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Verastem Oncology Outlines Strategic Priorities for 2019 and Highlights Recent Progress
2018 Highlighted by Approval and Commercial Launch of Lead Asset COPIKTRA™
Entering 2019 with a Strong Balance Sheet to Achieve Corporate Objectives
Company’s Focus in 2019 Will Be on Continued Investigation of Duvelisib in Additional Tumor Types, Including Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma, Both as a Monotherapy and in Combination with Other Anti-Cancer Agents
“2018 was a pivotal year for Verastem Oncology, as the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration’s (
“Since the launch of COPIKTRA, we’ve been encouraged by the positive
feedback we are hearing from physicians and other healthcare providers
about this important new oral monotherapy within the treatment
landscape,” said
2018 Accomplishments
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COPIKTRA (duvelisib) Capsules Approved by the U.S.
FDA – OnSeptember 24, 2018 , theFDA approved COPIKTRA, an oral inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and the first approved dual inhibitor of PI3K-delta and PI3K-gamma. COPIKTRA was approved for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) after at least two prior therapies. COPIKTRA also received accelerated approval for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (FL) after at least two prior systemic therapies. The indication in FL is approved under accelerated approval based on overall response rate. Continued approval for this indication is contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial. The commercial launch of COPIKTRA is ongoing.
Use of COPIKTRA is associated with a BOXED WARNING for four fatal and/or serious toxicities: infections, diarrhea or colitis, cutaneous reactions, and pneumonitis. Verastem Oncology is implementing an informational Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy to provide appropriate dosing and safety information to better support physicians in managing their patients on COPIKTRA.
Additionally, use of COPIKTRA is also associated with adverse reactions which may require dose reduction, treatment delay or discontinuation of COPIKTRA.
Please see www.COPIKTRAHCP.com/prescribinginformation for full Prescribing Information including BOXED WARNING and Medication Guide in addition to the Important Safety Information provided below.
- Established a Commercial Franchise in the U.S. – In 2018, the Company established a full commercial infrastructure in the U.S. The sales, market access and medical affairs teams are fully deployed and calling on medical institutions, oncology healthcare professionals and payors in support of the COPIKTRA launch. COPIKTRA product was available at specialty distributors and specialty pharmaceutical providers immediately following approval. Top national health plans are now offering reimbursement coverage and the majority of COPIKTRA sales territories have patients being treated. The Company also successfully launched Verastem Cares™, a comprehensive, personalized program designed to provide information and assistance to patients who have been prescribed COPIKTRA, which is now fully operational nationwide.
- COPIKTRA Added to NCCN Guidelines for CLL/SLL and FL – The NCCN added COPIKTRA to the Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines), the standard physician resource for determining the appropriate course of treatment for patients. The Company believes these updated guidelines will increase awareness for COPIKTRA and help health care providers make informed decisions for patients battling these difficult to treat advanced cancers.
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Phase 3 DUO Study Results Published in the Journal Blood – The
results of the randomized, multicenter, open-label Phase 3 DUO™ study
(NCT02004522), which evaluated COPIKTRA versus ofatumumab in patients
with relapsed or refractory CLL/SLL, were published in the
peer-reviewed journal Blood (Flinn at al). The publication was
accompanied by a review article by
Jennifer R. Brown , M.D., Ph.D., Director of the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Center atDana-Farber Cancer Center , discussing the role of PI3K inhibitors and duvelisib in current CLL therapy. The full manuscript titled “The phase 3 DUO trial: duvelisib versus ofatumumab in relapsed and refractory CLL/SLL,” is available at www.bloodjournal.org. -
Eight Abstracts Presented at the
American Society of Hematology 2018 Annual Meeting (ASH 2018) – The Company presented eight abstracts, including one oral presentation, at ASH 2018 inSan Diego . The oral presentation highlighted data from the Phase 1 study evaluating duvelisib in combination with romidepsin in relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma. Additional poster presentations showcased preclinical and clinical data reinforcing the potential of duvelisib. -
Signed Exclusive License Agreements in
China andJapan – Verastem Oncology entered into exclusive license agreements withCSPC Pharmaceutical Group Limited (CSPC) to develop and commercialize COPIKTRA inChina ,Hong Kong ,Macau andTaiwan , andYakult Honsha Co., Ltd. (Yakult) to develop and commercialize COPIKTRA inJapan . Both agreements are for the treatment, prevention or diagnosis of all oncology indications.-
Under the terms of the agreement with CSPC, Verastem Oncology
received an upfront payment of
$15 million and is entitled to receive aggregate payments of up to$160 million if certain development, regulatory and commercial milestones are successfully achieved, plus double-digit royalties on net sales of products containing duvelisib in the CSPC Territory. CSPC is a leading pharmaceutical group inChina . -
The transaction with Yakult carries a total deal value of up to
$100 million , includes a one-time upfront payment of$10 million and up to an additional$90 million if certain future pre-specified development, regulatory and commercial milestones are successfully achieved by Yakult. In addition,Verastem Oncology is also eligible to receive double-digit royalties based on future net sales of duvelisib inJapan .
-
Under the terms of the agreement with CSPC, Verastem Oncology
received an upfront payment of
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Collaboration with
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for Development of Duvelisib in Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma – Duvelisib was selected for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Therapy Acceleration Program® (TAP) which provides additional resources to support the development of therapies for patients with blood cancers. The Company plans to use the TAP funds to conduct certain translational and clinical activities relating to the development of duvelisib for the treatment of Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma (PTCL). LLS and Verastem Oncology will share the cost of the PTCL development program, portions of which will be conducted in collaboration withMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center ,The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute , TheWashington University inSt. Louis andStanford University . -
Entering 2019 with a Strong Balance Sheet– In
May 2018 , Verastem Oncology successfully completed multiple fundraising transactions, including an underwritten registered offering inMay 2018 , a registered offering inJune 2018 , and a registered direct offering of 5.00% convertible senior notes inOctober 2018 . The Company also raised funds through the sale of shares of common stock under its at-the-market equity offering program. The Company has approximately$279 million in cash and cash equivalents pro-forma to the close of the third quarter of 20181.
2019 Priorities
Verastem Oncology’s 2019 focus is to execute on business priorities aimed at increasing the company’s sales and revenues:
- Continuing to expand on the commercial traction of COPIKTRA in CLL/SLL and FL for appropriate patients;
- Expansion of the open-label, multicenter, Phase 2 clinical trial (the PRIMO study) evaluating the efficacy and safety of duvelisib monotherapy in adult patients with histologically confirmed relapsed or refractory PTCL. This study is expected to enroll approximately 120 patients;
- Initiating a confirmatory Phase 3 study evaluating duvelisib for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory FL after at least two prior systemic therapies. The confirmatory study is expected to start in the second half of 2019;
- Initiating additional investigational studies of duvelisib as a monotherapy and in combination with other anti-cancer agents, such as checkpoint inhibitors, in both hematological and solid tumor malignancies;
- Working with the LLS to advance the PTCL program including the expansion of the Phase 2 combination study of duvelisib and romidepsin for patients with relapsed or refractory PTCL;
- Additional ex-U.S. partnerships for duvelisib;
- Presenting and publishing additional duvelisib data; and
- Advancing the Company’s focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitor defactinib, which is designed to treat cancer through modulation of the tumor microenvironment and enhancement of anti-tumor immunity. Defactinib is currently being evaluated in three separate clinical collaborations in combination with immunotherapeutic agents for the treatment of several different cancer types including pancreatic cancer, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and mesothelioma.
For more information about Verastem Oncology, including its leadership, product and pipeline, please visit verastem.com
COPIKTRA™ (duvelisib)- Select Important Safety Information
WARNING: FATAL AND SERIOUS TOXICITIES: INFECTIONS, DIARRHEA OR COLITIS, CUTANEOUS REACTIONS, and PNEUMONITIS
See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning
- Fatal and/or serious infections occurred in 31% of COPIKTRA-treated patients. Monitor for signs and symptoms of infection. Withhold COPIKTRA if infection is suspected.
- Fatal and/or serious diarrhea or colitis occurred in 18% of COPIKTRA-treated patients. Monitor for the development of severe diarrhea or colitis. Withhold COPIKTRA.
- Fatal and/or serious cutaneous reactions occurred in 5% of COPIKTRA-treated patients. Withhold COPIKTRA.
- Fatal and/or serious pneumonitis occurred in 5% of COPIKTRA-treated patients. Monitor for pulmonary symptoms and interstitial infiltrates. Withhold COPIKTRA.
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
- Hepatotoxicity: Monitor hepatic function.
- Neutropenia: Monitor blood counts.
- Embryo-Fetal toxicity: COPIKTRA can cause fetal harm. Advise patients of potential risk to a fetus and to use effective contraception.
ADVERSE REACTIONS
The most common adverse reactions (> 20%) are diarrhea or colitis, neutropenia, rash, fatigue, pyrexia, cough, nausea, upper respiratory infection, pneumonia, musculoskeletal pain, and anemia. (6)
To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact
DRUG INTERACTIONS
- CYP3A inducers: Avoid co-administration with strong CYP3A inducers.
- CYP3A inhibitors: Monitor for COPIKTRA toxicities when co-administered with strong or moderate CYP3A inhibitors. Reduce COPIKTRA dose to 15 mg twice daily when co-administered with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors.
CYP3A substrates: Monitor for signs of toxicities when co-administering COPIKTRA with sensitive CYP3A substrates.
About Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) are cancers that affect lymphocytes and are essentially the same disease, with the only difference being the location where the cancer primarily occurs. When most of the cancer cells are located in the bloodstream and the bone marrow, the disease is referred to as CLL, although the lymph nodes and spleen are often involved. When the cancer cells are located mostly in the lymph nodes, the disease is called SLL. The symptoms of CLL/SLL include a tender, swollen abdomen and feeling full even after eating only a small amount. Other symptoms can include fatigue, shortness of breath, anemia, bruising easily, night sweats, weight loss, and frequent infections. However, many patients with CLL/SLL will live for years without symptoms. There are approximately 200,000 patients in the US affected by CLL/SLL with nearly 20,000 new diagnoses this year alone. While there are therapies currently available, real-world data reveals that a significant number of patients either relapse following treatment, become refractory to current agents, or are unable to tolerate treatment, representing a significant medical need. The potential of additional oral agents, particularly as a monotherapy that can be used in the general community physician’s armamentarium, may hold significant value in the treatment of patients with CLL/SLL.
About Follicular Lymphoma
Follicular lymphoma (FL) is typically a slow-growing or indolent form of
non-Hodgkin lymphoma (
About Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma
Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is a rare, aggressive type of
non-Hodgkin lymphoma (
About COPIKTRA™ (duvelisib)
COPIKTRA is an oral inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), and the first approved dual inhibitor of PI3K-delta and PI3K-gamma, two enzymes known to help support the growth and survival of malignant B-cells. PI3K signaling may lead to the proliferation of malignant B-cells and is thought to play a role in the formation and maintenance of the supportive tumor microenvironment.4,5,6 COPIKTRA is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL) after at least two prior therapies and relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (FL) after at least two prior systemic therapies. COPIKTRA is also being developed by Verastem Oncology for the treatment of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), for which it has received Fast Track status, and is being investigated in combination with other agents through investigator-sponsored studies.7 For more information on COPIKTRA, please visit www.COPIKTRA.com. Information about duvelisib clinical trials can be found on www.clinicaltrials.gov.
About Defactinib
Defactinib is an investigational inhibitor of focal adhesion kinase
(FAK), a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that mediates oncogenic signaling
in response to cellular adhesion and growth factors.8 Based
on the multi-faceted roles of FAK, defactinib is used to treat cancer
through modulation of the tumor microenvironment and enhancement of
anti-tumor immunity.9,10 Defactinib is currently being
evaluated in three separate clinical collaborations in combination with
immunotherapeutic agents for the treatment of several different cancer
types including pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, non-small cell lung
cancer (NSCLC), and mesothelioma. These studies are combination clinical
trials with pembrolizumab and avelumab from
About Verastem Oncology
Our first FDA approved product is now available for the treatment of patients with certain types of indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (iNHL). Our pipeline comprises product candidates that seek to treat cancer by modulating the local tumor microenvironment. For more information, please visit www.verastem.com.
Forward looking statements notice
This press release includes forward-looking statements
about Verastem Oncology’s strategy, future plans and prospects,
including statements regarding the development and activity of
Other risks and uncertainties include those identified under the heading
"Risk Factors" in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarterly period ended
References
1 Pro-forma cash and cash
equivalents represents cash and cash equivalents at
2
3
4
Winkler D.G., Faia K.L., DiNitto J.P. et al. PI3K-delta and
PI3K-gamma inhibition by IPI-145 abrogates immune responses and
suppresses activity in autoimmune and inflammatory disease models. Chem
Biol 2013; 20:1-11.
5 Reif K et al. Cutting Edge:
Differential Roles for Phosphoinositide 3 kinases, p110-gamma and
p110-delta, in lymphocyte chemotaxis and homing. J Immunol
2004:173:2236-2240.
6 Schmid M et al. Receptor Tyrosine
Kinases and TLR/IL1Rs Unexpectedly activate myeloid cell PI3K, a single
convergent point promoting tumor inflammation and progression. Cancer
Cell 2011;19:715-727.
7www.clinicaltrials.gov,
NCT03372057
8 Schaller M.D. and Parsons J.T. Focal
adhesion kinase: an integrin-linked protein tyrosine kinase. Trends Cell
Biol. 1993 3: 258-62.
9 Jiang H et al. Targeting focal
adhesion kinase renders pancreatic cancers responsive to checkpoint
immunotherapy. Nat Med 2016:
10
Sulzmaier F.J. et al. FAK in cancer: mechanistic findings and clinical
applications. Nature Rev Cancer. 2014 14: 598-610.
11www.clinicaltrials.gov,
NCT02546531
12www.clinicaltrials.gov,
NCT02943317
13www.clinicaltrials.gov,
NCT02758587
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190103005706/en/
Source:
Verastem Oncology:
Brian Sullivan
Senior Director,
Corporate Development
+1 781-469-1636
bsullivan@verastem.com
Media:
Jeff Stoecker
FleishmanHillard
+1
617-692-0509
media@verastem.com
Investors:
Joseph Rayne
Argot Partners
+1
617-340-6075
joseph@argotpartners.com