Elahere Shines in Midstage Trial for Ovarian Cancer Subtype Following AbbVie’s ImmunoGen Acquisition
AbbVie’s strategic investment in the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) field has paid off, with Elahere (mirvetuximab soravtansine) achieving significant success in a midstage clinical trial. The trial win follows AbbVie’s $10.1 billion acquisition of ImmunoGen, which brought Elahere into its portfolio.
Midstage PICCOLO Trial Results
In the phase 2 PICCOLO trial, Elahere met its primary endpoint, demonstrating an objective response rate (ORR) of 51.9%. The study focused on heavily pretreated patients with folate receptor-alpha (FRa) positive, platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer (PSOC). Additionally, the secondary endpoint, median duration of response (DOR), was recorded at 8.25 months, though AbbVie has not disclosed whether this met the trial’s goals.
Current Approval and Usage
Elahere is already approved for patients with FRa-positive, platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who have undergone up to three prior treatments. The drug received full FDA endorsement in March, building on its initial accelerated approval in November 2022.
AbbVie defines platinum-sensitive patients as those who initially responded to platinum-based chemotherapy but relapsed six months or more afterward. Conversely, platinum-resistant patients relapse within six months of platinum-based chemotherapy.
Safety Profile and Future Plans
AbbVie reported that Elahere’s safety profile in the PICCOLO study was consistent with previous trials, with no new safety concerns identified. The company plans to present detailed data from this trial at an upcoming medical meeting, further solidifying Elahere’s clinical promise.
Strategic Expansion into Oncology
The successful midstage trial comes after AbbVie’s swift completion of the ImmunoGen acquisition. CEO Rick Gonzalez highlighted that this deal would expedite AbbVie’s entry into the solid tumor arena and bolster its oncology pipeline.
Looking ahead, AbbVie aims to advance Elahere into earlier lines of treatment. Plans include phase 3 studies to explore Elahere’s potential in combination with Roche’s Avastin (bevacizumab) or PARP inhibitors in first-line maintenance settings, expected to commence in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
Conclusion
Elahere’s promising results in the midstage PICCOLO trial underscore the potential of ADCs in treating ovarian cancer and reinforce AbbVie’s strategic expansion into the oncology sector. With continued research and upcoming clinical trials, AbbVie aims to establish Elahere as a cornerstone treatment for ovarian cancer, enhancing options for patients battling this challenging disease.
Read: AbbVie advances oncology pipeline with Phase 3 ABBV-383 trial
Source: Fierce Pharma