Incyte Receives Positive CHMP Recommendation for Zynyz® (retifanlimab) as First-Line Therapy in Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Anal Canal (SCAC)
Incyte today announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued a positive opinion recommending the approval of Zynyz® (retifanlimab) in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel (platinum-based chemotherapy) for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic or with inoperable locally recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal (SCAC).
“Today’s positive CHMP opinion is an important step towards addressing the urgent need for new treatment options for patients in Europe with advanced SCAC, a disease which has seen limited innovation for decades,” said Lee Heeson, Executive Vice President and Head of Incyte International. “If approved, Zynyz in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy has the potential to become a new standard-of-care for patients living with this rare and difficult-to-treat cancer.”
The positive CHMP opinion was based on data from the Phase 3 POD1UM-303/InterAACT2 trial evaluating Zynyz in combination with (platinum-based chemotherapy) in adult patients with metastatic or inoperable locally recurrent SCAC not previously treated with systemic chemotherapy.5
Results from POD1UM-303/InterAACT2 (NCT04472429) published in The Lancet showed a statistically significant 37% reduction in the risk of progression or death (P=0.0006).4 Patients in the Zynyz and (platinum-based chemotherapy) combination group achieved a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 9.3 months compared to 7.4 months for patients in the placebo combination group.4 No new safety signals were identified. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 47% of patients receiving Zynyz in combination with chemotherapy.4 The most frequent serious adverse reactions (≥ 2% of patients) were sepsis, pulmonary embolism, diarrhoea and vomiting.4
SCAC is the most common type of anal cancer, accounting for approximately 85% of all anal cancer cases.6 Globally, the prevalence of SCAC is estimated at around 1 or 2 cases per 100,000 people, with a higher incidence in women than in men.1,2,3
The CHMP opinion is now being reviewed by the European Commission, which has the authority to grant approval for all centrally authorized products in the EU.
About Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Anal Canal (SCAC)
Worldwide, SCAC is the most common type of anal cancer, making up 85% of cases.6 It is a rare disease for which the incidence increases approximately 3% per year.7,8,9,10 About 90% of cases are associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection—the number one risk factor for anal cancer.10
HIV is an important amplifier of anal cancer, as people with HIV are 25 to 35 times more likely to develop it.11,12 Anal cancer shares many of the same symptoms as non-cancerous conditions, such as hemorrhoids—including pain, itching, a lump or mass and changes in bowel movements—and as a result can go undetected leading to the majority of patients presenting with locally advanced disease.13
About POD1UM
The POD1UM (PD1 Clinical Program in Multiple Malignancies) clinical trial program for retifanlimab includes POD1UM-303, POD1UM-202 and several other Phase 1, 2 and 3 studies for patients with solid tumors. For more information about the study, please visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04472429.
About Zynyz® (retifanlimab)
Zynyz® (retifanlimab) is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1), indicated in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel (platinum-based chemotherapy) for the first-line treatment of adult patients with inoperable locally recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal (SCAC) in the U.S. and Japan and as a single agent for the treatment of adult patients with locally recurrent or metastatic SCAC with disease progression or intolerance to platinum-based chemotherapy in the U.S.
Zynyz is also indicated as monotherapy for the first-line treatment of adult patients with metastatic or recurrent locally advanced Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) in the U.S, EU, Canada, and Switzerland.
Zynyz is marketed by Incyte in the U.S. In 2017, Incyte entered into an exclusive collaboration and license agreement with MacroGenics, Inc. for global rights to retifanlimab. Zynyz is a registered trademark of Incyte. For more information, see the Zynyz SmPC.
About Incyte
A global biopharmaceutical company on a mission to Solve On, Incyte follows science to find solutions for patients with unmet medical needs. Through the discovery, development, and commercialization of proprietary therapeutics, Incyte has established a portfolio of first-in-class medicines for patients and a strong pipeline of products in Hematology, Oncology and Inflammation & Autoimmunity. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, Incyte has operations in North America, Europe, and Asia.
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