Janssen Presents Findings from Global, Multi-Center Trial Examining Amivantamab in Combination with Lazertinib in Patients with EGFR-Mutated Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

RARITAN, N.J., Sept. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson today announced interim results from the CHRYSALIS study (NCT02609776), evaluating amivantamab, a fully human bispecific antibody that targets epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and mesenchymal epithelial transition factor (MET) mutations¹, in combination with the third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) lazertinib² in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR exon 19 deletions or L858R mutations. Investigators assessed efficacy using overall response rate (ORR) per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST v1.1), clinical benefit rate, duration of response and the safety profile of amivantamab and lazertinib,³ in the 91 patients treated with the combination across dose escalation and expansion cohorts³. The study results were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Virtual Congress 2020 (Abstract #1258O) as an oral presentation³. Results from the CHRYSALIS study have led to new studies to further evaluate the potential of amivantamab and lazertinib combination therapy.⁴

The CHRYSALIS study is an open-label, global, multi-center study evaluating the safety, pharmacokinetics and efficacy of amivantamab as a monotherapy and in combination with lazertinib in adult patients with advanced NSCLC.⁵ Exon 19 deletion and L858R mutations are common, accounting for 85-90 percent of all EGFR mutations in NSCLC.⁶ In the study, 91 patients with NSCLC harboring EGFR exon 19 deletion or L858R mutations received the combination of amivantamab intravenously and lazertinib orally.³ The study enrolled 26 patients in dose escalation and identified a combination dose that was equivalent to monotherapy doses of both products.³ Additionally, 20 treatment-naïve patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC were enrolled to further examine the safety, efficacy and tolerability in the first-line setting and 45 patients who had relapsed on osimertinib but were chemotherapy-naïve were enrolled to examine safety and efficacy in the resistance setting.³ 

In the treatment-naïve group, 20 patients receiving the combination of amivantamab and lazertinib achieved a 100 percent ORR (95 percent CI, 83 – 100).³ The median follow-up and treatment duration at the time of data cut-off was seven months (3 – 10).³ Among 45 osimertinib-relapsed, chemotherapy-naïve patients, the combination of amivantamab and lazertinib resulted in a 36 percent ORR (95 percent CI, 22 – 51), with one complete response and 15 partial responses.³ The clinical benefit rate for these patients was 60 percent (95 percent CI; 44 – 74).³ Biomarker and central nervous system analyses and efficacy by mechanism of osimertinib resistance are ongoing and will be presented at a future medical meeting.

"Despite treatment advancements, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths globally, and there are opportunities to improve treatment options for patients with non-small cell lung cancer with genetic factors such as EGFR mutations," said Byoung Chul Cho, M.D., Ph.D., Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea, and lead study investigator. "We are encouraged by these results that suggest amivantamab in combination with lazertinib may be a promising option in this specific disease cohort where a high unmet need remains for more targeted treatment options."  

For the 91 treated patients, the majority of treatment-related adverse events (AEs) experienced were Grade 1-2.³ A low incidence of Grade ≥3 treatment-related AEs occurred, which included rash (four percent), hypoalbuminemia (two percent), increased gamma glutamyltransferase (one percent), hyponatremia (one percent), paronychia (one percent) and interstitial lung disease (one percent) were observed.³ Related AEs leading to treatment discontinuation occurred in six percent of patients.³ Infusion-related reaction occurred predominantly at first infusion and did not impact subsequent dosing.³ 

The results from the CHRYSALIS study have led to new studies to further evaluate the potential of amivantamab and lazertinib combination therapy. The Phase 3 MARIPOSA study (NCT04487080) will assess the amivantamab and lazertinib combination against osimertinib in untreated advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC,⁴ and Phase 2 trial, CHRYSALIS-2, (NCT04077463) has been initiated to examine the combination in patients who have progressed after treatment with osimertinib and chemotherapy.⁷ 

"We are committed to advancing our understanding of the biology of lung cancer in order to develop targeted therapies that address specific patient populations, such as those with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer," said Kiran Patel, M.D., Vice President, Clinical Development, Solid Tumors, Janssen Research & Development, LLC. "We are proud to present the results from this study and look forward to the continued evaluation of the amivantamab and lazertinib combination in these patients."

About Amivantamab  
Amivantamab, formerly JNJ-61186372, is an investigational EGFR-MET bispecific antibody with immune cell-directing activity that targets activating and resistance EGFR mutations and MET mutations and amplifications.^3,5  In March 2020, amivantamab received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of patients with metastatic NSCLC with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations whose disease has progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy.⁸ These results were also presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2020 Scientific Program. The production and development of the antibody followed Janssen Biotech, Inc.'s licensing agreement with Genmab for use of its DuoBody^® technology platform.

About Lazertinib
Lazertinib is an oral, third-generation, brain-penetrant, EGFR TKI that targets both the T790M mutation and activating EGFR mutations while sparing wild type-EGFR.⁹ Interim safety and efficacy results from the lazertinib Phase 1-2 study were published in The Lancet Oncology in 2019. In 2018, Janssen Biotech, Inc. entered into a license and collaboration agreement with Yuhan Corporation for the development of lazertinib.

About Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
Worldwide, lung cancer is the most common cancer, and NSCLC makes up 80-85 percent of all lung cancers.^10,11 The main subtypes of NSCLC are adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and large cell carcinoma.¹² Among the most common driver mutations in NSCLC  are alterations in EGFR, which is a receptor tyrosine kinase that helps cells grow and divide.¹³ EGFR mutations are present in 10 to 15 percent of patients with NSCLC and occur in 40 to 50 percent of Asian patients who have NSCLC adenocarcinoma.^14,15,16 The five-year survival rate for patients with metastatic NSCLC is currently 24 percent.¹⁷

About the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson
At Janssen, we're creating a future where disease is a thing of the past. We're the Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, working tirelessly to make that future a reality for patients everywhere by fighting sickness with science, improving access with ingenuity and healing hopelessness with heart. We focus on areas of medicine where we can make the biggest difference: Cardiovascular & Metabolism, Immunology, Infectious Diseases & Vaccines, Neuroscience, Oncology and Pulmonary Hypertension.

Learn more at www.janssen.com. Follow us at www.twitter.com/JanssenGlobal and www.twitter.com/JanssenUS. Janssen Research & Development, LLC and Janssen Biotech, Inc. are part of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson.

DuoBody^® is a registered trademark of Genmab A/S.

Cautions Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 regarding product development and the potential benefits and treatment impact of amivantamab and lazertinib. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations of future events. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from the expectations and projections of Janssen Research & Development, LLC or any of the other Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies and/or Johnson & Johnson. Risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: challenges and uncertainties inherent in product research and development, including the uncertainty of clinical success and of obtaining regulatory approvals; uncertainty of commercial success; manufacturing difficulties and delays; competition, including technological advances, new products and patents attained by competitors; challenges to patents; product efficacy or safety concerns resulting in product recalls or regulatory action; changes in behavior and spending patterns of purchasers of health care products and services; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; and trends toward health care cost containment. A further list and descriptions of these risks, uncertainties and other factors can be found in Johnson & Johnson's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2019, including in the sections captioned "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Item 1A. Risk Factors," and in the company's most recently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of these filings are available online at www.sec.gov, www.jnj.com or on request from Johnson & Johnson. None of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies nor Johnson & Johnson undertakes to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events or developments.

¹ Suurs, F. et al. A review of bispecific antibodies and antibody constructs in oncology and clinical challenges. Pharmacology & therapeutics 201 (2019) 103-119.
² Ahn, J. et al. Lazertinib in patients with EGFR mutation-positive advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: results from the dose escalation and dose expansion parts of a first-in-human, open-label, multicentre, phase 1–2 study. Lancet Oncology. 2019. 20 (12):  1681-1690.
³ Chul Cho, B. et al. Amivantamab (JNJ-61186372), an EGFR-MET bispecific antibody, in combination with lazertinib, a 3rd-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), in advanced EGFR NSCLC. Available at: https://oncologypro.esmo.org/meeting-resources/esmo-virtual-congress-2020/amivantamab-jnj-61186372-an-egfr-met-bispecific-antibody-in-combination-with-lazertinib-a-3rd-generation-tyrosine-kinase-inhibitor-tki-in-a.
⁴ Clinicaltrials.gov. A Study of Amivantamab and Lazertinib Combination Therapy Versus Osimertinib in Locally Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (MARIPOSA). Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04487080?term=JNJ-61186372&draw=2&rank=3. Accessed September 2020.
⁵ ClinicalTrials.gov. Study of JNJ-61186372, a Human Bispecific EGFR and cMet Antibody, in Participants With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02609776. Accessed September 2020.
⁶ Wong, W. et al. Prognostic value of EGFR 19-del and 21-L858R mutations in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Oncol Lett. 2019 Oct; 18(4): 3887–3895.
⁷ Clinicaltrials.gov. A Study of Lazertinib as Monotherapy or in Combination With JNJ-61186372 in Participants With Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer. Available at: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT04077463?view=record. Accessed September 2020.
⁸ Janssen Announces U.S. FDA Breakthrough Therapy Designation Granted for JNJ-6372 for the Treatment of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer. Available at: https://www.jnj.com/janssen-announces-u-s-fda-breakthrough-therapy-designation-granted-for-jnj-6372-for-the-treatment-of-non-small-cell-lung-cancer. Accessed September 2020.
⁹ Clinicaltrials.gov. Clinical Trial of YH25448 in Patients With EGFR Mutation Positive Advanced NSCLC. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03046992. Accessed September 2020.
¹⁰ The World Health Organization. Cancer. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/cancer. Accessed September 2020.
¹¹ American Cancer Society. What is Lung Cancer? Available at: https://www.cancer.org/content/cancer/en/cancer/lung-cancer/about/what-is.html. Accessed September 2020.
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¹³ Oxnard, JR et. al. Natural history and molecular characteristics of lung cancers harboring EGFR exon 20 insertions. J Thorac Oncol. 2013 Feb;8(2):179-84. doi: 10.1097/JTO.0b013e3182779d18.
¹⁴ Pao W, Girard N. New driver mutations in non-small-cell lung cancer. Lancet Oncol. 2011;12(2):175-180.
¹⁵ Zappa C, Sharker M. Non-small cell lung cancer: current treatment and future advances. Translational Lung Cancer Research. 2016 Jun; 5(3): 288–300.
¹⁶ Jänne PA, Johnson BE. Effect of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Domain Mutations on the Outcome of Patients with Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors. Clinical Cancer Research. 2006;12(14):4416s-4420s.
¹⁷ Cancer.net. Lung Cancer - Non-Small Cell: Statistics. Available at: https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/lung-cancer-non-small-cell/statistics. Accessed September 2020.

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