Amgen (Nasdaq:AMGN) announced results from two integrated analyses of head-to-head pivotal Phase 3 trials comparing denosumab to Zometa(R) (zoledronic acid), the current standard of care in the prevention of skeletal related events (SREs) in patients with advanced malignancies involving bone. In these separate analyses, denosumab demonstrated a clinically meaningful, consistent and robust treatment effect across tumor types in the reduction of SREs, and also prevented clinically relevant increases in pain, compared with Zometa. A separate presentation highlighted the meaningful burden that SREs pose to the healthcare system. These analyses were presented at the 35th European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress being held in Milan, Italy.
"Bone metastases and their subsequent complications, such as a fracture, are devastating events for advanced cancer patients and costly to the healthcare system," said Allan Lipton, M.D., professor of Medicine & Oncology, M.S. Hershey Medical Center of the Pennsylvania State University. "This analysis of the largest registration program ever undertaken in bone metastases demonstrates that denosumab can offer a clinical advance over Zometa in delaying or preventing these bony complications, as well as the pain that frequently results from them. These efficacy gains coupled with the convenience of a subcutaneous injection and no need for renal monitoring make denosumab an attractive option for these patients."
Integrated Analysis Reveals Denosumab Superior to Zometa In Delaying or Preventing Time to First-and-Subsequent Skeletal Related Event Across a Broad Cancer Population with Bone Metastases
The effect of denosumab versus Zometa was evaluated in three large, identically designed Phase 3 trials that enrolled patients with bone metastases and breast cancer, prostate cancer or other solid tumors and multiple myeloma. The integrated analysis of these trials, which together enrolled more than 5,700 patients, provided a clear view of the efficacy and safety profile of denosumab in a large and diverse group of people living with cancer and bone metastases.
The analysis showed that denosumab was superior to Zometa in delaying time to first on-study SRE by 17 percent (median time to first skeletal related event of 27.7 months for denosumab and 19.5 months for Zometa, p <0.0001). Denosumab was also superior to Zometa in delaying time to first-and-subsequent on-study SRE by 18 percent (p<0.0001). Overall disease progression and survival were similar for both groups.
Overall, the occurrence of adverse events (96.2 percent denosumab, 96.8 percent Zometa) and serious adverse events (56.3 percent denosumab, 57.1 percent Zometa) were balanced in both groups and consistent with what has previously been reported for these two agents.
Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) occurred infrequently, 1.8 percent of denosumab patients and 1.3 percent of Zometa patients (p=0.13) experienced this adverse effect. In addition, Zometa-treated patients had increased rates of adverse events potentially associated with renal toxicity (2.6 percent higher) and increased rates of acute phase reactions (8.7 percent denosumab, 20.2 percent Zometa).As with previous studies in advanced cancer patients, hypocalcemia was more frequent in the denosumab arm (9.6 percent denosumab, 5.0 percent Zometa).
Patients received either 120 mg of denosumab subcutaneously every four weeks or Zometa administered intravenously as at least a 15 minute infusion at a dose of 4 mg every four weeks, per the labeled instructions.
Integrated Pain Analysis Shows Denosumab Superior to Zometa
A separate integrated analysis of the three Phase 3 trials found that denosumab was superior to Zometa in preventing clinically relevant increases in pain, as reported by trial participants. Bone pain is one of the first signs that metastatic disease has spread to the skeleton, and affects approximately 70 percent of patients with metastatic disease.(1) Patients enrolled in the three studies completed the Brief Pain Inventory (range 0-10) to assess pain severity at baseline (BL), day 8, and monthly through the end of the studies (week 41).
Time to worsening of clinically significant pain was significantly delayed with denosumab compared to Zometa (median of 181 days for denosumab, median of 169 days for Zometa) (hazard ratio 0.92, 95 percent CI 0.86-0.99, p=0.026). In patients with no or mild pain at BL, denosumab prolonged the median time until moderate or severe pain by 55 days compared to Zometa (198 days denosumab, 143 days Zometa) (hazard ratio 0.83, 95 percent CI 0.76-0.92, P=0.0002). The time to pain improvement was similar in both treatment groups (86 days for denosumab, 85 days for Zometa) (hazard ratio 0.99; 95 percent CI 0.92-1.07; p=0.844).
Multinational Study Illustrates Resource Utilization Varies by Skeletal Related Event
SREs have an adverse financial impact on healthcare systems, consuming significant resources. Results from the first interim analysis of a multinational observational study assessing the utilization of health resources by type of SRE showed that pathologic fractures resulted in the longest hospital stay (16.3 days), with both spinal cord compression and radiation to bone resulting in the next longest hospital stay (9.3 days). Meanwhile, radiation to bone resulted in the highest number of outpatient visits (10.0) and overall procedures (e.g., imaging) (13.5).
The ongoing observational, multinational study assessed SRE-related utilization of health resources by SRE type (surgery or radiation to bone, pathologic fracture, or spinal cord compression) in prostate, breast or lung patients with bone metastases, or in patients with multiple myeloma. Data was collected on inpatient hospitalizations, length of stay, outpatient visits, emergency room (ER) visits, nursing home/long-term care facility stays, home health visits, procedures, and medications. This interim analysis included 206 eligible patients with 387 discrete SREs.
Bone Metastases and Skeletal Related Events (SREs): Prevalence and Impact
Bone metastases occur in more than 1.5 million patients with cancer worldwide and are most commonly associated with cancers of the prostate, lung, and breast, with incidence rates as high as 75 percent of patients with metastatic disease.(2)
Approximately 50-70 percent of cancer patients with bone metastases will experience debilitating SREs.(3,4,5) Events considered to be SREs include fractures, spinal cord compression, and severe bone pain that may require surgery or radiation(vi). Such events can profoundly disrupt a patient's life and can cause disability, pain or even death. (7,8,9)
Patients who experience an SRE as a result of bone metastases incur significantly higher medical costs compared with those who do not experience such events.(10,11,12) Studies have shown that the costs of treating a SRE are significant.(10,13) In fact, the total economic burden of patients with bone metastases in the U.S. alone is estimated to be $12.6 billion annually.(14)
About Denosumab and Amgen's Research in Bone Biology
Denosumab is the first fully human monoclonal antibody in late stage clinical development that specifically targets RANK Ligand, the essential regulator of osteoclasts (the cells that break down bone). The denosumab development program is the largest ever initiated by Amgen. This broad and deep development program demonstrates Amgen's commitment to researching and delivering pioneering medicines to patients with unmet medical needs. Amgen is studying denosumab in numerous tumor types across the spectrum of cancer-related bone diseases. Over 11,000 patients have been enrolled in the denosumab oncology clinical trials, testing the drug for the reduction of SREs in patients with breast and prostate cancer, as well as other solid tumors and multiple myeloma, for the amelioration of treatment-induced bone loss in patients with non-metastatic breast or prostate cancers, and for its potential to delay bone metastases in prostate and breast cancers.
About Amgen
Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science's promise by bringing safe and effective medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other serious illnesses. With a deep and broad pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people's lives. To learn more about our pioneering science and our vital medicines, visit www.amgen.com.
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