Allos Therapeutics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ALTH) announced topline results from the Company's randomized Phase 2b investigational trial of FOLOTYN® (pralatrexate injection) versus erlotinib in patients with Stage IIIB/IV (advanced) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had received one or two prior systemic treatments including at least one prior platinum-based regimen. The objective of the trial was to estimate the efficacy of FOLOTYN compared to that of erlotinib as assessed by overall survival. The results demonstrated clinical activity of FOLOTYN in this patient population.

The primary endpoint of the trial was overall survival. Patients receiving FOLOTYN had a 16 percent reduction in the risk of death compared to erlotinib in the overall patient population (n=201; hazard ratio (HR)=0.84) and a 13 percent reduction in the risk of death in the primary efficacy analysis population (n=166; HR=0.87).

Analyses were also performed in predefined patient cohorts, including light vs. heavy smokers, current vs. former smokers, squamous vs. non-squamous histology, and patients who received prior pemetrexed vs. those who had not. The largest reductions in risk of death for FOLOTYN were observed in patients with non-squamous cell carcinoma (n=107; HR=0.65) and light smokers (n=37; HR=0.63), with the results demonstrating a 35 percent and 37 percent reduction in the risk of death, respectively. Positive trends in overall survival were observed in favor of FOLOTYN in all other patient cohorts except patients with squamous cell carcinoma and patients who received prior pemetrexed.

The safety profile of FOLOTYN was consistent with that observed and reported in previous FOLOTYN solid tumor studies. The most common Grade 3-4 adverse event observed in patients treated with FOLOTYN was mucositis (23 percent). Other Grade 3-4 adverse events occurring in more than 5 percent (but less than 10 percent) of patients were fatigue, dyspnea, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and anemia in patients treated with FOLOTYN and rash, dyspnea, anemia and fatigue in patients treated with erlotinib.

"We are pleased that the results of this trial demonstrated clinical activity of FOLOTYN in a randomized study compared to erlotinib, an approved active agent in non-small cell lung cancer," said Charles Morris, MB ChB, MRCP, chief medical officer at Allos Therapeutics. "We will continue to review these important data with our expert advisors to further evaluate the clinical potential of FOLOTYN in this patient population. We also plan to submit the complete study results for presentation at an upcoming medical meeting."

"This study generated important data regarding the safety and efficacy profile for FOLOTYN in advanced non-small cell lung cancer, an area of high unmet medical need," said Paul L. Berns, chief executive officer at Allos Therapeutics. "We believe these data warrant further analysis to determine the future development strategy based on our assessment of the potential clinical, regulatory and commercial opportunities for FOLOTYN in this indication."

About the Study Design

This randomized, open-label, international, multi-center Phase 2b study comparing FOLOTYN versus erlotinib, marketed as TARCEVA®, enrolled 201 current or former smokers with Stage IIIB/IV (advanced) NSCLC who had received one or two previous treatments including at least one prior platinum-based chemotherapy regimen. The objective of the trial was to estimate the efficacy of FOLOTYN compared to that of erlotinib as assessed by overall survival. The primary endpoint of the trial was overall survival. Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival and response rate, both compared to erlotinib, and the safety and tolerability of FOLOTYN. The study was not designed to show a statistically significant difference between the two treatment arms. No definition of statistical significance was included in the analysis plan.

The trial - which enrolled patients across 43 locations worldwide (15 U.S. sites and 28 ex-U.S. sites) - was initiated by Allos in January 2008 and completed enrollment in July 2009. The first 35 patients enrolled in the study were randomly assigned one-to-one to receive FOLOTYN (intravenous push on days 1 and 15 of a 28-day cycle; initial dose of 230 mg/m2) or erlotinib (oral, 150 mg daily in a 28-day cycle). Subsequently, following a protocol amendment, 166 patients were randomly assigned one-to-one to receive either FOLOTYN at 190 mg/m2 or erlotinib at 150 mg/day and then further stratified by light and heavy smokers. All patients received concurrent vitamin therapy of B12 and folic acid. According to the statistical analysis plan, the full analysis set included all 201 patients who were randomized in the study and the primary efficacy analysis included the 166 patients enrolled subsequent to the protocol amendment.

About Lung Cancer

More people die each year from lung cancer than any other type of cancer - including breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers combined. In 2010, it is estimated that there will be more than 200,000 new cases of lung cancer diagnosed in the United States and over 150,000 deaths. There are primarily two types of lung cancer: NSCLC and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). NSCLC accounts for the majority of lung cancers (about 87 percent) and develops slowly - often causing few or no symptoms until very late stages. The most common subtypes of NSCLC are squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large-cell undifferentiated carcinoma; squamous cell carcinomas account for 25-30 percent of all lung cancers while adenocarcinoma and large-cell undifferentiated carcinoma account for 40 percent and 10-15 percent of lung cancers, respectively. The majority of people are diagnosed with advanced stage disease and only one to five percent of people with advanced stage (IIIB/IV) NSCLC survive to five years. The most widely used therapies to date remain surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Source:
Allos Therapeutics

View drug information on Folotyn; Tarceva.