Initial COIN Study Results Presented at European Oncology Congress
• Results inconsistent with data from all Erbitux pivotal
studies
• Further analyses planned by the Medical Research Council
that conducted the independent COIN study
Berlin/Darmstadt, Germany, September 23, 2009 – The Medical Research Council (MRC), a UK-based, publicly-funded organization dedicated to improving human health, today presented the initial results of the independent Phase III COINa study, which did not meet its primary endpoint of overall survival (OS).1 These findings were presented today at the joint 15th Congress of the European Cancer Organisation (ECCO) and 34th Congress of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) in Berlin, Germany.
The COIN study was designed to evaluate whether the addition of
<!-- ppurl -->Erbitux<!-- /ppurl -->® (cetuximab) to one of two
oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy regimens significantly improved
outcomes in previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer
(mCRC) patients with KRAS wild-type tumors. The median OS was not
statistically significant at 17.0 months in the Erbitux treatment
arm compared to 17.9 months for the chemotherapy-alone group
(hazard ratio [HR] 1.038; p=0.68).1
“Imbalances in the chemotherapy administered between the
different study arms were reported previously in the interim safety
analysis,” explained Dr. Wolfgang Wein, Executive Vice
President, Oncology, Merck Serono, a division of
<!-- cpurl -->Merck KGaA<!-- /cpurl -->, Darmstadt, Germany.
“Further analysis of the dose intensity and 2nd-line
treatment, and other factors, such as the advanced disease of
patients in the study, are ongoing to determine why the COIN
results are not aligned with existing evidence from the other
randomized, 1st-line studies, including the significant increase in
overall survival achieved with the CRYSTAL study.”
Results from the pivotal Phase III CRYSTALb trial also presented
earlier today demonstrated that the addition of Erbitux to the
standard 1st-line FOLFIRI chemotherapy regimen significantly
improved OS in patients with KRAS wild-type tumors (23.5 vs. 20.0
months, HR 0.796, p=0.0094).2 In addition, results from the Phase
II OPUSc study, which investigated the benefit of adding Erbitux to
the FOLFOX regimen in KRAS wild-type patients, demonstrated:
• Significant improvement in progression-free survival (8.3 vs. 7.2 months, HR 0.567, p=0.0064)
• Significant improvement of response rate (57,3% vs. 34,0%, p=0.0027)
• OS was 22.8 vs. 18.5 months (HR 0.855, p=0.3854).3
a COIN: A Phase III trial comparing either COntinuous
chemotherapy plus cetuximab or INtermittent chemotherapy with
standard continuous palliative combination chemotherapy with
oxaliplatin and a fluoropyrimidine in first line treatment of
metastatic colorectal cancer
b CRYSTAL: Cetuximab combined with iRinotecan in first line therapY
for metaSTatic colorectAL cancer
c OPUS: OxaliPlatin and cetUximab in firSt-line treatment of
mCRC
References
1. Maughan TS, et al. ECCO/ESMO Congress 2009. Abstract No: 6LBA.
Updated information presented at meeting.
2. Van Cutsem E, et al. ECCO/ESMO Congress 2009. Abstract No: 6077.
Updated information presented at meeting.
3. Bokemeyer C, et al. ECCO/ESMO Congress 2009. Abstract No: 6079.
Updated information presented at meeting.
For more information on Erbitux in colorectal, head & neck and non-small cell lung cancer, please visit: www.globalcancernews.com.
About Erbitux
Erbitux® is a first-in-class and highly active IgG1 monoclonal
antibody targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). As
a monoclonal antibody, the mode of action of Erbitux is distinct
from standard non-selective chemotherapy treatments in that it
specifically targets and binds to the EGFR. This binding inhibits
the activation of the receptor and the subsequent
signal-transduction pathway, which results in reducing both the
invasion of normal tissues by tumor cells and the spread of tumors
to new sites. It is also believed to inhibit the ability of tumor
cells to repair the damage caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy
and to inhibit the formation of new blood vessels inside tumors,
which appears to lead to an overall suppression of tumor
growth.
The most commonly reported side effect with Erbitux is an acne-like skin rash that seems to be correlated with a good response to therapy. In approximately 5% of patients, hypersensitivity reactions may occur during treatment with Erbitux; about half of these reactions are severe.
Erbitux has already obtained market authorization in 77 countries. It has been approved for the treatment of colorectal cancer in 77 countries and for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) in 72 countries:
• December 2003 (Switzerland), February 2004 (USA), June
2004 (EU) and followed by other countries: for use in combination
with irinotecan in patients with EGFR-expressing mCRC (metastatic
colorectal cancer) who have failed prior irinotecan therapy. In
addition, Erbitux is also approved for single-agent use in further
countries.
• April 2006 (EU) and followed by other countries: for use in
combination with radiotherapy for the treatment of locally advanced
squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). In further
countries, Erbitux is also approved as monotherapy in patients with
recurrent and/or metastatic SCCHN who failed prior
chemotherapy.
• July 2008 (EU): license was updated for the treatment of
patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expressing,
KRAS wild-type mCRC in combination with chemotherapy and as a
single agent in patients who have failed oxaliplatin-and
irinotecan-based therapy and who are intolerant to
irinotecan.
• July 2008 (Japan): for use in combination with irinotecan in
patients with EGFR-expressing mCRC who have failed prior irinotecan
therapy
• In November 2008 (EU): license was updated for the use in
combination with platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with
recurrent and/or metastatic SCCHN
Merck licensed the right to market Erbitux outside the US and Canada from ImClone Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company, in 1998. In Japan, ImClone Systems, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company and Merck jointly develop and commercialize Erbitux. Merck has an ongoing commitment to the advancement of oncology treatment and is currently investigating novel therapies in highly targeted areas, such as the use of Erbitux in colorectal cancer, squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and non-small cell lung cancer. Merck has also acquired the rights for the cancer treatment UFT® (tegafur-uracil) – an oral chemotherapy administered with folinic acid (FA) for the first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.
Merck is also investigating among other cancer treatments the
use of Stimuvax® (formerly referred to as BLP25 Liposome
Vaccine) in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer. The
vaccine was granted fast-track status in September 2004 by the FDA.
Merck obtained the exclusive worldwide licensing rights from
Oncothyreon Inc., Seattle, Washington, USA.
In addition, Merck is developing cilengitide, which is the first in
a new class of investigational anti-cancer therapies called
integrin inhibitors to reach Phase III of development; it is
currently being investigated for the treatment of glioblastoma,
SCCHN and NSCLC. Integrin inhibitors are thought to work by
targeting the tumor and its vasculature.
Merck is a global pharmaceutical and chemical company with total revenues of € 7.6 billion in 2008, a history that began in 1668, and a future shaped by approximately 33,000 employees in 60 countries. Its success is characterized by innovations from entrepreneurial employees. Merck's operating activities come under the umbrella of Merck KGaA, in which the Merck family holds an approximately 70% interest and free shareholders own the remaining approximately 30%. In 1917 the U.S. subsidiary Merck & Co. was expropriated and has been an independent company ever since.
Posted: September 2009
