Skip to main content

Retevmo Demonstrates Superior Progression-Free Survival Compared to Approved Multikinase Inhibitors in RET-Mutant Medullary Thyroid Cancer

INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 22, 2023. Eli Lilly and Company today announced topline results from the LIBRETTO-531 study evaluating Retevmo versus physician's choice of the multikinase inhibitors (MKIs) cabozantinib or vandetanib as an initial treatment for patients with advanced or metastatic rearranged during transfection (RET)-mutant medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). The study met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS). This result was based on a pre-specified interim efficacy analysis conducted by an independent data monitoring committee (IDMC). Adverse events observed on Retevmo were generally consistent with those identified across the previously reported Retevmo development program (LIBRETTO-001, LIBRETTO-121, LIBRETTO-321).

The labeling for Retevmo contains warnings and precautions for hepatotoxicity (evidence of liver dysfunction), interstitial lung disease (ILD)/pneumonitis, hypertension, QT interval prolongation, hemorrhagic events, hypersensitivity, tumor lysis syndrome, risk of impaired wound healing, hypothyroidism, and embryo-fetal toxicity.

"These data from the LIBRETTO-531 trial confirm the importance of selectivity in targeting RET-driven cancers and suggest Retevmo should be considered the preferred first-line treatment for people with advanced RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer," said David Hyman, M.D., chief medical officer, "Taken together with the recent positive Retevmo Phase 3 LIBRETTO-431 announcement in lung cancer, these results underscore the importance of timely and broad-based genomic testing to ensure patients who could potentially benefit receive targeted therapies. We look forward to sharing detailed data with the oncology community."

LIBRETTO-531 is a Phase 3, randomized, open-label trial evaluating Retevmo versus cabozantinib or vandetanib, which are currently approved first-line options for patients with advanced MTC. LIBRETTO-531 is the first randomized trial comparing the safety and effectiveness of a highly selective RET-kinase inhibitor versus multikinase inhibitors in this population.

These results further build on the data from LIBRETTO-001, the largest clinical trial of patients with RET-driven cancers treated with a RET inhibitor, which includes more than 800 patients and spans 16 countries and 85 sites. In this trial, Retevmo demonstrated clinically meaningful and durable responses across a variety of tumor types in patients with RET-driven cancers.

MTC accounts for 1–2 percent of thyroid cancers in the U.S. RET mutations are found in approximately 60 percent of sporadic MTC and over 90 percent of hereditary MTC.

Full results from the LIBRETTO-531 trial will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting, submitted to a peer-reviewed journal, and discussed with health authorities.

About LIBRETTO-531
LIBRETTO-531 is a randomized Phase 3 clinical trial of patients with progressive, advanced kinase inhibitor naïve RET-mutant MTC. The trial enrolled 291 patients and participants were randomized 2:1 to receive either selpercatinib or physician's choice of cabozantinib or vandetanib as initial treatment of their advanced RET-mutant MTC. RET mutations may be identified using local testing. This trial's primary endpoint is progression-free survival (PFS), and secondary endpoints include treatment failure-free survival (TFFS), overall response rate (ORR), duration of response (DoR), and overall survival (OS). For patients randomized to the control arm, crossover was allowed at progression.

About Retevmo® (selpercatinib, 40 mg & 80 mg capsules)
Retevmo (selpercatinib, formerly known as LOXO-292) (pronounced reh-TEHV-moh) is a highly selective and potent RET kinase inhibitor with CNS activity. Retevmo may affect both tumor cells and healthy cells, which can result in side effects. RET-driver alterations are predominantly mutually exclusive from other oncogenic drivers. Retevmo is a U.S. FDA-approved oral prescription medicine, 120 mg or 160 mg dependent on weight (<50 kg or ≥50 kg, respectively), taken twice daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

About Lilly
Lilly unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. We've been pioneering life-changing discoveries for nearly 150 years, and today our medicines help more than 51 million people across the globe. Harnessing the power of biotechnology, chemistry and genetic medicine, our scientists are urgently advancing new discoveries to solve some of the world's most significant health challenges, redefining diabetes care, treating obesity and curtailing its most devastating long-term effects, advancing the fight against Alzheimer's disease, providing solutions to some of the most debilitating immune system disorders, and transforming the most difficult-to-treat cancers into manageable diseases. With each step toward a healthier world, we're motivated by one thing: making life better for millions more people. That includes delivering innovative clinical trials that reflect the diversity of our world and working to ensure our medicines are accessible and affordable

Lilly Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements (as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) about Retevmo® (selpercatinib) for the treatment of RET-mutant MTC and reflects Lilly's current beliefs and expectations. However, as with any pharmaceutical product, there are substantial risks and uncertainties in the process of drug research, development and commercialization. Among other things, there is no guarantee that planned or ongoing studies will be completed as planned, that future study results will be consistent with study results to date, or that Retevmo will receive additional regulatory approvals. For further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from Lilly's expectations, see Lilly's Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Except as required by law, Lilly undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release.

SOURCE Eli Lilly and Company

Posted: August 2023

Related articles

Retevmo (selpercatinib) FDA Approval History

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.