MedImmune, AstraZeneca’s global biologics R&D arm, have been informed by partner Celgene that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has placed a partial clinical hold on five trials and a full clinical hold on one trial in the Celgene FUSION programme.
The trials are testing Imfinzi (durvalumab), an anti-PD-L1 agent, in combination with immunomodulatory agents, with or without chemotherapy, in blood cancers such as multiple myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukaemia and lymphoma.
The decision by the FDA was based on risks identified in other trials for an anti-PD-1 agent, pembrolizumab, in patients with multiple myeloma in combination with immunomodulatory agents. No imbalance has been observed in the FUSION programme; however, the clinical holds allow for additional information to be collected to further understand the risk benefit profile of the programme. The FDA has taken similar action with other combination trials in patients with multiple myeloma.
Patients enrolled in the trials on partial clinical hold who are receiving clinical benefit from treatment may remain on treatment. Patients enrolled in the trial on full clinical hold will be discontinued from treatment. No new patients will be enrolled into the listed trials.
Other trials with Imfinziin haematological malignancies and other tumour types continue unchanged
In April 2015, Celgene entered into a strategic collaboration with MedImmune to develop and commercialise durvalumab for haematologic malignancies. The use of durvalumab in combination with other agents for the treatment of patients with haematologic malignancies is not approved by the FDA, and the safety and efficacy of those combinations have not been established.
