Janssen Biotech, Inc. announced a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for daratumumab (DARZALEX®) has been submitted to the U.S. FDA .
The application seeks to expand the current indication, using daratumumab in combination with lenalidomide (an immunomodulatory agent) and dexamethasone, or bortezomib (a proteasome inhibitor [PI]) and dexamethasone, for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy. Daratumumab received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the FDA for this pending indication on July 25, 2016.
“Daratumumab has been shown to provide clinically meaningful benefit as a backbone therapy in combination with two of the most widely used treatment regimens for multiple myeloma,” said Peter F. Lebowitz, M.D., Ph.D., Global Oncology Head, Janssen Research & Development, LLC. “Today’s submission marks an important step forward in realizing the full potential of daratumumab earlier in the treatment pathway, and we look forward to working with the FDA during its review of our application.”
Janssen has also submitted a request for Priority Review of this sBLA. The FDA will inform Janssen whether a Priority Review has been granted within the next 60 days. If the FDA grants Priority Review, the review should be completed within six months from today.
The regulatory submission for daratumumab is supported by data from two Phase 3 studies:
• The CASTOR (MMY3004) clinical study which showed daratumumab in combination with bortezomib and dexamethasone reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 61 percent, compared to bortezomib and dexamethasone alone, in patients with multiple myeloma who received at least one prior therapy (Hazard Ratio [HR] = 0.39; 95 percent CI [0.28-0.53], p<0.0001). Overall, the safety of the daratumumab combination therapy was consistent with the known safety profile of daratumumab monotherapy and bortezomib plus dexamethasone, respectively.
• These results were presented at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in June 2016.
• The POLLUX (MMY3003) clinical study which showed daratumumab in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 63 percent, compared to lenalidomide and dexamethasone alone, in patients with multiple myeloma who received at least one prior therapy (HR=0.37; 95 percent CI [0.27-0.52], p<0.0001). Overall, the safety of the daratumumab combination therapy was consistent with the known safety profile of daratumumab monotherapy and lenalidomide plus dexamethasone, respectively.
• These results were presented at the 21st Annual Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) in June 2016.
The submission also included data from the Phase 1 study of daratumumab in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone in patients who received at least two prior lines of therapy.
These data will be used as the basis for a potential regulatory submission to the European Medicines Agency (EMA). More information about these studies can be found at www.ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02076009; NCT02136134; NCT01998971).
In November 2015, DARZALEX® was approved as a monotherapy by the FDA for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least three prior lines of therapy, including a PI and an immunomodulatory agent, or who are double-refractory to a PI and an immunomodulatory agent. This indication is approved under accelerated approval based on response rate. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.1 DARZALEX received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the FDA for this indication in May 2013.
In May 2016, the European Commission (EC) granted conditional approval to DARZALEX monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma, whose prior therapy included a PI and an immunomodulatory agent and who have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy.
About DARZALEX® (daratumumab)
DARZALEX® (daratumumab) injection for intravenous use is the first CD38-directed monoclonal antibody (mAb) approved anywhere in the world.1 CD38 is a surface protein that is highly expressed across multiple myeloma cells, regardless of disease stage. 2 Daratumumab is believed to induce tumor cell death through multiple immune-mediated mechanisms of action, including complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC), antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP), as well as through apoptosis, in which a series of molecular steps in a cell lead to its death.1 Daratumumab also demonstrates other effects on the immune system, including lysis of immunosuppressive CD38+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid derived suppressor cells (MDSCs).1
DARZALEX is being evaluated in a comprehensive clinical development program that includes five Phase 3 studies across a range of treatment settings in multiple myeloma, such as in frontline and relapsed settings. Additional studies are ongoing or planned to assess its potential for a solid tumor indication and in other malignant and pre-malignant diseases in which CD38 is expressed, such as smoldering myeloma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. DARZALEX was the first mAb to receive regulatory approval to treat relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.1
In August 2012, Janssen Biotech, Inc. and Genmab A/S entered a worldwide agreement, which granted Janssen an exclusive license to develop, manufacture and commercialize DARZALEX. DARZALEX is commercialized in the U.S. by Janssen Biotech, Inc. For more information, visit www.DARZALEX.com.
About Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma is an incurable blood cancer that occurs when malignant plasma cells grow uncontrollably in the bone marrow.3,4 Refractory cancer occurs when a patient’s disease is resistant to treatment or in the case of multiple myeloma, patients progress within 60 days of their last therapy.5,6 Relapsed cancer means the disease has returned after a period of initial partial or complete remission.7,11 Globally, it is estimated that 124,225 people were diagnosed, and 87,084 died from the disease in 2015. 7,8 While some patients with multiple myeloma have no symptoms at all, most patients are diagnosed due to symptoms which can include bone fracture or pain, low red blood counts, fatigue, calcium elevation, kidney problems or infections.9 Patients who relapse after treatment with standard therapies (including PIs or immunomodulatory agents) typically have poor prognoses and few remaining options.5
About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies
At the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, we are working to create a world without disease. Transforming lives by finding new and better ways to prevent, intercept, treat and cure disease inspires us. We bring together the best minds and pursue the most promising science. We are Janssen. We collaborate with the world for the health of everyone in it.
1 DARZALEX Prescribing Information, November 2015.
2 Lin P, Owens R, Tricot G, Wilson CS. Flow cytometric immunophenotypic analysis of 306 cases of multiple myeloma. Am J Clin Pathol. 2004;121:482–488. doi: 10.1309/74R4TB90BUWH27JX.
3 American Cancer Society. “Multiple Myeloma Overview.” Available at: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/multiplemyeloma/detailedguide/multiple-myeloma-what-is-multiple-myeloma. Accessed August 2016.
4 Kumar, SK et al. Leukemia. 2012 Jan; 26(1):149-57.
5 National Cancer Institute. “NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: Refractory.” Available at: http://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms?expand=R. Accessed August 2016.
6 Richardson, et al. “The Treatment of Relapsed and Refractory Multiple Myeloma.” ASH Education Book January 1, 2007 vol. 2007 no. 1 317-323.
7 GLOBOCAN 2012: Estimated Cancer Incidence, Mortality and Prevalence Worldwide: Number of New Cancers in 2015. Available at:http://globocan.iarc.fr/old/burden.asp?selection_pop=224900&Text-p=World&selection_cancer=17270&Text-c=Multiple+myeloma&pYear=3&type=0&window=1&submit=%C2%A0Execute. Accessed August 2016.
8 GLOBOCAN 2012: Estimated Cancer Incidence, Mortality and Prevalence Worldwide: Number of Cancer Deaths in 2015. Available at:http://globocan.iarc.fr/old/burden.asp?selection_pop=224900&Text-p=World&selection_cancer=17270&Text-c=Multiple+myeloma&pYear=3&type=1&window=1&submit=%C2%A0Execute. Accessed August 2016.
9 American Cancer Society. “How is Multiple Myeloma Diagnosed?” Available at: http://www.cancer.org/cancer/multiplemyeloma/detailedguide/multiple-myeloma-diagnosis. Accessed August 2016.
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