Biotech Values

[pcrutch]

Blowout data from ARRY(in my opinion)

Phase II double-blind, randomized study of selumetinib (SEL) plus docetaxel (DOC) versus DOC plus placebo as second-line treatment for advanced KRAS mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Background: KRAS mutations are the most common (~20%) oncogenic alteration in NSCLC. There are no effective targeted therapies for this subset of NSCLC. Selumetinib (AZD6244, ARRY-142866) inhibits MEK1/2 signaling downstream of KRAS. We prospectively evaluated SEL + DOC vs DOC + placebo in advanced KRAS mutant NSCLC based on preclinical observations (NCT00890825). Methods: Patients (pts) with stage IIIB-IV, KRAS mutant NSCLC, who had received prior chemotherapy, received iv DOC 75 mg/m2, and po SEL 75 mg or placebo BD. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS); secondary endpoints included: progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (RR), duration of response, change in tumor size, proportion of patients alive and progression-free at 6 mo, and safety and tolerability.

Results: Between April 2009 and June 2010, 422 pts were screened across 67 centers in 12 countries; 113 had KRAS mutant NSCLC and 87 were randomized (DOC, 43; SEL/DOC, 44). Baseline characteristics were balanced (DOC vs SEL/DOC): WHO PS 0, 49%/48%; Female, 54%/52%; KRAS codon 12, 90%/93%. Median number of cycles: DOC, 4; SEL/DOC, 5. Most frequent grade 3/4 hematologic toxicity (DOC vs SEL/DOC): neutropenia (54.8%/67.4%), febrile neutropenia (0%/15.9%); most frequent grade 3/4 non-hematologic toxicity: dyspnea (11.9%/2.3%) asthenia (0%/9.1%), respiratory failure (4.8%/6.8%), acneiform dermatitis (0%/6.8%). Discontinuation due to AEs was similar: 18.2% SEL/DOC vs 11.9% DOC.

OS was longer for SEL/DOC vs DOC (9.4 mo vs 5.2 mo; 56 events, median follow-up 219 days) but did not reach statistical significance; hazards were non proportional (HR 0.80; 80% CI 0.56, 1.14; 1-sided p=0.2069). All secondary endpoints, including RR (DOC 0%, SEL/DOC 37%; p<0.0001) and PFS (DOC 2.1 mo, SEL/DOC 5.3 mo; 71 events; HR = 0.58; 80% CI 0.42, 0.79; 1-sided p=0.0138), were significantly improved for SEL/DOC vs DOC.

Conclusions: This is the first prospective study to demonstrate a clinical benefit of a targeted therapy (SEL + DOC) for patients with KRAS mutant cancer of any type. Our findings could have implications for the treatment of NSCLC and other KRAS mutant cancers.