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THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. , Oct. 3, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen (NASDAQ: AMGN ) today announced that the Journal of Clinical Oncology ( JCO ) published results from the Phase 1/2 '205 single-arm trial evaluating BLINCYTO ® (blinatumomab) in pediatric patients with Philadelphia chromosome‑negative (Ph-) relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Based on data from an exploratory pooled analysis of 70 patients who received the recommended dose of BLINCYTO in the Phase 1 or Phase 2 portions of the study, 27 patients (39 percent, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 27–51 percent) achieved complete remission within the first two cycles.
The most frequent grade ≥3 adverse events (AEs) among the patients who received the recommended dose were anemia (36 percent), thrombocytopenia (21 percent), febrile neutropenia (17 percent), hypokalemia (17 percent) and neutropenia (17 percent). The most common AEs overall were pyrexia (80 percent), anemia (41 percent), nausea (33 percent) and headache (30 percent).
"This study showed that BLINCYTO can induce deep molecular remissions in children with highly refractory, multiply relapsed ALL," said senior author Lia Gore , M.D., professor of Pediatrics, Medical Oncology and Hematology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
"Pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory Ph- B-cell precursor ALL are in critical need of new treatment options," said Sean E. Harper , M.D., executive vice president of Research and Development at Amgen. "The publication of this data in the Journal of Clinical Oncology provides clinical evidence of the potential of BLINCYTO in this patient population and underscores the significance of the recent regulatory approval for use of BLINCYTO in these patients."
Among patients who achieved complete remission within the first two cycles of treatment, 52 percent had a complete minimal residual disease (MRD) response, a measure of eradication of residual disease at the molecular level. Complete MRD response was an exploratory endpoint in both phases of the study.
Data from the '205 study were the basis of a supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) for BLINCYTO to include new data supporting the treatment of pediatric patients with Ph- relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL. On Aug. 30, 2016 , the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the sBLA for BLINCYTO to include this new data supporting the treatment of pediatric patients with Ph- relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL. This indication is approved under accelerated approval, and continued approval may be contingent upon verification of clinical benefit in subsequent trials.
ALL is a rapidly progressing cancer of the blood and bone marrow. Although very rare in adults, it is the most common type of cancer in children. 1,2 Of the children diagnosed with ALL in the U.S. each year, approximately 15-20 percent (375-500) will experience relapse. 3-5 Prognosis for children with ALL who are refractory or experience a relapse is extremely poor, and post-relapse survival is only achieved in 40-50 percent of patients. 6-8
About Study '205 Study '205 evaluated the safety and efficacy of BLINCYTO in a Phase 1/2 open-label, multicenter, single-arm study in 93 pediatric patients with Ph- relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL (second or later bone marrow relapse, any marrow relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation [alloHSCT], or refractory to other treatments and had >25 percent blasts in bone marrow). Treatment in this study has been completed and subjects are being monitored for long-term efficacy.
BLINCYTO was administered as a continuous intravenous infusion. The recommended dose for this study was determined to be 5 μg/m 2 /day on Days 1-7 and 15 μg/m 2 /day on Days 8-28 for cycle 1, and 15 μg/m 2 /day on Days 1-28 for subsequent cycles. Dose adjustment was possible in case of adverse events. Patients who responded to BLINCYTO, but later relapsed, had the option to be retreated with BLINCYTO.
The treated population included 70 patients who received at least one infusion of BLINCYTO at the recommended dose; the median number of treatment cycles was one (range: 1 to 5). Among treated patients, the median age was eight years (range: seven months to 17 years), 40 out of 70 (57.1 percent) had undergone alloHSCT prior to receiving BLINCYTO, and 39 out of 70 (55.7 percent) had refractory disease. Four patients had less than the 25 percent bone marrow blasts required for protocol entry, but had more than five percent.
About BLINCYTO ® (blinatumomab) BLINCYTO is a bispecific CD19-directed CD3 T cell engager (BiTE ® ) antibody construct that binds specifically to CD19 expressed on the surface of cells of B-lineage origin and CD3 expressed on the surface of T cells.
BLINCYTO was granted breakthrough therapy, priority review and orphan drug designations by FDA, and is now approved in the U.S. for the treatment of Ph- relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL.
In November 2015 , BLINCYTO was granted conditional marketing authorization in the European Union for the treatment of adults with Ph- relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor ALL.
BLINCYTO ® U.S. Product Safety Information
Important Safety Information Regarding BLINCYTO ® (blinatumomab) U.S. Indication WARNING: CYTOKINE RELEASE SYNDROME and NEUROLOGICAL TOXICITIES
Contraindications BLINCYTO ® is contraindicated in patients with a known hypersensitivity to blinatumomab or to any component of the product formulation.
Warnings and Precautions
Adverse Reactions
U.S. Dosage and Administration Guidelines
Please see full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNINGS and Medication Guide, for BLINCYTO ® at www.BLINCYTO.com .
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 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.
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