TARRYTOWN, N.Y. and
PARIS, Sept. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --
Libtayo is the first investigational medicine to show a
clinical benefit in advanced basal cell carcinoma following
treatment with a hedgehog inhibitor in a prospective trial
31% objective response rate seen in trial patients, and an
estimated 85% of responses were ongoing at one year
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: REGN) and Sanofi today
announced the presentation of positive results from the pivotal
Phase 2 trial for the PD-1 inhibitor Libtayo®
(cemiplimab) in patients with locally advanced basal cell carcinoma
(BCC) who had progressed on or were intolerant to hedgehog
inhibitor (HHI) therapy. The data were shared in a late-breaking
presentation at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)
Virtual Congress 2020, and form the basis of regulatory
submissions, including in the U.S. and European Union.
"Advanced basal cell carcinoma can be an unrelenting, highly
disfiguring disease, and there are no approved treatment options
once a patient progresses on or becomes intolerant to hedgehog
inhibitors," said Alexander
Stratigos, M.D., Professor of Dermatology at the University
of Athens Medical School at Andreas Sygros Hospital and a trial
investigator. "This is the first time a prospective trial of an
investigational medicine has shown a clinical benefit in this
patient population, and the Libtayo data provide hope for this
difficult-to-treat cancer."
Per independent central review, the objective response rate
(ORR) was 31% among Libtayo-treated patients (n=84; 95% confidence
interval [CI]: 21-42%), with a median follow-up of 15 months
(range: 1-25 months). This included a 6% (n=5) complete and 25%
(n=21) partial response rate. This is an increase from the ORR
shared in May and includes two responses that were confirmed
after the initial data analysis. Responses were seen regardless of
baseline PD-L1 expression in tumor cells.
As of data cut-off, the median duration of response and median
overall survival had not yet been reached. At one-year, 85% of
responses were ongoing (95% CI; 61-95%), the probability of
progression-free survival was 57% (95% CI: 44-67%), and the
probability of overall survival was 92% (95% CI: 84-97%), according
to Kaplan-Meier estimates.
No new Libtayo safety signals were observed. The most
common treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were fatigue (25%,
n=21), pruritus (14%, n=12) and asthenia (14%, n=12). Grade 3 or
higher treatment-related AEs that occurred in at least 2 patients
were colitis (5%, n=4), fatigue and adrenal insufficiency (2%, n=2
each). Fourteen patients (17%) discontinued treatment due to
treatment-emergent AEs.
Libtayo was invented using Regeneron's
VelocImmune® technology that utilizes a
proprietary genetically-engineered mouse platform endowed with a
genetically-humanized immune system to produce optimized
fully-human antibodies. VelocImmune technology has been used
to create multiple antibodies including Dupixent®
(dupilumab), Praluent® (alirocumab) and
Kevzara® (sarilumab), which are approved in multiple
countries around the world. Regeneron previously used these
technologies to rapidly develop a treatment for Ebola virus
infection, which is currently under review by the FDA, and to
create REGN-COV2, a potentially preventative and therapeutic
medicine for COVID-19.
Libtayo is being jointly developed by Regeneron and Sanofi under
a global collaboration agreement. The use of Libtayo to treat
advanced BCC is investigational and has not been fully evaluated by
any regulatory authority.
About the Pivotal BCC Trial
In this ongoing, global
Phase 2 trial, two cohorts of patients were studied: locally
advanced BCC and metastatic BCC. All patients received Libtayo 350
mg intravenously every three weeks for up to 93 weeks or until
disease progression. The primary endpoint is ORR, and key secondary
endpoints include overall survival, progression free survival,
duration of response, safety and tolerability. The median duration
of response and median overall survival were estimated using
Kaplan-Meier analyses. Detailed interim metastatic BCC data are
planned for presentation at an upcoming medical meeting.
About BCC
BCC is a common type of non-melanoma skin
cancer. While the vast majority of BCCs are caught early and easily
cured with surgery and radiation, a small proportion of tumors can
become advanced and penetrate deeper into surrounding tissues
(locally advanced) or spread to other parts of the body
(metastatic), which is more difficult to treat. In the U.S. alone,
approximately 2 million new cases of BCC will be diagnosed every
year, 20,000 U.S. patients will have advanced BCC and 3,000
patients will die of this disease.
About Libtayo
Libtayo is a fully-human monoclonal
antibody targeting the immune checkpoint receptor PD-1 on T-cells.
By binding to PD-1, Libtayo has been shown to block cancer cells
from using the PD-1 pathway to suppress T-cell activation.
Libtayo is the first immunotherapy approved in the U.S., EU and
other countries for adults with metastatic cutaneous squamous cell
carcinoma (CSCC) or locally advanced CSCC who are not candidates
for curative surgery or curative radiation. In the U.S., the
generic name for Libtayo in its approved indication is
cemiplimab-rwlc, with rwlc as the suffix designated in accordance
with Nonproprietary Naming of Biological Products Guidance for
Industry issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Outside
of the U.S., the generic name for Libtayo in its approved
indication is cemiplimab.
The extensive clinical program for Libtayo is focused on
difficult-to-treat cancers. In skin cancer, this includes trials in
adjuvant and neoadjuvant CSCC in addition to the pivotal trial in
advanced BCC. Libtayo is also being investigated in pivotal trials
in NSCLC and cervical cancer, as well as in trials combining
Libtayo with either conventional or novel therapeutic approaches
for both solid tumors and blood cancers. These potential uses are
investigational, and their safety and efficacy have not been
evaluated by any regulatory authority.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION AND INDICATION FOR U.S.
PATIENTS
What is Libtayo?
Libtayo is a prescription medicine
used to treat people with a type of skin cancer called cutaneous
squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) that has spread or cannot be cured
by surgery or radiation.
It is not known if Libtayo is safe and effective in
children.
What is the most important information I should know about
Libtayo?
Libtayo is a medicine that may treat a type of skin
cancer by working with your immune system. Libtayo can cause your
immune system to attack normal organs and tissues in any area of
your body and can affect the way they work. These problems can
sometimes become severe or life-threatening and can lead to death.
You can have more than one problem at the same time. These problems
may happen anytime during treatment or even after your treatment
has ended.
Call or see your healthcare provider right away if you
develop any symptoms of the following problems or these symptoms
get worse:
- Lung problems (pneumonitis). Signs and symptoms of
pneumonitis may include new or worsening cough, shortness of
breath, and chest pain.
- Intestinal problems (colitis) that can lead to tears or holes
in your intestine. Signs and symptoms of colitis may include
diarrhea (loose stools) or more frequent bowel movements than
usual; stools that are black, tarry, sticky or that have blood or
mucus; and severe stomach-area (abdomen) pain or tenderness.
- Liver problems (hepatitis). Signs and symptoms of
hepatitis may include yellowing of your skin or the whites of your
eyes, severe nausea or vomiting, pain on the right side of your
stomach area (abdomen), drowsiness, dark urine (tea colored),
bleeding or bruising more easily than normal, and feeling less
hungry than usual.
- Hormone gland problems (especially the adrenal glands,
pituitary, thyroid and pancreas). Signs and symptoms that your
hormone glands are not working properly may include headaches that
will not go away or unusual headaches, rapid heartbeat, increased
sweating, extreme tiredness, weight gain or weight loss, dizziness
or fainting, feeling more hungry or thirsty than usual, hair loss,
feeling cold, constipation, deeper voice, very low blood pressure,
urinating more often than usual, nausea or vomiting, stomach-area
(abdomen) pain, and changes in mood or behavior, such as decreased
sex drive, irritability, or forgetfulness.
- Kidney problems, including nephritis and kidney failure. Signs
of these problems may include decrease in your amount of urine,
blood in your urine, swelling in your ankles, and loss of
appetite.
- Skin problems. Signs of these problems may include rash,
itching, skin blistering, and painful sores or ulcers in the mouth,
nose, throat, or genital area.
- Problems in other organs. Signs of these problems may
include headache, tiredness or weakness, sleepiness, changes in
heartbeat (such as beating fast, seeming to skip a beat, or a
pounding sensation), confusion, fever, muscle weakness, balance
problems, nausea, vomiting, stiff neck, memory problems, seizures
(encephalitis), swollen lymph nodes, rash or tender lumps on skin,
cough, shortness of breath, vision changes, or eye pain
(sarcoidosis), seeing or hearing things that are not there
(hallucinations), severe or persistent muscle pain, severe muscle
weakness, low red blood cells (anemia), bruises on the skin or
bleeding, and changes in eyesight.
- Rejection of a transplanted organ. Your doctor should
tell you what signs and symptoms you should report and monitor you,
depending on the type of organ transplant that you have had.
- Infusion (IV) reactions that can sometimes be severe and
life-threatening. Signs of these problems may include chills or
shaking, itching or rash, flushing, shortness of breath or
wheezing, dizziness, fever, feeling of passing out, back or neck
pain, and facial swelling.
Getting medical treatment right away may help keep these
problems from becoming more serious.
Your healthcare provider will check you for these problems
during your treatment with Libtayo. Your healthcare provider may
treat you with corticosteroid or hormone replacement medicines.
Your healthcare provider may delay or completely stop treatment if
you have severe side effects.
Before you receive Libtayo, tell your healthcare provider
about all your medical conditions, including if you:
- have immune system problems such as Crohn's disease, ulcerative
colitis, or lupus;
- have had an organ transplant;
- have lung or breathing problems;
- have liver or kidney problems;
- have diabetes;
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant; Libtayo can harm your
unborn baby
Females who are able to become pregnant:
-
- Your healthcare provider will give you a pregnancy test before
you start treatment.
- You should use an effective method of birth control during your
treatment and for at least 4 months after your last dose of
Libtayo. Talk with your healthcare provider about birth control
methods that you can use during this time.
- Tell your healthcare provider right away if you become pregnant
or think you may be pregnant during treatment with Libtayo.
- are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if
Libtayo passes into your breast milk. Do not breastfeed during
treatment and for at least 4 months after the last dose of
Libtayo.
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you
take, including prescription and over- the-counter medicines,
vitamins, and herbal supplements.
The most common side effects of Libtayo include tiredness, rash,
diarrhea, muscle or bone pain, and nausea. These are not all the
possible side effects of Libtayo. Call your doctor for medical
advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects to Regeneron
Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi at 1-877-542-8296.
Please see accompanying full Prescribing Information,
including Medication Guide.
About Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Regeneron
(NASDAQ: REGN) is a leading biotechnology company that invents
life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases.
Founded and led for over 30 years by physician-scientists, our
unique ability to repeatedly and consistently translate science
into medicine has led to seven FDA-approved treatments and numerous
product candidates in development, all of which were homegrown in
our laboratories. Our medicines and pipeline are designed to help
patients with eye diseases, allergic and inflammatory diseases,
cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, pain, infectious
diseases and rare diseases.
Regeneron is accelerating and improving the traditional drug
development process through our
proprietary VelociSuite® technologies,
such as VelocImmune which uses unique
genetically-humanized mice to produce optimized fully-human
antibodies and bispecific antibodies, and through ambitious
research initiatives such as the Regeneron Genetics Center, which
is conducting one of the largest genetics sequencing efforts in the
world.
For additional information about the company, please visit
www.regeneron.com or follow @Regeneron on Twitter.
About Sanofi
Sanofi is dedicated to supporting people
through their health challenges. We are a global biopharmaceutical
company focused on human health. We prevent illness with vaccines,
provide innovative treatments to fight pain and ease suffering. We
stand by the few who suffer from rare diseases and the millions
with long-term chronic conditions.
With more than 100,000 people in 100 countries, Sanofi is
transforming scientific innovation into healthcare solutions around
the globe.
Sanofi, Empowering Life
Regeneron Forward-Looking Statements and Use of Digital
Media
This press release includes forward-looking
statements that involve risks and uncertainties relating to future
events and the future performance of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals,
Inc. ("Regeneron" or the "Company"), and actual events or results
may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Words
such as "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "plan," "believe,"
"seek," "estimate," variations of such words, and similar
expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking
statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain
these identifying words. These statements concern, and these risks
and uncertainties include, among others, the impact of SARS-CoV-2
(the virus that has caused the COVID-19 pandemic) on Regeneron's
business and its employees, collaborators, and suppliers and other
third parties on which Regeneron relies, Regeneron's and its
collaborators' ability to continue to conduct research and clinical
programs, Regeneron's ability to manage its supply chain, net
product sales of products marketed by Regeneron and/or its
collaborators (collectively, "Regeneron's Products"), and the
global economy; the nature, timing, and possible success and
therapeutic applications of Regeneron's Products and Regeneron's
product candidates and research and clinical programs now underway
or planned, including without limitation Libtayo®
(cemiplimab); the likelihood, timing, and scope of possible
regulatory approval and commercial launch of Regeneron's product
candidates and new indications for Regeneron's Products,
such as Libtayo for the treatment of basal cell carcinoma,
non-small cell lung cancer, adjuvant and neoadjuvant
cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, and cervical cancer (as well as
in trials combining Libtayo with either conventional or novel
therapeutic approaches for both solid tumors and blood cancers, as
applicable); uncertainty of market acceptance and
commercial success of Regeneron's Products and product candidates
and the impact of studies (whether conducted by Regeneron or others
and whether mandated or voluntary) on the commercial success of
Regeneron's Products and product candidates; safety issues
resulting from the administration of Regeneron's Products (such as
Libtayo) and product candidates in patients, including serious
complications or side effects in connection with the use of
Regeneron's Products and product candidates in clinical trials;
determinations by regulatory and administrative governmental
authorities which may delay or restrict Regeneron's ability to
continue to develop or commercialize Regeneron's Products and
product candidates; ongoing regulatory obligations and oversight
impacting Regeneron's Products, research and clinical programs, and
business, including those relating to patient privacy; the
availability and extent of reimbursement of Regeneron's Products
from third-party payers, including private payer healthcare and
insurance programs, health maintenance organizations, pharmacy
benefit management companies, and government programs such as
Medicare and Medicaid; coverage and reimbursement determinations by
such payers and new policies and procedures adopted by such payers;
competing drugs and product candidates that may be superior to, or
more cost effective than, Regeneron's Products and product
candidates; the extent to which the results from the research and
development programs conducted by Regeneron and/or its
collaborators may be replicated in other studies and/or lead
to advancement of product candidates to clinical trials,
therapeutic applications, or regulatory approval; the ability of
Regeneron to manufacture and manage supply chains for multiple
products and product candidates; the ability of Regeneron's
collaborators, suppliers, or other third parties (as applicable) to
perform manufacturing, filling, finishing, packaging, labeling,
distribution, and other steps related to Regeneron's Products and
product candidates; unanticipated expenses; the costs of
developing, producing, and selling products; the ability of
Regeneron to meet any of its financial projections or guidance and
changes to the assumptions underlying those projections or
guidance; the potential for any license or collaboration agreement,
including Regeneron's agreements with Sanofi, Bayer, and Teva
Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (or their respective affiliated
companies, as applicable), to be cancelled or terminated without
any further product success; and risks associated with intellectual
property of other parties and pending or future litigation relating
thereto (including without limitation the patent litigation and
other related proceedings relating to EYLEA®
(aflibercept) Injection, Dupixent® (dupilumab), and
Praluent® (alirocumab)), other litigation and other
proceedings and government investigations relating to the Company
and/or its operations, the ultimate outcome of any such proceedings
and investigations, and the impact any of the foregoing may have on
Regeneron's business, prospects, operating results, and financial
condition. A more complete description of these and other material
risks can be found in Regeneron's filings with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2019 and its Form 10-Q
for the quarterly period ended June 30,
2020. Any forward-looking statements are made based on
management's current beliefs and judgment, and the reader is
cautioned not to rely on any forward-looking statements made by
Regeneron. Regeneron does not undertake any obligation to update
publicly any forward-looking statement, including without
limitation any financial projection or guidance, whether as a
result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Regeneron uses its media and investor relations website and
social media outlets to publish important information about the
Company, including information that may be deemed material to
investors. Financial and other information about Regeneron is
routinely posted and is accessible on Regeneron's media and
investor relations website
(http://newsroom.regeneron.com) and its Twitter feed
(http://twitter.com/regeneron).
Sanofi Forward-Looking Statements
This press
release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended.
Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical
facts. These statements include projections and estimates regarding
the marketing and other potential of the product, or regarding
potential future revenues from the product. Forward-looking
statements are generally identified by the words "expects",
"anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "plans" and
similar expressions. Although Sanofi's management believes that the
expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are
reasonable, investors are cautioned that forward-looking
information and statements are subject to various risks and
uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally
beyond the control of Sanofi, that could cause actual results and
developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or
implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and
statements. These risks and uncertainties include among other
things, unexpected regulatory actions or delays, or government
regulation generally, that could affect the availability or
commercial potential of the product, the fact that product may not
be commercially successful, the uncertainties inherent in research
and development, including future clinical data and analysis of
existing clinical data relating to the product, including post
marketing, unexpected safety, quality or manufacturing issues,
competition in general, risks associated with intellectual property
and any related future litigation and the ultimate outcome of such
litigation, and volatile economic and market conditions, and the
impact that COVID-19 will have on us, our customers, suppliers,
vendors, and other business partners, and the financial condition
of any one of them, as well as on our employees and on the global
economy as a whole. Any material effect of COVID-19 on any of
the foregoing could also adversely impact us. This situation is
changing rapidly and additional impacts may arise of which we are
not currently aware and may exacerbate other previously identified
risks. The risks and uncertainties also include the uncertainties
discussed or identified in the public filings with the SEC and the
AMF made by Sanofi, including those listed under "Risk Factors" and
"Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" in
Sanofi's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2019. Other than as required by
applicable law, Sanofi does not undertake any obligation to update
or revise any forward-looking information or statements.
Regeneron
Contacts:
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Sanofi
Contacts:
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Media
Relations
Daren Kwok
Tel: +1 (914)
847-1328
daren.kwok@regeneron.com
Investor
Relations
Vesna
Tosic
Tel: +1 (914)
847-5443
vesna.tosic@regeneron.com
|
Media
Relations
Sally Bain
Tel.: +1 (781) 264-1091
sally.bain@sanofi.com
Investor Relations
Paris
Eva
Schaefer-Jansen
Arnaud
Delepine
Yvonne
Naughton
Investor Relations
North America
Felix
Lauscher
Fara
Berkowitz
Suzanne
Greco
IR main
line:
Tel.: +33 (0)1 53 77
45 45
ir@sanofi.com
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SOURCE Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.