- Second randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial confirms multi-lineage myelopreservation benefits of trilaciclib in first-line small cell lung cancer (1L SCLC)
- Statistically significant improvements in both primary endpoints of occurrence of Grade 4 neutropenia and duration of Grade 4 neutropenia in cycle 1; statistically significant reduction in Grade 4 thrombocytopenia and clinically meaningful reduction in red blood cell transfusions
- Management to host webcast and conference call today at 4:30 p.m. ET
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Nov. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — G1 Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: GTHX), a clinical-stage oncology company, today announced positive topline data from its randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial evaluating trilaciclib in combination with chemotherapy and the checkpoint inhibitor Tecentriq® (atezolizumab) as a treatment for 1L SCLC. Trilaciclib is a first-in-class myelopreservation therapy designed to improve outcomes of patients who receive chemotherapy by preserving hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) and immune system function.
“The robust multi-lineage myelopreservation benefits of trilaciclib shown in this trial confirm the results we observed in our earlier trial in first-line small cell lung cancer,” said Raj Malik, M.D., Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President, R&D. “Trilaciclib may also extend overall survival in patients receiving chemotherapy and Tecentriq, and we expect to report those data when available.”
Key Multi-Lineage Myelopreservation Findings
Data from this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2 trial demonstrated that trilaciclib reduced clinically relevant consequences of myelosuppression versus placebo when administered in combination with chemotherapy (etoposide and carboplatin) and Tecentriq across three lineages: neutrophils, red blood cells (RBCs) and platelets. Lymphocyte subset analyses are ongoing. Trilaciclib was well tolerated, with no Grade 4 trilaciclib-related treatment emergent adverse events (TEAEs) reported.
Key hematological results from the trilaciclib/chemotherapy/Tecentriq trial are shown in the table below, along with data from the company’s previously reported Phase 2 trial that evaluated trilaciclib in combination with the same chemotherapy regimen for treatment of 1L SCLC.
| Endpoint | Trilaciclib or Placebo + Chemo/Tecentriq | Trilaciclib or Placebo + Chemo | ||||||||||
| Placebo N=53 |
Trilaciclib N=54 |
% Reduction |
P-value | Placebo N=37 |
Trilaciclib N=38 |
% Reduction |
P-value | |||||
| Neutrophils | Mean duration in days of severe neutropenia in cycle 1 (SD)* |
4 (4.7) |
0 (1.0) |
100.0 | % | <0.0001** | 3 (3.9) |
0 (0.5) |
100.0 | % | 0.0003 | |
| Pts w Grade 4 neutropenia* | 26 (49.1%) |
1 (1.9%) |
96.1 | % | <0.0001** | 16 (43.2%) |
2 (5.3%) |
87.7 | % | 0.0001 | ||
| Pts w G-CSF administration | 25 (47.2%) |
16 (29.6%) |
37.3 | % | 0.0686 | 24 (64.9%) |
4 (10.5%) |
83.8 | % | <0.0001 | ||
| Number of G-CSF administrations per cycle | 0.28 | 0.149 | 46.8 | % | 0.0135 | 0.44 | 0.07 | 84.1 | % | <0.0001 | ||
| Pts w febrile neutropenia | 3 (5.7%) |
1 (1.9%) |
66.7 | % | 0.3105 | 3 (8.1%) |
1 (2.6%) |
67.9 | % | 0.2773 | ||
| RBCs | Pts w Grade 3/4 anemia | 15 (28.3%) |
10 (18.5%) |
34.6 | % | 0.3243 | 7 (18.9%) |
4 (10.5%) |
44.4 | % | 0.2879 | |
| RBC transfusions on/after 5 weeks on study | 11 (20.8%) |
7 (13.0%) |
37.5 | % | 0.2671 | 8 (21.6%) |
2 (5.7%) |
73.6 | % | 0.0615 | ||
| Platelets | Pts w Grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia | 20 (37.7%) |
1 (1.9%) |
95.0 | % | 0.0026 | 5 (13.5%) |
4 (10.5%) |
22.2 | % | 0.6888 | |
| Pts w Grade 4 thrombocytopenia | 9 (17.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
100.0 | % | 0.0017 | 0 (0.0%) |
0 (0.0%) |
NE | NE | |||
| Pts w chemo dose reductions | 14 (26.4%) |
3 (5.6%) |
78.8 | % | 0.0127 | 13 (35.1%) |
3 (7.9%) |
77.5 | % | 0.0033 | ||
| Pts w Grade 3/4 hematologic TEAEs | 38 (71.7%) |
19 (36.5%)+ |
49.1 | % | 0.0016 | 27 (73.0%) |
9 (23.7%) |
67.5 | % | <0.0001 | ||
* Primary endpoint in trilaciclib/chemotherapy/Tecentriq trial
** Adjusted for multiplicity with one-sided significance level set at 0.025 by design; all other p-values are two-sided
+ 52 patients were included in the safety population; 2 randomized patients did not receive treatment
Preliminary Anti-Tumor Efficacy Findings
Trilaciclib’s potential to preserve immune system function during chemotherapy may enhance overall survival (OS) in this trial. OS data are immature and will be reported when available.
There was no statistical difference between the trilaciclib and placebo groups in overall response rate (ORR) (trilaciclib 56.0%, placebo 63.5%) and median duration of response (DOR) (trilaciclib 5.2 months, placebo 4.2 months). Preliminary median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.7 months for trilaciclib versus 5.4 months for placebo (hazard ratio 0.74, p=0.3025; less than 80% of events).
“We now have positive myelopreservation results from two randomized trials of trilaciclib in first-line small cell lung cancer, and later this year will report findings from two additional trials in different indications, metastatic triple-negative breast cancer and second-/third-line small cell lung cancer,” said Mark Velleca, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer. “We plan to request meetings with U.S. and European regulatory agencies in early 2019 to discuss the totality of our clinical data and potential pathways to approval.”
Trial Design
This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled participants with a confirmed diagnosis of extensive-stage 1L SCLC. The trial randomized 107 treatment-naïve patients in a 1:1 ratio. Patients with ECOG Performance Status of 0-2 and asymptomatic brain metastases were eligible. All patients received a chemotherapy regimen of etoposide and carboplatin plus the checkpoint inhibitor Tecentriq (up to four cycles), followed by Tecentriq maintenance therapy. Patients were randomized to receive trilaciclib or placebo administered intravenously prior to each dose of chemotherapy.
Participants in both trial arms were able to receive standard supportive care as recommended by the clinical investigator. Growth factors, including granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and erythropoietin, were available per American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines.
About Trilaciclib
Trilaciclib is a first-in-class myelopreservation therapy designed to improve outcomes of patients who receive chemotherapy by preserving hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) and immune system function. Trilaciclib is a short-acting intravenous CDK4/6 inhibitor administered prior to chemotherapy.
Trilaciclib is being evaluated in four randomized Phase 2 clinical trials. G1 has reported positive results from two of these trials, showing myelopreservation benefits in newly diagnosed, treatment-naive SCLC patients. In the first trial, trilaciclib was administered in combination with a chemotherapy regimen of etoposide and carboplatin (NCT02499770); topline data were released in March and additional data were reported at the European Society of Medical Oncology 2018 Congress. In the second trial, trilaciclib was administered in combination with the same chemotherapy regimen and the checkpoint inhibitor Tecentriq® (atezolizumab) (NCT03041311); topline data were reported in November. The company plans to report data from two other randomized Phase 2 trials in 2018. Results from a trial in combination with chemotherapy in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (NCT02978716) will be presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium on December 5, 2018. The company plans to release topline data from a trial in combination with chemotherapy in previously treated SCLC (NCT02514447) by the end of 2018.
Webcast and Conference Call
The management team will host a webcast and conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET today to provide an overview of the trial findings and next steps for the trilaciclib development program. The live call may be accessed by dialing 866-763-6020 (domestic) or 210-874-7713 (international) and entering the conference code: 4156078. A live and archived webcast will be available on the Events & Presentations page of the company’s website: www.g1therapeutics.com.
About G1 Therapeutics
G1 Therapeutics, Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and delivery of innovative therapies that improve the lives of those affected by cancer. The company is advancing three clinical-stage programs, trilaciclib, lerociclib and G1T48, that are designed to enable more effective combination treatment strategies and improve patient outcomes across multiple oncology indications.
G1 is based in Research Triangle Park, NC. For additional information, please visit www.g1therapeutics.com and follow us on Twitter @G1Therapeutics.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend” and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, the therapeutic potential of trilaciclib, lerociclib and G1T48, and are based on the Company’s expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties. Factors that may cause the Company’s actual results to differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements in this press release are discussed in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the “Risk Factors” sections contained therein and include, but are not limited to, the Company’s ability to complete clinical trials for, obtain approvals for and commercialize any of its product candidates; the Company’s initial success in ongoing clinical trials may not be indicative of results obtained when these trials are completed or in later stage trials; the inherent uncertainties associated with developing new products or technologies and operating as a development-stage company; the Company’s development of a CDK4/6 inhibitor to reduce chemotherapy-induced myelosuppression is novel, unproven and rapidly evolving and may never lead to a marketable product; and market conditions. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in expectations, even as new information becomes available.
Contact:
Jeff Macdonald
Head of Investor Relations/Public Relations
919-213-9835
jmacdonald@g1therapeutics.com