HEMEL HEMPSTEAD, England – 12 February 2018
EUSA Pharma (EUSA), today announced that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published a Final Appraisal Determination (FAD) recommending tivozanib as a first-line treatment option for advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC) in line with its licensed indication. Tivozanib was licensed by the European Commission (EC) in August 20171 and is an oral, once-daily, potent selective vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (VEGFR-TKI). VEGFR-TKIs work by reducing the supply of blood to the tumour – denying it the food and oxygen it would need to grow in size.2
In arriving at its positive recommendation, NICE considered data from the global, open-label, randomised, multi-centre Phase III trial (TiVO-1)3 which evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of tivozanib compared to a currently available comparator VEGFR-TKI (sorafenib) in the treatment of 517 patients with aRCC. Patients treated with tivozanib experienced superior progression-free survival (PFS) (11.9 vs. 9.1 months in the overall population and 12.7 vs. 9.1 months in treatment naïve patients) versus sorafenib.3 There was also an improved side effect profile with tivozanib, with only 14% (versus 43% with sorafenib) requiring a dose reduction due to adverse events (AEs).3 In addition, fewer people on tivozanib experienced burdensome side effects, such as diarrhoea (23% vs. 33%), and hand-foot syndrome (14% vs 54%).3
Dr Lisa Pickering, Consultant Medical Oncologist at St George’s Hospital, London, commented: This is excellent news for patients with aRCC. A key treatment goal is to enable patients to live without their cancer progressing for longer periods of time – we cannot cure their cancer but we can help to preserve normal living for as long as possible. That is why I’m delighted that NICE has recommended tivozanib as a treatment option.”
Around 12 people in the UK die every day of kidney cancer, with more than 40% of cases in England diagnosed at a late (advanced) stage. Kidney cancer is expected to be one of the fastest increasing cancers over the next 10 years, as a result of the UK’s ageing population, and with smoking and a rise in obesity also playing a part.4
Nick Turkentine, Chief Executive of Kidney Cancer UK, said: “With over 12,500 new cases of kidney cancer being diagnosed every year this is a great result for people with aRCC and the overall fight with the disease. It is vitally important patients have access to effective, well-tolerated treatments, so they can spend more precious time with their families and loved ones. We applaud EUSA Pharma, NICE and NHS England for making this happen.”
Patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC) who may benefit from treatment with tivozanib will be able to access it from today as the final guidance is published, and should be able to have immediate access through the CDF.
Lee Morley, EUSA Pharma’s Chief Executive Officer commented “We are very pleased that NICE are recommending the use of Fotivda for the first line treatment of advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma and that Fotivda will be funded immediately in England and Wales, meaning physicians and patients can experience the benefits of Fotivda. Fotivda has the potential to become an important new first-line therapy and the recommendation by NICE is a great achievement for the EUSA team delivering on their mission to improve the lives of those patients suffering from cancer.”
-ENDS-
NOTES TO EDITORS
About tivozanib and renal cell carcinoma (RCC)
Kidney cancer is the seventh most common cancer in the UK, accounting for 3% of all new cancer cases. RCC is the most common form of kidney cancer, accounting for 80% of cases.5 In 2014 there were around 4,400 kidney cancer deaths in the UK, that’s 12 deaths every day. Kidney cancer is expected to be one of the fastest increasing cancers over the next ten years, as a result of the UK’s ageing population, with smoking and a rise in obesity also playing a part.4
An over-expression of VEGF protein, and a resulting increase in tumour blood supply (angiogenesis), is a common feature of RCC.3 VEGFR-TKIs reduce the supply of blood to the tumour and are the recommended first-line treatment for advanced RCC in Europe, however, patients often experience significant side effects, including fatigue, diarrhoea, and hand-foot syndrome.
In the global Phase III trial (TiVO-1)3 of over 500 patients with advanced RCC, tivozanib demonstrated a significant PFS benefit versus sorafenib (11.9 vs. 9.1 months in the overall patient population [HR, 0.797; 95% CI, 0.639 to 0.993; P =.042], and 12.7 vs. 9.1 months in treatment-naïve patients [HR, 0.756; 95% CI, 0.580 to 0.985; P =.037]).3 There was also an improved side-effect profile versus sorafenib, with significantly fewer patients on tivozanib (14% versus 43%) requiring a dose reduction due to AEs. Hypertension (44%) and dysphonia (21%) were the most commonly reported AEs on tivozanib.3
Under EUSA Pharma’s licence agreement with AVEO PHARMACEUTICALS, INC, announced in December 2015, the company holds exclusive commercialisation rights to tivozanib in RCC in Europe and in a number of other territories outside North America, including South America and South Africa. Under the terms of the agreement, EUSA Pharma will undertake and fund the commercialisation of the product in its territories, assuming licensing. AVEO PHARMACEUTICALS, INC retains the rights to commercialise the product in North America. Tivozanib was discovered by Kyowa Hakko Kirin.
About EUSA Pharma
Founded in March 2015, EUSA Pharma is a specialty pharmaceutical company with a focus on oncology and oncology supportive care. The company has commercial operations in the US and Europe, and a wider distribution network in approximately 40 countries around the world. EUSA Pharma is led by an experienced management team with a strong record of building successful specialty pharmaceutical companies, and is supported by significant funding raised from leading life science investor EW Healthcare Partners.
For more information visit www.eusapharma.com.
About AVEO
AVEO PHARMACEUTICALS, INC is a biopharmaceutical company that is focused on developing and commercialising its lead candidate tivozanib, a potent, selective, long half-life inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor, 1, 2 and 3 receptors, in North America as a treatment for renal cell carcinoma. AVEO is leveraging multiple partnerships to develop and commercialise tivozanib in non-oncologic indications worldwide and oncology indications outside of North America. For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.aveooncology.com.
Contacts
Lee Morley
Chief Executive
EUSA Pharma
Tel +44 (0) 330 5001140
References
http://ec.europa.eu/health/documents/community-register/index_en.htm
Cancer Research UK. General cancer information: Drugs that block cancer blood vessel growth (anti angiogenics). Available at: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancer-in-general/treatment/biological-therapy/types/anti-angiogenics. Last accessed September 2017
Motzer R.J; Nosov D et al. Tivozanib Versus Sorafenib As Initial Targeted Therapy for Patients With Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma: Results From a Phase III Trial. Journal of Clinical Oncology. Volume 31. 2013: 30:3791
Cancer Research UK. Kidney cancer rates are increasing, so what’s fuelling the surge? Available at: http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2017/04/24/kidney-cancer-rates-are-increasing-so-whats-fuelling-the-surge/. Last accessed September 2017
Escudier B; Porta C et al. Renal cell carcinoma: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Annals of Oncology 27 (Supplement 5). 2016: v58–v68. Available at: http://www.esmo.org/Guidelines/Genitourinary-Cancers/Renal-Cell-Carcinoma. Last accessed September 2017.