FDA Grants Approval for BAVENCIO(R) (avelumab), the First Immunotherapy Approved for Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Merck and Pfizer

FDA Grants Approval for BAVENCIO(R) (avelumab), the First Immunotherapy Approved for Metastatic Merkel Cell Carcinoma

PR67931

DARMSTADT, Germany and NEW YORK, Mar. 24 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN / -

Not intended for UK-based media    

- Only FDA-approved treatment for metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma, a rare and

aggressive skin cancer    

- First indication for BAVENCIO, a human anti-PD-L1 antibody     

Merck and Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) today announced that the US Food and Drug

Administration (FDA) has approved BAVENCIO(R) (avelumab) Injection 20 mg/mL,

for intravenous use, for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients 12

years and older with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (mMCC). This indication

is approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response and duration of

response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon

verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.[1]

BAVENCIO will be co-commercialized by EMD Serono, the biopharmaceutical

business of Merck in the US and Canada, and Pfizer. BAVENCIO was developed,

reviewed and approved through the FDA's Breakthrough Therapy Designation and

Priority Review programs.

BAVENCIO, a human anti-PD-L1 antibody, is the first FDA-approved therapy for

patients with mMCC.[2] Metastatic MCC is a rare and aggressive skin cancer,

with fewer than half of patients surviving more than one year and fewer than

20% surviving beyond five years.[3]

"At the heart of this FDA approval is our drive to make a meaningful difference

for patients with hard-to-treat cancers like metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma,"

said Belen Garijo, CEO Healthcare and Member of the Executive Board of Merck.

"BAVENCIO's journey has included years of hard work - from the scientists who

discovered this molecule in our labs, to our alliance with Pfizer and to the

study participants and investigators worldwide. We are grateful to all who have

made it possible for us to bring this important new treatment option to

patients."

"Today is a significant milestone for people fighting metastatic Merkel cell

carcinoma, who until now have not had any options beyond chemotherapy," said

Albert Bourla, Group President, Pfizer Innovative Health. "This approval

demonstrates the power of collaboration to accelerate meaningful new choices

for cancer patients."

"Merkel cell carcinoma is rarer than some of the more well-known skin cancers,

however, it's very aggressive and the proportion of people who die from MCC is

much higher than that of people with melanoma," said Deborah S. Sarnoff, MD,

President of the Skin Cancer Foundation. "With this approval, I believe there

is new hope for people and their families touched by this rare form of skin

cancer."

The efficacy and safety of BAVENCIO was demonstrated in the JAVELIN Merkel 200

trial, an open-label, single-arm, multi-center study conducted in 88 patients

with histologically confirmed metastatic MCC whose disease had progressed on or

after chemotherapy administered for distant metastatic disease. Sixty-five

percent of patients were reported to have had one prior anti-cancer therapy for

metastatic MCC and 35% had two or more prior therapies. The major efficacy

outcome measures were confirmed overall response rate (ORR) according to

Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1 as assessed by a

blinded independent central review committee (IRC) and IRC-assessed duration of

response.

The overall response rate (ORR) was 33% (95% confidence interval [CI]:

23.3-43.8%).[1] Eleven percent of patients experienced a complete response (95%

CI: 6.6-19.9%) and 22% of patients experienced a partial response (95% CI:

13.5-31.7%). Tumor responses were durable, with 86% of responses lasting for at

least six months (n=25).[1] Forty-five percent of responses lasted at least 12

months (n=13).[1] Duration of response ranged from 2.8 to over 23.3 months.

The warnings and precautions for BAVENCIO include immune-mediated adverse

reactions (such as pneumonitis, hepatitis, colitis, endocrinopathies, nephritis

and renal dysfunction, and other adverse reactions), infusion-related reactions

and embryo-fetal toxicity. The most common adverse reactions (reported in at

least 20% of patients) included fatigue (50%), musculoskeletal pain (32%),

diarrhea (23%), nausea (22%), infusion-related reactions (22%), rash (22%),

decreased appetite (20%) and peripheral edema (20%).[1] For more information,

please see Important Safety Information for BAVENCIO below.

BAVENCIO is designed to potentially engage both the adaptive and innate immune

systems. By binding to PD-L1, BAVENCIO is thought to prevent tumor cells from

using PD-L1 for protection against white blood cells, such as T-cells, exposing

them to anti-tumor responses.[1] BAVENCIO has been shown to induce

antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) in vitro.[1]

BAVENCIO is available for order now in the US. The alliance is committed to

providing industry-leading patient access and reimbursement support through its

CoverOne(TM) program in the US. This program provides a spectrum of patient access

and reimbursement support services intended to help patients receive

appropriate access to BAVENCIO in the United States.

About JAVELIN Merkel 200  

The efficacy and safety of BAVENCIO was demonstrated in the JAVELIN Merkel 200

trial, an open-label, single-arm, multi-center study conducted in 88 patients

with histologically confirmed metastatic MCC whose disease had progressed on or

after chemotherapy administered for distant metastatic disease. Sixty-five

percent of patients were reported to have had one prior anti-cancer therapy for

metastatic MCC and 35% had two or more prior therapies. The major efficacy

outcome measures were confirmed overall response rate (ORR) according to

Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1 as assessed by a

blinded independent central review committee (IRC) and IRC-assessed duration of

response.

The trial excluded patients with autoimmune disease; medical conditions

requiring systemic immunosuppression; prior organ or allogenic stem cell

transplantation; prior treatment with anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1 or anti-CTLA-4

antibodies; CNS metastases; infection with HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C; or

ECOG performance score greater than or equal to two. Patients received BAVENCIO

10 mg/kg as an intravenous infusion over 60 minutes every two weeks until

disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

The international clinical development program for avelumab, known as JAVELIN,

involves at least 30 clinical programs, including nine Phase III trials, and

more than 4,000 patients across more than 15 tumor types. In October 2016, the

alliance announced the European Medicines Agency accepted the Marketing

Authorisation Application for avelumab for the proposed indication of

metastatic MCC.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION and INDICATION    

BAVENCIO can cause immune-mediated pneumonitis, including fatal cases. Monitor

patients for signs and symptoms of pneumonitis and evaluate suspected cases

with radiographic imaging. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater

pneumonitis. Withhold BAVENCIO for moderate (Grade 2) and permanently

discontinue for severe (Grade 3), life-threatening (Grade 4), or recurrent

moderate (Grade 2) pneumonitis. Pneumonitis occurred in 1.2% (21/1738) of

patients, including one (0.1%) patient with Grade 5, one (0.1%) with Grade 4,

and five (0.3%) with Grade 3.

BAVENCIO can cause immune-mediated hepatitis, including fatal cases. Monitor

patients for abnormal liver tests prior to and periodically during treatment.

Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater hepatitis. Withhold BAVENCIO

for moderate (Grade 2) immune-mediated hepatitis until resolution and

permanently discontinue for severe (Grade 3) or life-threatening (Grade 4)

immune-mediated hepatitis. Immune-mediated hepatitis was reported in 0.9%

(16/1738) of patients, including two (0.1%) patients with Grade 5 and 11 (0.6

%) with Grade 3.

BAVENCIO can cause immune-mediated colitis. Monitor patients for signs and

symptoms of colitis. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater colitis.

Withhold BAVENCIO until resolution for moderate or severe (Grade 2 or 3)

colitis and permanently discontinue for life-threatening (Grade 4) or recurrent

Grade 3 colitis upon re-initiation of BAVENCIO. Immune-mediated colitis

occurred in 1.5% (26/1738) of patients, including seven (0.4%) with Grade 3.

BAVENCIO can cause immune-mediated endocrinopathies, including adrenal

insufficiency, thyroid disorders, and type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of adrenal insufficiency during and

after treatment and administer corticosteroids as appropriate. Withhold

BAVENCIO for severe (Grade 3) or life-threatening (Grade 4) adrenal

insufficiency. Adrenal insufficiency was reported in 0.5% (8/1738) of patients,

including one (0.1%) with Grade 3.

Thyroid disorders can occur at any time during treatment. Monitor patients for

changes in thyroid function at the start of treatment, periodically during

treatment, and as indicated based on clinical evaluation. Manage hypothyroidism

with hormone replacement therapy and hyperthyroidism with medical management.

Withhold BAVENCIO for severe (Grade 3) or life threatening (Grade 4) thyroid

disorders. Thyroid disorders including hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and

thyroiditis were reported in 6% (98/1738) of patients, including three (0.2%)

with Grade 3.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus, including diabetic ketoacidosis: Monitor patients for

hyperglycemia or other signs and symptoms of diabetes. Withhold BAVENCIO and

administer antihyperglycemics or insulin in patients with severe or

life-threatening (Grade 3 or greater) hyperglycemia and resume treatment when

metabolic control is achieved. Type 1 diabetes mellitus without an alternative

etiology occurred in 0.1% (2/1738) of patients, including two cases of Grade 3

hyperglycemia.

BAVENCIO can cause immune-mediated nephritis and renal dysfunction. Monitor

patients for elevated serum creatinine prior to and periodically during

treatment. Administer corticosteroids for Grade 2 or greater nephritis.

Withhold BAVENCIO for moderate (Grade 2) or severe (Grade 3) nephritis until

resolution to Grade 1 or lower. Permanently discontinue BAVENCIO for

life-threatening (Grade 4) nephritis. Immune-mediated nephritis occurred in

0.1% (1/1738) of patients.

BAVENCIO can result in other severe and fatal immune-mediated adverse reactions

involving any organ system during treatment or after treatment discontinuation.

For suspected immune-mediated adverse reactions evaluate to confirm or rule out

an immune-mediated adverse reaction and to exclude other causes. Depending on

the severity of the adverse reaction, withhold or permanently discontinue

BAVENCIO, administer high dose corticosteroids, and initiate hormone

replacement therapy if appropriate. Resume BAVENCIO when the immune-mediated

adverse reaction remains at Grade 1 or lower following a corticosteroid taper.

Permanently discontinue BAVENCIO for any severe (Grade 3) immune-mediated

adverse reaction that recurs and for any life-threatening (Grade 4)

immune-mediated adverse reaction. The following clinically significant

immune-mediated adverse reactions occurred in less than 1% of 1738 patients

treated with BAVENCIO: myocarditis with fatal cases, myositis, psoriasis,

arthritis, exfoliative dermatitis, erythema multiforme, pemphigoid,

hypopituitarism, uveitis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and systemic inflammatory

response.

BAVENCIO can cause severe (Grade 3) or life-threatening (Grade 4)

infusion-related reactions. Patients should be premedicated with an

antihistamine and acetaminophen prior to the first 4 infusions and for

subsequent doses based upon clinical judgment and presence/severity of prior

infusion reactions. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of infusion-related

reactions, including pyrexia, chills, flushing, hypotension, dyspnea, wheezing,

back pain, abdominal pain, and urticaria. Interrupt or slow the rate of

infusion for mild (Grade 1) or moderate (Grade 2) infusion-related reactions.

Permanently discontinue BAVENCIO for severe (Grade 3) or life-threatening

(Grade 4) infusion-related reactions. Infusion-related reactions occurred in

25% (439/1738) of patients, including three (0.2%) patients with Grade 4 and

nine (0.5%) with Grade 3.

BAVENCIO can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. Advise

patients of the potential risk to a fetus including the risk of fetal death.

Advise females of childbearing potential to use effective contraception during

treatment with BAVENCIO and for at least one month after the last dose of

BAVENCIO. It is not known whether BAVENCIO is excreted in human milk. Advise a

lactating woman not to breastfeed during treatment and for at least one month

after the last dose of BAVENCIO due to the potential for serious adverse

reactions in breastfed infants.

The most common adverse reactions (all grades, greater than or equal to 20%) in

patients with metastatic MCC were fatigue (50%), musculoskeletal pain (32%),

diarrhea (23%), nausea (22%), infusion-related reactions (22%), rash (22%),

decreased appetite (20%), and peripheral edema (20%). The most common adverse

reaction requiring dose interruption was anemia.

Selected treatment-emergent laboratory abnormalities (all grades, greater than

or equal to 20%) in patients with metastatic MCC were lymphopenia (49%), anemia

(35%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (34%), thrombocytopenia (27%). and

increased alanine aminotransferase (20%). Selected treatment-emergent Grade 3-4

laboratory abnormalities (greater than or equal to 2%) were lymphopenia (19%),

anemia (9%), hyperglycemia (7%), increased alanine aminotransferase (5%), and

increased lipase (4%).

INDICATION    

BAVENCIO is indicated for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients 12

years and older with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). This indication is

approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response and duration of

response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon

verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

About BAVENCIO(R) (avelumab)    

BAVENCIO is a human programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) blocking antibody

indicated in the US for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients 12 years

of age and older with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma. [1] This indication is

approved under accelerated approval based on tumor response and duration of

response. Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon

verification and description of clinical benefit in confirmatory trials.

BAVENCIO is not approved in any market outside the US.

About Merck-Pfizer Alliance    

Immuno-oncology is a top priority for Merck and Pfizer Inc. The global

strategic alliance between Merck and Pfizer enables the companies to benefit

from each other's strengths and capabilities and further explore the

therapeutic potential of avelumab, an anti-PD-L1 antibody initially discovered

and developed by Merck. The immuno-oncology alliance will jointly develop and

commercialize avelumab and advance Pfizer's PD-1 antibody. The alliance is

focused on developing high-priority international clinical programs to

investigate avelumab as a monotherapy, as well as in combination regimens, and

is striving to find new ways to treat cancer.

About EMD Serono, Inc.     

EMD Serono is the biopharmaceutical business of Merck - a leading science and

technology company - in the US and Canada, focused exclusively on specialty

care. For more than 40 years, the business has integrated cutting-edge science,

innovative products and industry-leading patient support and access programs.

EMD Serono has deep expertise in neurology, fertility and endocrinology, as

well as a robust pipeline of potential therapies in oncology, immuno-oncology

and immunology as R&D focus areas. Today, the business has 1,200 employees

around the country with commercial, clinical and research operations based in

the company's home state of Massachusetts.

https://www.emdserono.com

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https://www.merckgroup.com/en/media/media_center_oncology.html

About Merck    

Merck is a leading science and technology company in healthcare, life science

and performance materials. Around 50,000 employees work to further develop

technologies that improve and enhance life - from biopharmaceutical therapies

to treat cancer or multiple sclerosis, cutting-edge systems for scientific

research and production, to liquid crystals for smartphones and LCD

televisions. In 2016, Merck generated sales of 15.0 billion Euros in 66

countries.

Founded in 1668, Merck is the world's oldest pharmaceutical and chemical

company. The founding family remains the majority owner of the publicly listed

corporate group. Merck, Darmstadt, Germany holds the global rights to the

"Merck" name and brand except in the United States and Canada, where the

company operates as EMD Serono, MilliporeSigma and EMD Performance Materials.

About Pfizer Inc.: Working together for a healthier world(R)    

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to

people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the

standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and

manufacture of health care products. Our global portfolio includes medicines

and vaccines as well as many of the world's best-known consumer health care

products. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging

markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge

the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one

of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate

with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and

expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more

than 150 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We

routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at

www.pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, please visit us on www.pfizer.com

and follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @PfizerNews, LinkedIn, YouTube and like

us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer.

Pfizer Disclosure Notice    

The information contained in this release is as of March 23, 2017. Pfizer

assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this

release as the result of new information or future events or developments.

This release contains forward-looking information about BAVENCIO (avelumab),

including an indication in the US for BAVENCIO for the treatment of metastatic

Merkel cell carcinoma (the Indication), Pfizer's and Merck's immuno-oncology

alliance involving anti-PD-L1 and anti-PD-1 therapies, and clinical development

plans, including their potential benefits, that involves substantial risks and

uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those

expressed or implied by such statements. Risks and uncertainties include, among

other things, uncertainties regarding the commercial success of BAVENCIO; the

uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to

meet anticipated clinical study commencement and completion dates and

regulatory submission dates, as well as the possibility of unfavorable study

results, including unfavorable new clinical data and additional analyses of

existing clinical data; risks associated with interim data; the risk that

clinical trial data are subject to differing interpretations, and, even when we

view data as sufficient to support the safety and/or effectiveness of a product

candidate, regulatory authorities may not share our views and may require

additional data or may deny approval altogether; whether and when drug

applications may be filed in any other jurisdictions for the Indication or in

any jurisdictions for any other potential indications for BAVENCIO, combination

therapies or other product candidates; whether and when any such applications

(including the pending application for the Indication in the EU) may be

approved by regulatory authorities, which will depend on the assessment by such

regulatory authorities of the benefit-risk profile suggested by the totality of

the efficacy and safety information submitted; decisions by regulatory

authorities regarding labeling and other matters that could affect the

availability or commercial potential of BAVENCIO, combination therapies or

other product candidates; and competitive developments.

A further description of risks and uncertainties can be found in Pfizer's

Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, and in

its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof

captioned "Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May

Affect Future Results", as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all

of which are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and

available at http://www.sec.gov and http://www.pfizer.com.

References    

[1] BAVENCIO Prescribing Information. Rockland, MA: EMD Serono Inc.; 2017.

[2] National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Daily

Med. Available at https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/advanced-search.cfm.

Accessed March 22, 2017.

[3] Lemos B, Storer B, Iyer J, et al. Pathologic Nodal Evaluation Improves

Prognostic Accuracy in Merkel Cell Carcinoma: Analysis of 5,823 Cases as the

Basis of the First Consensus Staging System for this Cancer. Journal of the

American Academy of Dermatology. 2010;63(5):751-761.

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SOURCE: Merck and Pfizer

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