Amgen announces publication of XGEVA Phase 3 study results against solid tumors in Journal of Clinical Oncology

Amgen (Nasdaq: AMGN) today announced the publication of results from a pivotal Phase 3 study of 1,776 advanced cancer patients with different types of solid tumors (not including breast and prostate cancer) or multiple myeloma, which compared XGEVA™ (denosumab) to Zometa® (zoledronic acid) in preventing skeletal-related events (SREs). The study, which appeared today in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, found that XGEVA was non-inferior to Zometa in delaying or preventing SREs.

"Almost every type of cancer has the potential to spread to the bone, putting patients at risk for devastating bone complications, like fracture or compression of the spinal cord," said David H. Henry, M.D., clinical professor of medicine, Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. "Once a patient has bone metastases one of our major goals is to prevent events like fracture or spinal cord compression. XGEVA is an important new option to help prevent these debilitating complications."

XGEVA, the first and only RANK Ligand inhibitor indicated for the prevention of SREs in patients with bone metastases from solid tumors was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Nov. 18, 2010.  The approval was based in part on results described in this publication. XGEVA is not indicated for the prevention of SREs in patients with multiple myeloma.

Key Study Results

For the primary endpoint of this study, the median time to first on-study SRE (defined as fracture, radiation to bone, surgery to bone, or spinal cord compression) was 20.6 months for patients receiving XGEVA and 16.3 months for patients receiving Zometa (hazard ratio 0.84, 95 percent CI: 0.71-0.98), which is statistically significant for non-inferiority>

In a subgroup analysis of patients with multiple myeloma, mortality appeared to be higher for denosumab-treated patients compared to those in the control arm (hazard ratio [95 percent CI] of 2.26 [1.13, 4.50]; n = 180).  The limited number of patients in this subgroup, however, precludes definitive conclusions regarding the effects of XGEVA in multiple myeloma patients.

In the study, hypocalcemia occurred more frequently with XGEVA, while osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) occurred at similar rates in both groups. Acute phase reactions after the first dose occurred more frequently in the Zometa arm, as did renal adverse events and elevation in serum creatinine. No dose adjustments or dose withholding for renal function are required for XGEVA.

Study Design

This study was an international, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, active-controlled study, in which advanced cancer patients with solid tumors or multiple myeloma were randomized to receive either subcutaneous denosumab 120 mg and intravenous placebo>

XGEVA Important Safety Information

XGEVA can cause severe hypocalcemia.  Correct pre-existing hypocalcemia prior to XGEVA treatment.  Monitor calcium levels and administer calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D as necessary.  Advise patients to contact a healthcare professional for symptoms of hypocalcemia.

ONJ can occur in patients receiving XGEVA. Patients who are suspected of having or who develop ONJ while on XGEVA should receive care by a dentist or an oral surgeon.  In these patients, extensive dental surgery to treat ONJ may exacerbate the condition.  

The most common adverse reactions in patients receiving XGEVA were fatigue/asthenia, hypophosphatemia, and nausea. The most common serious adverse reaction in patients receiving XGEVA was dyspnea.  The most common adverse reactions resulting in discontinuation of XGEVA were osteonecrosis and hypocalcemia.  Please visit www.xgeva.com for full prescribing information.

Denosumab is also marketed as Prolia® in other indications.

XGEVA Skeletal-Related Events Regulatory Status

XGEVA was approved by the FDA for the prevention of SREs in patients with bone metastases from solid tumors on Nov. 18, 2010. XGEVA is not indicated to prevent SREs in patients with multiple myeloma.

Administered as a single 120 mg subcutaneous injection every four weeks, XGEVA provides a new option for urologists and oncologists to prevent serious bone complications in men with prostate cancer.

Amgen has also submitted marketing applications for XGEVA in the European Union, Australia, Canada and Switzerland. In Japan, Amgen is working with its licensing partner, Daiichi-Sankyo Company, Limited and a marketing application was submitted.

Bone Metastases and Skeletal Related Events: 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.(i)

Approximately 50-70 percent of cancer patients with bone metastases will experience debilitating SREs.(ii iii iv)  Events considered to be SREs include fractures, spinal cord compression, and severe bone pain that may require surgery or radiation.(v) Such events can profoundly disrupt a patient's life and can cause disability and pain.(vi vii viii)

Denosumab and Amgen's Research in Bone Biology

The denosumab 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. In addition to this newly approved indication, XGEVA is also being investigated for its potential to delay bone metastases in prostate and breast cancer.