BeiGene, Ltd, a global oncology company, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted accelerated approval to BRUKINSA® (zanubrutinib) for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) follicular lymphoma (FL), in combination with the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody obinutuzumab, after two or more lines of systemic therapy. The indication is approved under accelerated approval based on response rate and durability of response, marking BRUKINSA’s fifth indication in B-cell malignancies in the U.S.
“This accelerated approval of BRUKINSA represents an important advancement, offering the first and only BTK inhibitor treatment for follicular lymphoma patients in the U.S. who have either not responded to initial therapies or have experienced relapse,” said Mehrdad Mobasher, M.D., M.P.H., Chief Medical Officer, Hematology at BeiGene. “BRUKINSA is the only BTK inhibitor to date that shows efficacy with this type of malignancy and now has the broadest label, including five oncology indications, of any medication in its class globally. This is a testament to BRUKINSA’s differentiated clinical profile and our continued commitment to bringing this much-needed treatment option to patients around the world.”
BRUKINSA was approved for the treatment of R/R FL under the FDA’s accelerated approval program based on the overall response rate (ORR) from the ROSEWOOD trial, as assessed by an independent review committee (IRC). Continued approval for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in the confirmatory MAHOGANY trial, which is underway. The application for R/R FL was also granted Fast Track Designation and Orphan Drug Designation by the FDA.
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The ROSEWOOD trial is a global, randomized, open-label Phase 2 study of BRUKINSA plus obinutuzumab compared with obinutuzumab alone in 217 patients with R/R FL who received at least two prior lines of systemic therapy. In the study, the ORR by IRC was 69% in the BRUKINSA plus obinutuzumab arm versus 46% in the obinutuzumab arm (P=0.0012), with a median follow-up of approximately 20 months. Responses were durable, with an 18-month landmark duration of response (DOR) of 69% in the BRUKINSA combination arm.
BRUKINSA plus obinutuzumab was generally well-tolerated, with safety results consistent with previous studies of both medicines. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 35% of patients who received BRUKINSA in combination with obinutuzumab. Adverse reactions led to permanent discontinuation of BRUKINSA in 17% of patients.
Christopher Flowers, M.D., Division Head of Cancer Medicine and Chair of the Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center commented, “Patients living with follicular lymphoma often experience relapse or do not respond to treatment and need options for treatment during the course of their illness. The findings from the ROSEWOOD trial highlight the significant clinical advantage of treating patients who experience relapse or have refractory follicular lymphoma with zanubrutinib plus obinutuzumab.”
SOURCE: Businesswire