• Ninlaro maintenance therapy resulted in a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) versus placebo.
• Ninlaro has orphan drug status in both the US and Europe for multiple myeloma and AL amyloidosis
• Six additional pivotal trials under way (multiple myeloma and amyloidosis)
• Takeda CEO expects Ninlaro will surpass blockbuster Velcade as the company’s biggest-ever cancer product.

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4502) announced on 7/11/2018 that the randomized, Phase 3 TOURMALINE-MM3 study met its primary endpoint, demonstrating single-agent oral Ninlaro (ixazomib) as a maintenance therapy resulted in a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) versus placebo. The trial evaluated the effect of Ninlaro as a maintenance therapy in adult patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma who responded to high-dose therapy (HDT) and autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). Takeda plans to submit data from the trial to regulatory agencies around the world. Ninlaro is currently not approved as a maintenance therapy for multiple myeloma following ASCT.

“Within the maintenance setting, it is critical that we find agents that are efficacious, tolerable and convenient,” said Jesús Gomez Navarro, M.D., Vice President, Head of Oncology Clinical Research and Development, Takeda. “The results of the TOURMALINE-MM3 trial represent an important step toward the goal of expanding the use of NINLARO as a maintenance therapy. This is the first and only Phase 3 placebo-controlled study evaluating a proteasome inhibitor in this setting and we look forward to discussions with Health Authorities around the world.”

There were no new safety signals found in TOURMALINE-MM3. The safety profile of NINLARO in the maintenance setting is consistent with previously reported results of single-agent NINLARO use.

Ninlaro is currently indicated in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy.

Ninlaro (ixazomib) is an oral proteasome inhibitor which is also being studied across the continuum of multiple myeloma treatment settings as well as systemic light-chain (AL) amyloidosis. It was the first oral proteasome inhibitor to enter Phase 3 clinical trials and to receive approval. Ninlaro was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in November 2015 following a priority review and by the European Commission in November 2016. In the U.S. and Europe, Ninlaro is indicated in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy. Ninlaro has received marketing authorization by regulatory authorities in more than 55 countries.

Ixazomib was granted orphan drug designation in multiple myeloma in both the U.S. and Europe in 2011 and for AL amyloidosis in both the U.S. and Europe in 2012. Ixazomib received Breakthrough Therapy status by the U.S. FDA for relapsed or refractory systemic light-chain (AL) amyloidosis, a related ultra orphan disease, in 2014. The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare granted Orphan Drug designation to ixazomib in 2016.


Takeda CEO Christophe Weber has told investors that multiple myeloma med Ninlaro (ixazomib) would surpass blockbuster Velcade as the company’s biggest-ever cancer product.