IBRANCE® (palbociclib) Receives FDA Regular Approval and Expanded Indication for First-Line HR+, HER2- Metastatic Breast Cancer
Friday, March 31, 2017 2:04 pm EDT
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"This important update to the IBRANCE label underscores the strength of the data we continue to generate for IBRANCE. We are proud of the impact this innovative medicine continues to have on patients’ lives."
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for its first-in-class cyclin dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK 4/6) inhibitor, IBRANCE® (palbociclib), based on the results from the confirmatory Phase 3 trial PALOMA-2. The FDA action converts the accelerated approval of IBRANCE to regular approval and broadens the range of anti-hormonal therapy that may be administered with IBRANCE. IBRANCE now is indicated in combination with an aromatase inhibitor, expanding on its earlier indication in combination with letrozole, as initial endocrine based therapy in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) advanced or metastatic breast cancer.
IBRANCE is the first CDK 4/6 inhibitor approved by the FDA. IBRANCE was granted accelerated approval in combination with letrozole in February 2015 and regular approval in February 2016 for a second indication: the treatment of HR+, HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer in combination with fulvestrant in women with disease progression following endocrine therapy. Today, IBRANCE plus letrozole is the most prescribed FDA-approved oral combination treatment for HR+, HER2- metastatic breast cancer.
“In the two years since its initial approval, IBRANCE has been prescribed to more than 50,000 patients by more than 9,800 physicians in the U.S.,” said Liz Barrett, global president and general manager, Pfizer Oncology. “This important update to the IBRANCE label underscores the strength of the data we continue to generate for IBRANCE. We are proud of the impact this innovative medicine continues to have on patients’ lives.”
The updated label is based on data including results from the Phase 3 PALOMA-2 trial, which evaluated IBRANCE as first-line therapy in combination with letrozole for postmenopausal women with estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), HER2- metastatic breast cancer. These data were published in the November 17, 2016 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine. PALOMA-2 demonstrated that the combination of IBRANCE and letrozole significantly extended progression-free survival (PFS), or the amount of time before tumor growth, compared with letrozole plus placebo. The median PFS of the IBRANCE and letrozole combination exceeded two years – making it the first treatment for this population of women to do so in a Phase 3 study. The median PFS for women treated with IBRANCE plus letrozole exceeded the median PFS for placebo plus letrozole by more than 10 months (24.8 months [95% CI, 22.1, not estimable] vs. 14.5 months [95% CI, 12.9, 17.1] for women treated with letrozole plus placebo (HR=0.58 [95% CI, 0.46, 0.72], p<0.0001)), and represented a 42% reduction in the risk of disease progression.
The warnings and precautions of IBRANCE include neutropenia and embryo-fetal toxicity. Adverse reactions in PALOMA-2 were generally consistent with the known adverse reaction profile for IBRANCE and no major unexpected safety findings were observed. The most common grade 3/4 adverse reactions with IBRANCE plus letrozole versus placebo plus letrozole were neutropenia (66% vs 2%), leukopenia (25% vs 0%), infections (7% vs 3%) and anemia (5% vs 2%). Febrile neutropenia was reported in 2.5% of patients in the IBRANCE plus letrozole group and none of the patients in the placebo plus letrozole group.
Palbociclib (IBRANCE) is the only treatment for HR+, HER2- metastatic breast cancer with two category 1 recommendations from the National Comprehensive Care Network (NCCN). On March 13, the NCCN updated their recommendation for palbociclib plus letrozole as a first-line treatment for postmenopausal women with HR+, HER2- metastatic breast cancer to a category 1 recommendation.1 In addition, palbociclib plus fulvestrant is recommended (category 1) for postmenopausal women with HR+, HER2- metastatic breast cancer who have progressed on endocrine therapy or premenopausal women receiving a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist.1
The full prescribing information for IBRANCE can be found here.
IMPORTANT IBRANCE ® (palbociclib) SAFETY INFORMATION FROM THE U.S. PRESCRIBING INFORMATION
Neutropenia was the most frequently reported adverse reaction in PALOMA-2 (80%) and PALOMA-3 (83%). In PALOMA-2, Grade 3 (56%) or 4 (10%) decreased neutrophil counts were reported in patients receiving IBRANCE plus letrozole. In PALOMA-3, Grade 3 (55%) or Grade 4 (11%) decreased neutrophil counts were reported in patients receiving IBRANCE plus fulvestrant. Febrile neutropenia has been reported in 1.8% of patients exposed to IBRANCE across PALOMA-2 and PALOMA-3. One death due to neutropenic sepsis was observed in PALOMA-3. Inform patients to promptly report any fever.
Monitor complete blood count prior to starting IBRANCE, at the beginning of each cycle, on Day 15 of first 2 cycles and as clinically indicated. Dose interruption, dose reduction, or delay in starting treatment cycles is recommended for patients who develop Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia.
Based on the mechanism of action, IBRANCE can cause fetal harm. Advise females of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during IBRANCE treatment and for at least 3 weeks after the last dose. IBRANCE may impair fertility in males and has the potential to cause genotoxicity. Advise male patients with female partners of reproductive potential to use effective contraception during IBRANCE treatment and for 3 months after the last dose. Advise females to inform their healthcare provider of a known or suspected pregnancy. Advise women not to breastfeed during IBRANCE treatment and for 3 weeks after the last dose because of the potential for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants.
The most common adverse reactions (≥10%) of any grade reported in PALOMA-2 for IBRANCE plus letrozole vs placebo plus letrozole were neutropenia (80% vs 6%), infections (60% vs 42%), leukopenia (39% vs 2%), fatigue (37% vs 28%), nausea (35% vs 26%), alopecia (33% vs 16%), stomatitis (30% vs 14%), diarrhea (26% vs 19%), anemia (24% vs 9%), rash (18% vs 12%), asthenia (17% vs 12%), thrombocytopenia (16% vs 1%), vomiting (16% vs 17%), decreased appetite (15% vs 9%), dry skin (12% vs 6%), pyrexia (12% vs 9%), and dysgeusia (10% vs 5%).
The most frequently reported Grade ≥3 adverse reactions (≥5%) in PALOMA-2 for IBRANCE plus letrozole vs placebo plus letrozole were neutropenia (66% vs 2%), leukopenia (25% vs 0%), infections (7% vs 3%), and anemia (5% vs 2%).
Lab abnormalities of any grade occurring in PALOMA-2 for IBRANCE plus letrozole vs placebo plus letrozole were decreased WBC (97% vs 25%), decreased neutrophils (95% vs 20%), anemia (78% vs 42%), decreased platelets (63% vs 14%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (52% vs 34%), and increased alanine aminotransferase (43% vs 30%).
The most common adverse reactions (≥10%) of any grade reported in PALOMA-3 for IBRANCE plus fulvestrant vs placebo plus fulvestrant were neutropenia (83% vs 4%), leukopenia (53% vs 5%), infections (47% vs 31%), fatigue (41% vs 29%), nausea (34% vs 28%), anemia (30% vs 13%), stomatitis (28% vs 13%), diarrhea (24% vs 19%), thrombocytopenia (23% vs 0%), vomiting (19% vs 15%), alopecia (18% vs 6%), rash (17% vs 6%), decreased appetite (16% vs 8%), and pyrexia (13% vs 5%).
The most frequently reported Grade ≥3 adverse reactions (≥5%) in PALOMA-3 for IBRANCE plus fulvestrant vs placebo plus fulvestrant were neutropenia (66% vs 1%) and leukopenia (31% vs 2%).
Lab abnormalities of any grade occurring in PALOMA-3 for IBRANCE plus fulvestrant vs placebo plus fulvestrant were decreased WBC (99% vs 26%), decreased neutrophils (96% vs 14%), anemia (78% vs 40%), decreased platelets (62% vs 10%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (43% vs 48%), and increased alanine aminotransferase (36% vs 34%).
Avoid concurrent use of strong CYP3A inhibitors. If patients must be administered a strong CYP3A inhibitor, reduce the IBRANCE dose to 75 mg/day. If the strong inhibitor is discontinued, increase the IBRANCE dose (after 3-5 half-lives of the inhibitor) to the dose used prior to the initiation of the strong CYP3A inhibitor. Grapefruit or grapefruit juice may increase plasma concentrations of IBRANCE and should be avoided. Avoid concomitant use of strong CYP3A inducers. The dose of sensitive CYP3A substrates with a narrow therapeutic index may need to be reduced as IBRANCE may increase their exposure.
IBRANCE has not been studied in patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment or in patients with severe renal impairment (CrCl <30 mL/min).
About IBRANCE® (palbociclib) 125 mg capsules
IBRANCE is an oral inhibitor of CDKs 4 and 6,2 which are key regulators of the cell cycle that trigger cellular progression.3,4 In the U.S., IBRANCE is indicated for the treatment of HR+, HER2- advanced or metastatic breast cancer in combination with an aromatase inhibitor as initial endocrine based therapy in postmenopausal women, or fulvestrant in women with disease progression following endocrine therapy.
Including the U.S., IBRANCE is approved in more than 60 countries.
About Pfizer Oncology
Pfizer Oncology is committed to pursuing innovative treatments that have a meaningful impact on those living with cancer. As a leader in oncology speeding cures and accessible breakthrough medicines to patients, Pfizer Oncology is helping to redefine life with cancer. Our strong pipeline of biologics, small molecules and immunotherapies, one of the most robust in the industry, is studied with precise focus on identifying and translating the best scientific breakthroughs into clinical application for patients across a wide range of cancers. By working collaboratively with academic institutions, individual researchers, cooperative research groups, governments and licensing partners, Pfizer Oncology strives to cure or control cancer with its breakthrough medicines. Because Pfizer Oncology knows that success in oncology is not measured solely by the medicines you manufacture, but rather by the meaningful partnerships you make to have a more positive impact on people’s lives.
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DISCLOSURE NOTICE: The information contained in this release is as of March 31, 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 IBRANCE (palbociclib), including its 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 IBRANCE; the uncertainties inherent in research and development, including the ability to meet anticipated clinical trial commencement and completion dates and regulatory submission dates, as well as the possibility of unfavorable clinical trial results, including unfavorable new clinical data and additional analyses of existing clinical data; whether regulatory authorities will be satisfied with the design of and results from our clinical studies; whether and when drug applications may be filed in any additional jurisdictions for IBRANCE for potential HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer indications or in any jurisdictions for any other potential indications for IBRANCE; whether and when any such other applications 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 IBRANCE; 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 www.sec.gov and www.pfizer.com .
1 National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®): Breast Cancer. Version 1.2017.
2 IBRANCE® (palbociclib) Prescribing Information. New York. NY: Pfizer Inc: 2017.
3 Weinberg RA. pRb and Control of the Cell Cycle Clock. In: Weinberg RA, ed. The Biology of Cancer. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Garland Science; 2014:275-329.
4 Sotillo E, Grana X. Escape from Cellular Quiescence. In: Enders GH, ed. Cell Cycle Deregulation in Cancer. New York, NY: Humana Press; 2010:3-22.
