AstraZeneca

High-level results from the primary analysis of the ongoing DESTINY-PanTumor02 Phase II trial showed Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) demonstrated clinically meaningful progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in previously treated patients across multiple HER2-expressing advanced solid tumours, two secondary endpoints of the trial.

In the primary analysis, Enhertu continued to show durable responses based on investigator-assessed confirmed objective response rate (ORR), the primary endpoint of the trial, and duration of response (DoR), a secondary endpoint; reinforcing results from an interim analysis of the trial recently presented at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting.

Enhertu is a specifically engineered HER2-directed antibody drug conjugate (ADC) being jointly developed and commercialised by AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo. 

Cristian Massacesi, Chief Medical Officer and Oncology Chief Development Officer, AstraZeneca, said: “The progression-free survival and overall survival results for Enhertu alongside the continued robust and durable tumour responses seen with further follow up underscore the potential value of this important medicine for patients with HER2-expressing cancers who currently have no targeted treatment options. With a high unmet need in these cancers, we are working with health authorities to bring Enhertu to patients with HER2-expressing cancers that could potentially benefit from this medicine as quickly as possible.”

Mark Rutstein, Global Head, Oncology Development, Daiichi Sankyo, said: “These updated results from the DESTINY-PanTumor02 trial are important as we work to reshape the clinical landscape in HER2-expressing advanced cancers, where patients currently have limited treatment options and face a poor prognosis. The overall survival demonstrated by Enhertu in these patients is a significant step forward in the potential to advance current standards of care and offer new options for patients with HER2-expressing cancers.”

The DESTINY-PanTumor02 Phase II trial is evaluating the efficacy and safety of Enhertu in patients with previously treated locally advanced, unresectable, or metastatic HER2-expressing solid tumours not eligible for curative therapy, including biliary tract, bladder, cervical, endometrial, ovarian, pancreatic, and other cancers.

The safety profile observed in the primary analysis was consistent with prior data and with other trials of Enhertu with no new safety concerns identified. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) rates and severity were consistent with those observed in other trials of Enhertu, with a low rate of Grade 5 ILD events observed as determined by an independent adjudication committee.

These data will be presented at a forthcoming medical meeting and will support ongoing discussions with global health authorities.

Notes

HER2 expression in solid tumours
HER2 is a tyrosine kinase receptor growth-promoting protein expressed on the surface of various tissue cells throughout the body and is involved in normal cell growth.^1,2 In some cancers, HER2 expression is amplified or the cells have activating mutations.^1,3 HER2 protein overexpression may occur as a result of HER2 gene amplification and is often associated with aggressive disease and poor prognosis.⁴

While HER2-directed therapies have been used to treat breast, gastric, lung and colorectal cancers, more research is needed evaluating their potential role in treating other HER2-expressing tumour types.^2,5,6

HER2 is an emerging biomarker in biliary tract, bladder, cervical, endometrial, ovarian and pancreatic cancers.³ Testing is not routinely performed in these additional tumour types and as a result, available literature is limited. HER2 overexpression (IHC3+) has been observed at rates from 1% to 28% in these solid tumours.^7,8 There is an unmet need for effective therapies for certain HER2-expressing solid tumours, particularly for those who have progressed on or are refractory to standard of care therapies as there are currently no approved HER2-directed therapies for these cancers.^2,9

DESTINY-PanTumor02
DESTINY-PanTumor02 is a global, multicentre, multi-cohort, open-label Phase II trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) for the treatment of previously treated HER2-expressing tumours, including biliary tract cancer, bladder cancer, cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer and other tumours.

The primary efficacy endpoint of DESTINY-PanTumor02 is confirmed ORR as assessed by investigator. Secondary endpoints include DoR, disease control rate, PFS, OS, safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics.

DESTINY-PanTumor02 has enrolled 267 patients at multiple sites in Asia, Europe and North America. For more information about the trial, visit ClinicalTrials.gov.

Enhertu
Enhertu is a HER2-directed ADC. Designed using Daiichi Sankyo’s proprietary DXd ADC technology, Enhertu is the lead ADC in the oncology portfolio of Daiichi Sankyo and the most advanced programme in AstraZeneca’s ADC scientific platform. Enhertu consists of a HER2 monoclonal antibody attached to a topoisomerase I inhibitor payload, an exatecan derivative, via a stable tetrapeptide-based cleavable linker.

Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) is approved in more than 50 countries for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer who have received a (or one or more) prior anti-HER2-based regimen, either in the metastatic setting or in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting, and have developed disease recurrence during or within six months of completing therapy based on the results from the DESTINY-Breast03 trial.

Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) is approved in more than 40 countries for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-low (immunohistochemistry [IHC] 1+ or IHC 2+/in-situ hybridisation [ISH]-) breast cancer who have received a prior systemic therapy in the metastatic setting or developed disease recurrence during or within six months of completing adjuvant chemotherapy based on the results from the DESTINY-Breast04 trial.

Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) is approved in Israel and under accelerated approval in the US for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer whose tumours have activating HER2 (ERBB2) mutations, as detected by a locally or regionally approved test, and who have received a prior systemic therapy based on the results from the DESTINY-Lung02 trial. Continued approval for this indication in the US may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial.

Enhertu (6.4mg/kg) is approved in more than 30 countries for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma who have received a prior trastuzumab-based regimen based on the results from the DESTINY-Gastric01 trial and/or DESTINY-Gastric02 trial.

Enhertu development programme
A comprehensive global development programme is underway evaluating the efficacy and safety of Enhertu monotherapy across multiple HER2-targetable cancers. Trials in combination with other anticancer treatments, such as immunotherapy, are also underway.

Daiichi Sankyo collaboration
Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited (TSE: 4568) [referred to as Daiichi Sankyo] and AstraZeneca entered into a global collaboration to jointly develop and commercialise Enhertu (a HER2-directed ADC) in March 2019, and datopotamab deruxtecan (DS-1062; a TROP2-directed ADC) in July 2020, except in Japan where Daiichi Sankyo maintains exclusive rights. Daiichi Sankyo is responsible for the manufacturing and supply of Enhertu and datopotamab deruxtecan.

AstraZeneca in oncology
AstraZeneca is leading a revolution in oncology with the ambition to provide cures for cancer in every form, following the science to understand cancer and all its complexities to discover, develop and deliver life-changing medicines to patients.

The Company's focus is on some of the most challenging cancers. It is through persistent innovation that AstraZeneca has built one of the most diverse portfolios and pipelines in the industry, with the potential to catalyse changes in the practice of medicine and transform the patient experience.

AstraZeneca has the vision to redefine cancer care and, one day, eliminate cancer as a cause of death.

AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases, and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. Please visit astrazeneca.com and follow the Company on Twitter @AstraZeneca.

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References

1. ASCO. Breast Cancer. Available at: https://www.cancer.net/sites/cancer.net/files/asco_answers_guide_breast.pdf. Accessed July 2023.
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3. Omar N, et al. HER2-an emerging biomarker in non-breast and non-gastric cancers. Pathogenesis. 2015;2(3):1-9.
4. Pillai R, et al. HER2 mutations in lung adenocarcinomas: A report from the Lung Cancer Mutation Consortium. Cancer. 2017;1;123(21): 4099-4105.
5. National Cancer Institute. Enhertu Marks First Targeted Therapy for HER2-Mutant Lung Cancer. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2022/fda-lung-cancer-enhertu-her2. Accessed July 2023. 
6. Siena S, et al. Targeting the Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) Oncogene in Colorectal Cancer. Ann Oncol. 2018 May; 29(5):1108-1119.
7. Yan M, et al. HER2 expression status in diverse cancers: review of results from 37,992 patients. Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2015 Mar;34(1):157-64.
8. Buza N et al. Toward standard HER2 testing of endometrial serous carcinoma: 4-year experience at a large academic center and recommendations for clinical practice. Modern Pathology. 2013 Dec;26(12):1605-12.
9. Meric-Bernstam F, et al. Pertuzumab plus trastuzumab for HER2-amplified metastatic colorectal cancer (MyPathway): an updated report from a multicentre, open-label, phase 2a, multiple basket study. Lancet Oncol. 2019 Apr;20(4):518-530.