47%), increase in serum creatinine (44%/45%), and decrease in platelets (42%/36%).

Adverse Reactions—Advanced gBRCAm Ovarian Cancer

Most common adverse reactions (Grades 1-4) in ≥20% of patients in clinical trials of

LYNPARZA (olaparib) for advanced gBRCAm ovarian cancer after 3 or more lines of chemotherapy (pooled from 6 studies) were: fatigue (including asthenia) (66%), nausea (64%), vomiting (43%), anemia (34%), diarrhea (31%), nasopharyngitis/upper respiratory tract infection (URI) (26%), dyspepsia (25%), myalgia (22%), decreased appetite (22%), and arthralgia/musculoskeletal pain (21%).

Most common laboratory abnormalities (Grades 1-4) in ≥25% of patients in clinical trials of LYNPARZA for advanced gBRCAm ovarian cancer (pooled from 6 studies) were: decrease in hemoglobin (90%), increase in mean corpuscular volume (57%), decrease in lymphocytes (56%), increase in serum creatinine (30%), decrease in platelets (30%), and decrease in absolute neutrophil count (25%).

Adverse Reactions—gBRCAm, HER2-Negative Breast Cancer

Most common adverse reactions (Grades 1-4) in ≥20% of patients in OlympiAD were: nausea (58%), anemia (40%), fatigue (including asthenia) (37%), vomiting (30%), neutropenia (27%), respiratory tract infection (27%), leukopenia (25%), diarrhea (21%), and headache (20%).

Most common laboratory abnormalities (Grades 1-4) in ≥25% of patients in OlympiAD were: decrease in hemoglobin (82%), decrease in lymphocytes (73%), decrease in leukocytes (71%), increase in mean corpuscular volume (71%), decrease in absolute neutrophil count (46%), and decrease in platelets (33%).

Drug Interactions

Anticancer Agents: Clinical studies of LYNPARZA in combination with other myelosuppressive anticancer agents, including DNA-damaging agents, indicate a potentiation and prolongation of myelosuppressive toxicity.

CYP3A Inhibitors: Avoid concomitant use of strong or moderate CYP3A inhibitors. If a strong or moderate CYP3A inhibitor must be co-administered, reduce the dose of LYNPARZA. Advise patients to avoid grapefruit, grapefruit juice, Seville oranges, and Seville orange juice during LYNPARZA treatment.

CYP3A Inducers: Avoid concomitant use of strong or moderate CYP3A inducers when using LYNPARZA (olaparib). If a moderate inducer cannot be avoided, there is a potential for decreased efficacy of LYNPARZA.

Use in Specific Populations

Lactation: No data are available regarding the presence of olaparib in human milk, its effects on the breastfed infant or on milk production. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in the breastfed infant, advise a lactating woman not to breastfeed during treatment with LYNPARZA and for 1 month after receiving the final dose.

Pediatric Use: The safety and efficacy of LYNPARZA have not been established in pediatric patients.

Hepatic Impairment: No adjustment to the starting dose is required in patients with mild hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh classification A). There are no data in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment.

Renal Impairment: No adjustment to the starting dose is necessary in patients with mild renal impairment (CLcr=51-80 mL/min). In patients with moderate renal impairment (CLcr=31-50 mL/min), reduce the dose to 200 mg twice daily. There are no data in patients with severe renal impairment or end-stage renal disease

(CLcr ≤30 mL/min).

Dosing and Administration

To avoid substitution errors and overdose, do not substitute LYNPARZA tablets with LYNPARZA capsules on a milligram-to-milligram basis due to differences in the dosing and bioavailability of each formulation. Recommended tablet dose is 300 mg, taken orally twice daily, with or without food. Continue treatment until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. For adverse reactions, consider dose interruption or dose reduction.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Ovarian Cancer in Europe

Among women in Europe, ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cancer and the sixth leading cause of cancer death. The five-year survival rate for ovarian cancer in Europe is 38 percent. In 2012, there were nearly 65,000 new cases diagnosed and around 42,700 deaths. As there is no cure for relapsed ovarian cancer, the primary aim of treatment is to slow progression of the disease for as long as possible and improve or maintain the patient’s quality of life.

About SOLO-2

SOLO-2 was a Phase 3, randomized, double-blinded, multicenter trial designed to determine the efficacy of LYNPARZA tablets compared to placebo as maintenance monotherapy in patients with platinum-sensitive relapsed or recurrent germline BRCA-mutated ovarian, fallopian tube and primary peritoneal cancer. The trial, conducted in collaboration with the European Network for Gynaecological Oncological Trial Groups and Groupe d’Investigateurs National pour l’Etude des Cancers de l’Ovaire et du sein , randomized 295 patients with documented germline BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations who had received at least two prior lines of platinum-based chemotherapy and were in complete or partial response. Eligible patients were randomized to receive 300 mg LYNPARZA tablets twice daily or placebo tablets twice daily.

About Study 19

Study 19 was a Phase 2, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multi-center trial, which evaluated the efficacy and safety of LYNPARZA compared with placebo in relapsed, high-grade serous ovarian cancer patients. The trial randomized 265 patients regardless of BRCA mutation status and who had completed at least two courses of platinum-based chemotherapy and their most recent treatment regimen. Eligible patients were randomized to receive LYNPARZA maintenance monotherapy at a dose of 400 mg per day or matching placebo.

About LYNPARZA® (olaparib)

LYNPARZA is a first-in-class poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor and the first targeted treatment to potentially exploit tumor DNA damage response (DDR)-pathway dependencies to preferentially kill cancer cells. Specifically, in vitro studies have shown that LYNPARZA-induced cytotoxicity may involve inhibition of PARP enzymatic activity and increased formation of PARP-DNA complexes, resulting in DNA damage and cancer cell death. LYNPARZA is being investigated in a range of DDR-dependent tumor types.

About the AstraZeneca and Merck Strategic Oncology Collaboration

In July 2017, AstraZeneca and Merck (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada) announced a global strategic oncology collaboration to co-develop and co-commercialize LYNPARZA, the world’s first PARP inhibitor, and potential new medicine selumetinib, a MEK inhibitor, for multiple cancer types. The collaboration is based on increasing evidence that PARP and MEK inhibitors can be combined with PD-L1/PD-1 inhibitors for a range of tumor types. Working together, the companies will develop LYNPARZA and selumetinib in combination with other potential new medicines and as a monotherapy. Independently, the companies will develop LYNPARZA and selumetinib in combination with their respective PD-L1 and PD-1 medicines.

Merck’s Focus on Cancer

Our goal is to translate breakthrough science into innovative oncology medicines to help people with cancer worldwide. At Merck, helping people fight cancer is our passion and supporting accessibility to our cancer medicines is our commitment. Our focus is on pursuing research in oncology and we are accelerating every step in the journey – from lab to clinic – to potentially bring new hope to people with cancer.

As part of our focus on cancer, Merck is committed to exploring the potential of immuno-oncology with one of the fastest-growing development programs in the industry evaluating oncology medicines in more than 30 tumor types. We also continue to strengthen our oncology portfolio through strategic acquisitions and are prioritizing the development of several promising candidates with the potential to improve the treatment of advanced cancers.

For more information about our oncology clinical trials, visit www.merck.com/clinicaltrials.

About Merck

For more than a century, Merck, a leading global biopharmaceutical company known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, Merck continues to be at the forefront of research to advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and communities around the world - including cancer, cardio-metabolic diseases, emerging animal diseases, Alzheimer’s disease and infectious diseases including HIV and Ebola. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on TwitterFacebookInstagramYouTube and LinkedIn.

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Please see complete Prescribing Information for LYNPARZA (olaparib), including Patient Information (Medication Guide)

Contacts

Merck
Media:
Pamela Eisele, 267-305-3558
Courtney Ronaldo, 908-740-6132
or
Investors:
Teri Loxam, 908-740-1986
Michael DeCarbo, 908-740-1807

Release Summary

LYNPARZA® (olaparib) Tablets Receive EU Approval for the Treatment of Platinum-Sensitive Relapsed Ovarian Cancer

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Contacts

Merck
Media:
Pamela Eisele, 267-305-3558
Courtney Ronaldo, 908-740-6132
or
Investors:
Teri Loxam, 908-740-1986
Michael DeCarbo, 908-740-1807