Press Release
HUTCHMED Announces NMPA Full Approval for ORPATHYS®
(savolitinib) in China for Patients with Locally Advanced or
Metastatic MET Exon 14 NSCLC
- Indication expands to include treatment-naïve
patients -
- The 2021 conditional approval in previously treated
patients converted to full approval -
Hong Kong, Shanghai
& Florham Park, NJ - Tuesday, January 14,
2025: HUTCHMED (China) Limited ("HUTCHMED") (Nasdaq/AIM: HCM; HKEX:
13) today announces that the supplemental New Drug Application
for ORPATHYS® (savolitinib) has been granted
approval by the China National Medical Products Administration
("NMPA") for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced
or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer ("NSCLC") with MET exon 14
skipping alteration. The NMPA has also converted the prior
conditional approval of ORPATHYS® in the
previously treated patient population to full approval. The new
label indication for ORPATHYS® will now include both
treatment-naïve and previously treated patients in China.
The approval by the NMPA was based on data from the
confirmatory Phase IIIb clinical trial in patients with MET exon 14
skipping alteration NSCLC (NCT04923945).
Preliminary efficacy and safety data from the first-line cohort
were presented during the IASLC World Conference on Lung Cancer
(WCLC) in September 2023. Final data from the confirmatory Phase
IIIb trial were presented at the European Lung Cancer Congress in
March 2024.
In treatment-naïve patients, objective response rate
("ORR") was 62.1%, disease control rate ("DCR") was 92.0% and
median duration of response ("DoR") was 12.5 months, as assessed by
an independent review committee. Median progression free survival
("PFS") was 13.7 months and median overall survival ("OS") was not
reached with median follow-up of 20.8 months. In previously treated
patients, ORR was 39.2%, DCR was 92.4% and median DoR was 11.1
months, as assessed by an independent review committee. Median PFS
was 11.0 months and median OS was not mature with median follow-up
of 12.5 months. Responses occurred early (time to response 1.4-1.6
months) in both treatment-naïve and previously treated patients.
The safety profile was tolerable and no new safety signals were
observed. The most common drug-related treatment-emergent adverse
events of Grade 3 or above (5% or more of patients) were abnormal
hepatic function (16.9%), increased alanine aminotransferase
(14.5%), increased aspartate aminotransferase (12.0%), peripheral
oedema (6.0%) and increased gamma-glutamyltransferase (6.0%).
"This Phase IIIb confirmatory study of
ORPATHYS® is one of the largest Phase III clinical
trials conducted in China for this patient population to date.
ORPATHYS® has demonstrated clear efficacy and
tolerability in both first-line and second-line settings,
underscoring its potential as a standard treatment option for NSCLC
with MET exon 14 skipping alterations," said Prof. Shun Lu, Chief of the Shanghai Lung
Cancer Center at Shanghai Chest Hospital, School of Medicine,
Shanghai Jiaotong University, and Principal Investigator of the
confirmatory Phase IIIb study. "By making
ORPATHYS® available as a first-line treatment, we
are able to provide our patients with an effective targeted therapy
earlier in their treatment journey. We look forward to introducing
this novel treatment and optimizing the treatment strategy for this
challenging patient population to improve their outcomes and
quality of life."
"The approval marks an exciting step forward in
addressing the unmet needs of NSCLC patients with MET exon 14
skipping alteration. It not only validates our research
but also emphasizes our dedication to addressing unmet medical
needs through targeted drug development," said Dr. Michael Shi, Head of R&D and Chief
Medical Officer of HUTCHMED. "We are focused on
advancing our research and expanding access to
ORPATHYS®, ultimately improving the treatment landscape
for those affected by this challenging form of lung cancer. We also
remain committed to further exploring ORPATHYS® in other
MET driven diseases in order to help more patients who may benefit
from this targeted treatment."
"Today's approval reinforces ORPATHYS® as a
transformative option for the treatment of biomarker-driven lung
cancer, and we are proud that we can now offer this therapy to both
first-line and second-line patients in China with advanced NSCLC
with MET exon 14 skipping alterations," said Ms. Mary Guan, General Manager of AstraZeneca
China Oncology Business. "Through our partnership with
HUTCHMED, we are advancing ORPATHYS® to address
resistance to EGFR-TKIs[1], unlocking new
possibilities for treating MET-altered and amplified cancers, and
expanding the reach of this innovative therapy to even more
patients with this form of lung cancer."
Savolitinib was launched and is marketed under the
brand name ORPATHYS® by our partner, AstraZeneca,
for this patient population, representing the first selective
MET inhibitor approved in China.
About NSCLC and MET aberrations
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death,
accounting for about one-fifth of all cancer deaths.[2] More than a third of the world's lung cancer
patients are in China. Lung cancer is broadly split into NSCLC and
small cell lung cancer, with 80-85% classified as
NSCLC.[3] The majority of NSCLC patients
(approximately 75%) are diagnosed with advanced disease, and
approximately 10-15% of NSCLC patients in the US and Europe and
30-40% of patients in Asia have EGFR-mutated NSCLC. [4],[5],[6],[7]
MET is a tyrosine kinase receptor that has an
essential role in normal cell development.[8] MET overexpression and/or amplification can lead to
tumor growth and the metastatic progression of cancer cells, and is
one of the mechanisms of acquired resistance to EGFR TKI for
metastatic EGFR-mutated NSCLC.8,[9] Approximately 2-3% of NSCLC patients have tumors
with MET exon 14 skipping alterations, a targetable mutation in the
MET gene.[10] MET aberration is a major
mechanism for acquired resistance to both first/second-generation
EGFR TKIs as well as third-generation EGFR TKIs like osimertinib.
Among patients who experience disease progression post-osimertinib
treatment, approximately 15-50% present with MET
aberration.[11],[12],[13],[14],[15] The
prevalence of MET aberration depends on the sample type, detection
method and assay thresholds used.[16]
About ORPATHYS® (savolitinib)
ORPATHYS® is an oral, potent and highly
selective MET TKI that has demonstrated clinical activity in
advanced solid tumors. It blocks atypical activation of the MET
receptor tyrosine kinase pathway that occurs because of mutations
(such as exon 14 skipping alterations or other point mutations),
gene amplification or protein overexpression.
ORPATHYS® was previously granted
conditional approval in China in June 2021 for the treatment of
patients with NSCLC with MET exon 14 skipping alterations who have
progressed following prior systemic therapy or are unable to
receive chemotherapy. ORPATHYS® is the first
selective MET inhibitor approved in China. It has been included
in the National Reimbursement Drug List of China (NRDL) since March
2023. It is also currently under clinical development for multiple
tumor types, including lung, kidney and gastric cancers, as a
single treatment and in combination with other medicines.
In 2011, AstraZeneca and HUTCHMED entered a global
licensing and collaboration agreement to jointly develop and
commercialize ORPATHYS®. Joint development of
ORPATHYS® in China is led by HUTCHMED, while AstraZeneca
leads development outside of China. HUTCHMED is responsible for the
marketing authorization, manufacturing and supply of
ORPATHYS® in China. AstraZeneca is responsible for the
commercialization of ORPATHYS® in China and worldwide.
Sales of ORPATHYS® are recognized by AstraZeneca.
About HUTCHMED
HUTCHMED (Nasdaq/AIM:HCM; HKEX:13) is an innovative,
commercial-stage, biopharmaceutical company. It is committed to the
discovery, global development and commercialization of targeted
therapies and immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and
immunological diseases. Since inception, HUTCHMED has focused on
bringing drug candidates from in-house discovery to patients around
the world, with its first three medicines marketed in China, the
first of which is also approved in the US, Europe and Japan. For
more information, please visit: www.hutch‑med.com or follow us on
LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of
the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These
forward-looking statements reflect HUTCHMED's current expectations
regarding future events, includ-ing its expectations regarding the
thera-peutic potential of savolitinib, the further clinical
develop-ment for savolitinib, its expectations as to whether any
studies on savolitinib would meet their primary or secondary
endpoints, and its expectations as to the timing of the completion
and the release of results from such studies. Forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties. Such risks and
uncertainties include, among other things, assumptions regarding
enrollment rates and the timing and availability of subjects
meeting a study's inclusion and exclusion criteria; changes to
clinical protocols or regulatory requirements; unexpected adverse
events or safety issues; the ability of savolitinib, including as a
combination therapy, to meet the primary or secondary endpoint of a
study, to obtain regulatory approval in other jurisdictions and to
gain commercial acceptance after obtaining regulatory approval; the
potential market of savolitinib for a targeted indication; and
HUTCHMED and/or its partner's ability to fund, implement and
complete its further clinical development and commercialization
plans for savolitinib, and the timing of these events. Existing and
prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date
hereof. For further discussion of these and other risks, see
HUTCHMED's filings with the US Securities and Exchange Commission,
The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited and on AIM. HUTCHMED
undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information
contained in this press release, whether as a result of new
information, future events or circumstances or otherwise.
Medical Information
This press release contains information about
products that may not be available in all countries, or may be
available under different trademarks, for different indications, in
different dosages, or in different strengths. Nothing contained
herein should be considered a solicitation, promotion or
advertisement for any prescription drugs including the ones under
development.
CONTACTS
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+44 7779 545 055 (Mobile)
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+852 9783 6894 (Mobile) /
HUTCHMED@brunswickgroup.com
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Nominated Advisor and Joint Broker
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Crossley / Rupert Dearden
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Vaskina / Arnav Kapoor
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[1] EGFR = epidermal
growth factor receptor; TKI = tyrosine kinase inhibitor.
[4]
Knight SB, et al. Progress
and prospects of early detection in lung cancer. Open Biol. 2017;7(9): 170070.
[5]
Keedy VL, et al. American
Society of Clinical Oncology Provisional Clinical Opinion:
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Mutation Testing for
Patients with Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Considering
First-Line EGFR Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Therapy. J Clin Oncol. 2011:29;2121-27.
[6]
Zhang Y, et al. The
prevalence of EGFR mutation in patients with non-small cell lung
cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Oncotarget. 2016;7(48).
[7]
Szumera-Ciećkiewicz A, et
al. EGFR Mutation Testing on Cytological and Histological
Samples in 11. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: a Polish, Single
Institution Study and Systematic Review of European
Incidence. Int J Clin Exp
Pathol. 2013:6;2800-12.
[8]
Uchikawa E, et al.
Structural basis of the activation of c-MET receptor. Nat Commun. 2021;12(4074).
[9]
Wang Q, et al. MET
inhibitors for targeted therapy of EGFR TKI-resistant lung
cancer. Journal of Hematology
& Oncology. 2019;63.
[10]
Vuong HG, et al.
Clinicopathological implications of MET exon 14 mutations in
non-small cell lung cancer - A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Lung Cancer. 2018; 123:
76-82.
[11]
Soria JC, et al.
Osimertinib in Untreated EGFR-Mutated Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung
Cancer. N Engl J Med.
2018;378(2):113-125.
[12]
Mok TS, et al. Osimertinib
or Platinum-Pemetrexed in EGFR T790M-Positive Lung Cancer.
N Engl J Med.
2017;376(7):629-640.
[13]
Hartmaier R, et al. Tumor
genomics in patients (pts) with advanced epidermal growth factor
receptor mutant (EGFRm) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose
disease has progressed on first-line (1L) osimertinib therapy in
the Phase II ORCHARD study. Cancer
Res 15 June 2022; 82
(12_Supplement): LB078.
[14]
Piotrowska, et al.
MET amplification (amp) as a resistance mechanism to osimertinib.
Journal of Clinical
Oncology 2017 35:15_suppl, 9020-9020.
[15]
Hartmaier, et al.
Detection of MET-mediated EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)
resistance in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC):
biomarker analysis of the TATTON study. Cancer Res (2019) 79 (13_Supplement):
4897.
[16]
Coleman N, et al. Beyond
epidermal growth factor receptor: MET amplification as a general
resistance driver to targeted therapy in oncogene-driven
non-small-cell lung cancer. ESMO
Open. 2019;6(6).