• Results from the trial demonstrated that combination treatment with Adcetris plus CHP was superior to the control arm for progression free survival (PFS)
• All other key secondary endpoints were met
•  A recent small study indicated that Adcetris used combination with other treatments may increase lung toxicity in children and young adults.
• Adcetris generated approximately $640 million in 2017

Seattle Genetics, Inc. (Nasdaq:SGEN) and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502) announced on 10/1/18 that the phase 3 ECHELON-2 clinical trial met its primary endpoint. The trial demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) of Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin) in combination with CHP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, prednisone) versus the control arm, CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone). ECHELON-2 is a global, randomized, double-blind, multicenter trial evaluating Adcetris as part of a frontline combination chemotherapy regimen in patients with previously untreated CD30-expressing peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), also known as mature T-cell lymphoma (MTCL). Adcetris is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) directed to CD30, which is expressed on the surface of several types of PTCL. Adcetris is currently not approved for the frontline treatment of PTCL.

Patients in ECHELON-2 were randomized to receive either a combination of Adcetris plus CHP or CHOP, a recognized standard of care for frontline PTCL. Results from the trial demonstrated that combination treatment with Adcetris plus CHP was superior to the control arm for PFS as assessed by an Independent Review Facility (IRF; hazard ratio=0.71; p-value=0.0110). The Adcetris plus CHP arm also demonstrated superior overall survival (OS), a key secondary endpoint, compared to CHOP (hazard ratio=0.66; p-value=0.0244). All other key secondary endpoints, including PFS in patients with systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL), complete remission rate and objective response rate were statistically significant in favor of the ADCETRIS plus CHP arm. The safety profile of Adcetris plus CHP in the ECHELON-2 trial was comparable to CHOP and consistent with the established safety profile of Adcetris in combination with chemotherapy. Additional data will be presented at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) 2018 annual meeting, December 1-4, 2018, in San Diego, California.

“Peripheral T-cell lymphoma is an aggressive type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma with approximately 4,000 CD30-expressing patients diagnosed every year in the United States,” said Clay Siegall, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Seattle Genetics. “We are excited about the groundbreaking results of the phase 3 ECHELON-2 clinical trial, which demonstrated Adcetris in combination with chemotherapy significantly improved treatment outcomes for adult patients with previously untreated CD30-expressing PTCL compared with the current standard of care (CHOP). We’d like to thank the many investigators and patients who participated in this study and contributed to this significant milestone for the PTCL community. We look forward to presenting results at the ASH annual meeting in December and intend to submit a supplemental Biologics License Application to the FDA for approval in this setting in the near future.”

Adcetris is being evaluated broadly in more than 70 clinical trials, including the completed phase 3 ECHELON-2 trial in frontline peripheral T-cell lymphomas (also known as mature T-cell lymphoma), the completed phase 3 ALCANZA trial in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) and the completed ECHELON-1 trial in previously untreated Hodgkin lymphoma, as well as trials in many additional types of CD30-expressing malignancies.

Adcetris is an antibody drug Conjugate (ADC) comprising an anti-CD30 monoclonal antibody attached by a protease-cleavable linker to a microtubule disrupting agent, monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE), utilizing Seattle Genetics’ proprietary technology. The ADC employs a linker system that is designed to be stable in the bloodstream but to release MMAE upon internalization into CD30-expressing tumor cells.

Adcetris injection for intravenous infusion has received FDA approval for five indications in adult patients with: (1) previously untreated Stage III or IV classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), in combination with chemotherapy, (2) cHL at high risk of relapse or progression as post-autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) consolidation, (3) cHL after failure of auto-HSCT or failure of at least two prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimens in patients who are not auto-HSCT candidates, (4) sALCL after failure of at least one prior multi-agent chemotherapy regimen, and (5) primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (pcALCL) or CD30-expressing mycosis fungoides (MF) who have received prior systemic therapy.

Health Canada granted Adcetris approval with conditions for relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and sALCL in 2013, and non-conditional approval for post-autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) consolidation treatment of Hodgkin lymphoma patients at increased risk of relapse or progression.

Adcetris received conditional marketing authorization from the European Commission in October 2012. The approved indications in Europe are: (1) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory CD30-positive Hodgkin lymphoma following ASCT, or following at least two prior therapies when ASCT or multi-agent chemotherapy is not a treatment option, (2) the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory sALCL, (3) for the treatment of adult patients with CD30-positive Hodgkin lymphoma at increased risk of relapse or progression following ASCT, and (4) for the treatment of adult patients with CD30-positive cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) after at least one prior systemic therapy.

Adcetris has received marketing authorization by regulatory authorities in 71 countries for relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and sALCL. The drug generated sales of approximately $640 million in 2017.

In September of 2018 results of a small study indicated that Adcetris used combination with other treatments may increase lung toxicity in children and young adults.