- An interim analysis of a Phase 3 clinical trial comparing Amgen's (NASDAQ:AMGN) Kyprolis (carfilzomib) to Takeda's (OTCPK:TKPHF) (TKPYY) Velcade (bortezomib) in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma (MM) met its primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS).
- Patients treated with carfilzomib plus dexamethasone lived twice as long (median PFS: 18.7 months) as those treated with bortezomib plus dexamethasone (median PFS: 9.4 months).
- The carfilzomib cohort also demonstrated superiority over bortezomib in the secondary endpoints of higher overall response rate and lower neuropathy events. Investigators continue to monitor overall survival (OS) data because it is not yet mature.
- Full data will be submitted for presentation at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting, May 29 - June 2, in Chicago.
- Velcade is ranked in the top 50 of the best-selling drugs in the world, generating $2.7B in sales in 2013. The FDA approved it in 2003 for progressive MM after previous treatment, in 2005 as a second-line treatment for MM and in 2008 as a first-line treatment of MM.
- The FDA approved Kyprolis in July 2012 for the treatment of patients with MM who have received at least two prior therapies, including bortezomib and an immunomodulatory agent.