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Colorectal Cancer
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my personal edition > colorectal cancer > news
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DGNews
FDA Grants Priority Review to Eloxatin (Oxaliplatin) for First-Line Treatment of Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
PARIS, FRANCE -- September 17, 2003 -- Sanofi-Synthelabo announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted a six-month priority review to EloxatinŽ (oxaliplatin), for the 1st line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC).
The supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Eloxatin in this indication had been submitted on July 11, 2003 in the United States. The filing for this new indication was based on a NCI-sponsored trial, N 9741. The trial was coordinated by the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (NCCTG). Patients receiving the FOLFOX regimen (oxaliplatin + 5-FU/LV) versus the IFL regimen (irinotecan + 5-FU/LV), have a statistically significant improvement in terms of response rate (RR), progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and safety profile. The overall survival was 19.5 months with the FOLFOX regimen versus 14.8 months with the IFL regimen (p = 0.0001) giving an improvement of 4.7 months in favor of oxaliplatin-based treatment, representing a survival gain of more than 30%.
Further development in colorectal cancer
In addition to these important results, new data were also presented at the 39th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), in June 2003, in adjuvant treatment following surgery, the early stage of the disease -- MOSAIC study. In patients receiving oxaliplatin in addition to the current post surgery standard chemotherapy, 5-Fluorouracil/Leucovorin (5-FU/LV), for colon cancer the risk of recurrence was reduced by 23% vs. current standard treatment alone. The filing in the United States and in Europe for the adjuvant treatment of colorectal cancer should occur in the second half of the year 2003.
About Colorectal Cancer
About one million new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed worldwide every year, and about 150,000 new cases in the U.S. According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of malignancy-related death in the U.S., accounting for 10 to 15% of all cancer death. Over a lifetime, about one in 18 people develop colorectal cancer, and, each year, about 56,000 people die from it in the U.S.
About EloxatinŽ
Eloxatin is currently marketed by Sanofi-Synthelabo in more than 60 countries for 1st and/or 2nd line metastatic colorectal cancer and is becoming a cornerstone drug in the therapeutic strategies for all stages of this disease, including early stages. Moreover an extensive worldwide clinical development program is ongoing to explore the benefit of Eloxatin in other types of cancers, primarily gastric and pancreatic cancer. Global sales of Eloxatin for the first semester 2003 reached EUR 384 million. Oxaliplatin was developed in association with Debiopharm S.A.
About Eloxatin in the United States
In the US, Eloxatin (oxaliplatin for injection) is approved for use in combination with infusional 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV), and is currently indicated for the treatment of patients with metastatic carcinoma of the colon or rectum whose disease has recurred or progressed during or within six months of completion of first-line therapy with the combination of bolus 5-FU/LV and irinotecan. The approval of Eloxatin was based on the response rate and time to tumor progression observed in an ongoing trial. Data that demonstrate a clinical benefit, such as improvement of disease-related symptoms or increased survival were not available at approval.
Eloxatin is a chemotherapeutic cancer agent and as such should be administered under the supervision of a qualified physician experienced in the use of such products.
Eloxatin should not be administered to patients with a history of known allergy to Eloxatin or other platinum compounds. Women of childbearing potential should be advised not to become pregnant while receiving treatment with Eloxatin. As with other platinum compounds, hypersensitivity and anaphylactic/anaphylactoid reactions have been reported. Eloxatin is associated with pulmonary toxicity, which may be fatal and two distinct types of primarily peripheral sensory neuropathies: an acute, reversible type of early onset and a persistent type (>14 days). An acute syndrome of pharyngolaryngeal dysesthesia seen in 1-2% of patients characterized by subjective sensations of dysphagia or dyspnea, without any laryngospasm or bronchospasm (no stridor or wheezing) may also occur.
Both 5-FU and Eloxatin are associated with gastrointestinal and hematologic adverse events. When Eloxatin is administered in combination with 5-FU, the incidence of these events is increased. The most frequently reported adverse events with Eloxatin in combination with infusional 5-FU/LV are acute neuropathy (56%), persistent neuropathy (48%), fatigue (68%), diarrhea (67%), nausea (65%) and vomiting (40%). Changes in hematology parameters were also seen: anemia (81%), leukopenia (76%), neutropenia (73%), and thrombocytopenia (64%).
Full prescribing information including boxed warning is available through http://www.eloxatin.com.
SOURCE: Sanofi-Synthelabo
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