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Oct 23, 2024

Comprehensive Review Highlights Potential Benefits of Leukine® in Management of Gastrointestinal (GI) Adverse Events Associated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors (ICIs) in the Treatment of Cancer

Apr 18, 2024, 16:00 ET Share this article NCI sponsored, ECOG-ACRIN Phase 3 Study of Leukine in Combination with Ipilimumab and Nivolumab in Front Line Treatment of Melanoma Heads to Last Stages of

Apr 18, 2024, 16:00 ET

Share this article

NCI sponsored, ECOG-ACRIN Phase 3 Study of Leukine in Combination with Ipilimumab and Nivolumab in Front Line Treatment of Melanoma Heads to Last Stages of Enrollment

LEXINGTON, Mass., April 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Partner Therapeutics, Inc. (PTx) announced publication of a comprehensive review by Dougan et al.1 in Cancers summarizing the mechanistic rationale and pre-clinical and clinical data regarding the use of Leukine (sargramostim; glycosylated, yeast-derived recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor [rhu GM-CSF]) to manage gastrointestinal (GI) immune-related adverse events (irAEs) for patients taking immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) for the treatment of cancer. Leukine is not FDA approved for treatment of irAEs or melanoma.

The authors describe the mechanisms underlying GI irAEs and their similarities to inflammatory bowel disease and review the available clinical data supporting a potential role for Leukine in both settings. In the prospective, randomized study E1608, Hodi and colleagues2 observed that advanced melanoma patients who received Leukine plus ipilimumab had a reduction in GI irAEs (p=0.05) (see figure below) as well as a significant improvement in overall survival (p=0.01) compared to those who received ipilimumab alone.

"Immune checkpoint inhibitors have meaningfully improved prognoses for cancer patients in a number of cancers," said Michael Dougan MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. "Unfortunately, these drugs also can cause the immune system to attack healthy cells creating unwanted GI side effects including some that lead to discontinuation of treatment and more severe outcomes. The potential Leukine has shown in mitigating GI irAEs and improving patient outcomes, including survival, are encouraging."

Ongoing Phase 3 Study of Leukine with Ipilimumab and Nivolumab in Front Line Metastatic Melanoma

Leukine continues to be studied in combination with ICIs to assess differences in the rate of serious adverse events as well as its impact on overall survival.

EA6141 (NCT02339571) is a randomized, controlled phase 2/3 study of Leukine in combination with ipilimumab and nivolumab for the front line treatment of patients with unresectable stage III or stage IV melanoma that is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and being conducted by ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group.3 It is led by Study Chair F. Stephen Hodi Jr., MD, Director of the Center for Immuno-Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Study Co-Chair Ahmad A. Tarhini, MD, PhD, Professor of Oncologic Sciences and Director of Cutaneous and Clinical Translational Research at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. Both are members of the ECOG-ACRIN Melanoma Committee.

"The phase 2 portion of study EA6141 was completed previously, and after a successful planned interim analysis, advanced to the phase 3 portion, which is now in the last stages of enrollment," said Dr. Hodi in a recent statement. "The primary objective is to compare the overall survival rates of patients who receive nivolumab/ipilimumab/rhu GM-CSF versus those who receive only nivolumab/ipilimumab."

REFERENCES

ABOUT MELANOMAMelanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer and rates of melanoma have been rising for the past 30 years. The American Cancer Society estimates 96,480 new melanoma cases will be diagnosed in the US and 7,230 people will die from the disease in 2019. The FDA grants orphan drug designation to promote the development of promising treatments for conditions that affect 200,000 or fewer U.S. patients annually.

ABOUT LEUKINE

LEUKINE (sargramostim) is a glycosylated recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhu GM-CSF) produced by recombinant DNA technology in yeast. The product is commercially available in the United States and accessible through a named patient program operated by Tanner Pharma Group outside of the United States.

LEUKINE is indicated:

Important Safety Information for Leukine (sargramostim)

Contraindications

Warnings and Precautions

Drug Interactions

Adverse ReactionsAdverse events occurring in >10% of patients receiving LEUKINE in controlled clinical trials and reported at a higher frequency than in placebo patients are:

ABOUT PARTNER THERAPEUTICS

Partner Therapeutics, Inc. (PTx), an integrated biotechnology company, focuses on development and commercialization of late-stage therapeutics to improve health outcomes in treatment of cancer and other serious diseases. The company believes in delivering products and supporting medical teams with the purpose of achieving superior outcomes for patients and their families. Visit www.partnertx.com.

SOURCE Partner Therapeutics, Inc.