Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4502) announced on 8/19/18 that intracranial efficacy data from the Phase 3 ALTA-1L (ALK in Lung Cancer Trial of BrigAtinib in 1st Line) trial showed improved intracranial progression-free survival (PFS) and intracranial objective response rate (ORR) with ALUNBRIG (brigatinib) compared to crizotinib among anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK+) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Data for these secondary endpoints will be presented in a poster discussion at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2018 Congress on Friday, October 19 at 2:00 p.m. CET in Munich, Germany. These results further support ALUNBRIG as a potential treatment for adults with ALK+ locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC who had not received a prior ALK inhibitor. ALUNBRIG is currently not approved as first-line therapy for advanced ALK+ NSCLC.
“ALK+ NSCLC often spreads to the brain, so having options that can clearly demonstrate efficacy both in the brain and systemically is important for physicians and their patients,” said Sanjay Popat, PhD, FRCP, Medical Oncologist, Royal Marsden Hospital. “The ALTA-1L trial showed that treatment with brigatinib significantly delayed progression of disease in the brain compared to crizotinib, and we look forward to sharing the clinical evidence with the medical community at ESMO.”
In the first interim analysis of the ALTA-1L trial, intracranial PFS was significantly improved with ALUNBRIG compared to crizotinib in the Intention to Treat population (ITT) (Hazard ratio [HR]: 0.42, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.24−0.70; log-rank P=0.0006) and the population with baseline brain metastases (HR: 0.27, 95% CI: 0.13−0.54; log-rank P<0.0001). Among patients with brain metastases at baseline, ALUNBRIG reduced the risk of progression in the brain or death by 73 percent. Intracranial PFS in patients without brain metastases at baseline is not yet mature as of this first interim analysis.
Treatment with ALUNBRIG also demonstrated an improved intracranial ORR compared to crizotinib. For patients with measurable brain metastases at baseline, 78 percent achieved confirmed intracranial OR in the ALUNBRIG arm versus 29 percent in the crizotinib arm. For patients with non-measurable brain metastases at baseline, 67 percent achieved confirmed intracranial OR in the ALUNBRIG arm versus 17 percent in the crizotinib arm.
Additionally, ALUNBRIG significantly delayed both central nervous system (CNS) progression (without prior systemic progression) and systemic progression (without prior CNS progression) compared to crizotinib. Baseline factors related to the CNS, such as the proportion of patients with baseline brain metastases, mean number of brain metastases, and prior brain radiotherapy, including type, were balanced among patients in the two study arms. The safety profile associated with ALUNBRIG in the ALTA-1L trial was generally consistent with the existing U.S. prescribing information.
“CNS disease presents a significant burden for patients with ALK+ NSCLC,” said David Kerstein, MD, Global Clinical Lead for Brigatinib and Lung Cancer Clinical Portfolio Strategy Lead, Takeda. “These additional intracranial efficacy results from the ALTA-1L trial build upon activity previously reported with ALUNBRIG in patients with brain metastases in the post-crizotinib setting and demonstrate Takeda’s dedication to research that aims to improve outcomes for those living with this serious disease.”
In spite of superior trial results comparing Alunbrig to Xalkori, the UK's National institute for Healthcare Excellence did not recommend the drug for NHS funding. The institute found that the company’s results from its cost-effectiveness modelling “are optimistic” and its assumption about the length of treatment benefit of the drug “is clinically implausible”,
