Oncolytics Biotech Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast Track designation to pelareorep in combination with Roche’s anti-PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor atezolizumab, and the chemotherapeutic agents gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel, for the treatment of advanced/metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). This represents pelareorep’s second FDA Fast Track designation.
“Receiving this Fast Track designation is an important accomplishment that speaks to the impressive response rate and the durability of the response in our PDAC study, and it also reflects the pressing need to improve upon the standard of care in this indication,” stated Dr. Matt Coffey, President and Chief Executive Officer of Oncolytics Biotech Inc. “We expect the opportunity for more frequent communication about our data with FDA provided by this designation will be invaluable as we work to align with the Agency on the best design for a registrational PDAC study. With our core programs in breast and pancreatic cancer both nearing pivotal trials, and eligible for the Fast Track program’s numerous benefits, we believe we are at a crucial point in Oncolytics’ evolution and are excited for what’s ahead.”
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In November 2022, at the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) 37th Annual Meeting, Oncolytics reported interim clinical data showing a 69% objective response rate (ORR) including a complete response (n=13) in a cohort of first-line advanced/metastatic PDAC patients treated with the combination of pelareorep, atezolizumab, gemcitabine, and nab-paclitaxel in the Company’s phase 1/2 GOBLET study. This ORR is nearly triple the average ORR of ~25% reported in historical control trials evaluating gemcitabine in combination with nab-paclitaxel in pancreatic cancer1-4.
Fast Track designation is designed to facilitate the development and expedite the review of therapies to treat serious conditions and fill an unmet medical need. For conditions where an available treatment exists, a therapy must show some advantage over the available treatment, such as superior effectiveness, to be granted a Fast Track designation. A clinical program that receives Fast Track designation may benefit from more frequent meetings and communications with the FDA to discuss development plans and ensure the collection of appropriate data needed to support approval. In addition, clinical programs with Fast Track designation may be eligible for Accelerated Approval and Priority Review, if relevant criteria are met.
SOURCE: PR Newswire