Amgen Receives CHMP Positive Opinion For IMLYGIC™ (Talimogene Laherparepvec)
IMLYGIC is First Oncolytic Immunotherapy to Demonstrate Therapeutic Benefit for Patients With Advanced Melanoma
IMLYGIC is First Oncolytic Immunotherapy to Demonstrate Therapeutic Benefit for Patients With Advanced Melanoma
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., Oct. 23, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP), the scientific committee of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), has adopted a positive opinion recommending that IMLYGIC™ (talimogene laherparepvec) be granted approval for the treatment of adults with unresectable melanoma that is regionally or distantly metastatic (Stage IIIB, IIIC and IVM1a) with no bone, brain, lung or other visceral disease. If approved by the European Commission, IMLYGIC would be the first in a class of novel agents known as oncolytic immunotherapies.
IMLYGIC, administered via intralesional injection, is designed to cause the death of tumor cells and to initiate an anti-tumor immune response.
"We are pleased that IMLYGIC has received a positive opinion from the CHMP, and if approved by the European Commission, we look forward to continuing to work with European regulatory authorities to bring this innovative therapy to patients," said Sean E. Harper, M.D., executive vice president of Research and Development at Amgen. "Metastatic melanoma continues to be one of the most difficult-to-treat cancers, often requiring the use of multiple treatment modalities. Despite recent advances, the five-year survival rate for patients who cannot be cured with surgery remains unacceptably low, demonstrating the critical need for additional approaches to control this disease."
The positive CHMP opinion was based on a global, randomized, open-label Phase 3 trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of IMLYGIC in patients with Stage IIIB, IIIC or IV melanoma when resection was not recommended compared to granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). In the 436-patient study, IMLYGIC significantly improved durable response rate (DRR), the primary endpoint of the trial, in the intent-to-treat population. DRR is defined as the percent of patients with complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) maintained continuously for a minimum of six months. A key secondary endpoint was overall survival (OS). The positive CHMP opinion reflects subgroup analyses where the effect on OS was largest in patients with unresectable melanoma that has not spread beyond the skin or lymph nodes.
The most commonly reported treatment-related adverse events were fatigue, chills, pyrexia, nausea, influenza-like illness and injection-site pain. Overall, 98 percent of these adverse reactions reported were mild or moderate in severity. The most common grade 3 or higher adverse reaction was cellulitis.
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of melanocytes, which are the cells responsible for providing the pigment to skin.1 Melanoma is the most aggressive and serious form of skin cancer, and remains a significant public health concern in the European Union (EU).2,3 In 2012, it was estimated that there were 56,000 new cases of melanoma in France, Italy, Spain, Germany and the U.K. causing nearly 9,500 deaths.4,5
Following this CHMP opinion, Amgen expects a decision on the Marketing Authorization from the European Commission in the coming months. IMLYGIC is also under review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
About IMLYGIC (talimogene laherparepvec) in the EU
IMLYGIC is an oncolytic immunotherapy that is derived from HSV-1, which is commonly called the cold sore virus. IMLYGIC has been modified to replicate within tumors and to produce the immune stimulatory protein human GM-CSF. IMLYGIC causes the death of tumor cells and the release of tumor-derived antigens. It is thought that, together with GM-CSF, it will promote a systemic anti-tumor immune response and an effector T cell response.
About IMLYGIC (talimogene laherparepvec) in the U.S.
IMLYGIC is a genetically modified herpes simplex type 1 virus that is injected directly into tumors. IMLYGIC replicates inside tumor cells and produces GM-CSF, an immunostimulatory protein. IMLYGIC then causes the cell to rupture and die in a process called lysis. The rupture of the cancer cells causes the release of tumor-derived antigens, which together with virally derived GM-CSF may help to promote an anti-tumor immune response. However, the exact mechanism of action is unknown.
About Amgen's Immuno-Oncology Focused Partnerships
Amgen has in place a comprehensive clinical development program investigating oncolytic immunotherapies for their potential in melanoma and in a variety of other cancers.
Amgen's recent immuno-oncology focused partnerships include:
About Amgen
Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.
Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its biologics manufacturing expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world's leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential.
For more information, visit www.amgen.com and follow us on www.twitter.com/amgen.
About Amgen's Commitment to Oncology
Amgen Oncology is committed to helping patients take on some of the toughest cancers, such as those that have been resistant to drugs, those that progress rapidly through the body and those where limited treatment options exist. Amgen's supportive care treatments help patients combat certain side effects of strong chemotherapy, and our targeted medicines and immunotherapies focus on more than a dozen different malignances, ranging from blood cancers to solid tumors. With decades of experience providing treatments for cancer patients, Amgen continues to grow its portfolio of innovative and biosimilar oncology medicines.
Forward-Looking Statements
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CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks
Kristen Davis, 805-447-3008 (media)
Kristen Neese, 805-313-8267 (media)
Arvind Sood, 805-447-1060 (Investors)
Amgen, Europe
Emma Gilbert, +41 41 369 2542
References:
1. National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. What You Need to Know About Melanoma and Other Skin Cancers. June 2010.http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/skin. Accessed October 8, 2015.
2. Melanoma Skin Cancer Overview. American Cancer Society. http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/003063-pdf.pdf. Accessed October 8, 2015.
3. Skin cancer incidence statistics. Cancer Research UK. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/skin-cancer/incidence#heading-Six. Accessed October 8, 2015.
4. GLOBOCAN 2012. http://globocan.iarc.fr/old/summary_table_site-html.asp?selection=16120&title=Melanoma+of+skin&sex=0&type=1&window=1&europe=4&sort=0&submit=%C2%A0Execute. Accessed October 12, 2015.
5. GLOBOCAN 2012. http://globocan.iarc.fr/old/summary_table_site-html.asp?selection=16120&title=Melanoma+of+skin&sex=0&type=0&window=1&europe=4&sort=0&submit=%C2%A0Execute. Accessed October 12, 2015.
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