Press Release
HUTCHMED to Receive First Commercial Milestone Payment Following Over US$200 Million in FRUZAQLA® (fruquintinib) Sales by Takeda
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Takeda delivered
"The achievement of
About CRC
CRC is a cancer that starts in either the colon or rectum. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer/World Health Organization, CRC is the third most prevalent cancer worldwide, associated with more than 1.9 million new cases and 900,000 deaths in 2022. In the US, it is estimated that 153,000 patients will be diagnosed with CRC and 53,000 deaths from the disease will occur in 2024.[1] In
About Fruquintinib Approvals
Global regulatory submissions are based on data from two large, randomized, controlled Phase III trials, the global, multi-regional FRESCO-2 trial and the FRESCO trial conducted in
In mainland
About Fruquintinib
Fruquintinib is a selective oral inhibitor of all three VEGF receptors (VEGFR-1, -2 and -3). VEGFR inhibitors play a pivotal role in inhibiting tumor angiogenesis. Fruquintinib was designed to have enhanced selectivity that limits off-target kinase activity, allowing for drug exposure that achieves sustained target inhibition and flexibility for potential use as part of a combination therapy.
About HUTCHMED
HUTCHMED (Nasdaq/AIM:HCM; HKEX:13) is an innovative, commercial-stage, biopharmaceutical company. It is committed to the discovery and global development and commercialization of targeted therapies and immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer and immunological diseases. It has approximately 5,000 personnel across all its companies, at the center of which is a team of about 1,800 in oncology/immunology. Since inception it has focused on bringing cancer drug candidates from in‑house discovery to patients around the world, with its first three medicines marketed in
E.U. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Please consult the FRUZAQLA (fruquintinib) Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) before prescribing.
Guidance for use: FRUZAQLA should be initiated by a physician experienced in the administration of anticancer therapy. Patients should be given the package leaflet.
CONTRAINDICATIONS: Hypersensitivity to the active substance or to any of the excipients.
SPECIAL POPULATIONS: Renal impairment: No dose adjustment is required for patients with mild, moderate, or severe renal impairment; Hepatic impairment: No dose adjustment is required for patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment. FRUZAQLA is not recommended for use in patients with severe hepatic impairment as FRUZAQLA has not been studied in this population; Elderly: No dose adjustment is required in patients aged 65 years or above; Pediatric population: There is no relevant use of FRUZAQLA in the pediatric population for the indication of metastatic colorectal cancer; Women of childbearing potential / Contraception in females: Women of childbearing potential should be advised to use highly effective contraception during treatment and for at least 2 weeks following the last dose of FRUZAQLA; Pregnancy: There are no clinical data available on the use of FRUZAQLA in pregnant women. Based on its mechanism of action, FRUZAQLA has the potential to cause fetal harm. Animal studies have shown reproductive toxicity, including fetal malformations. FRUZAQLA should not be used during pregnancy unless the clinical condition of the woman requires treatment with FRUZAQLA. If FRUZAQLA is used during pregnancy or if the patient becomes pregnant while on treatment, the patient must be informed of the potential hazard to the fetus; Breast-feeding: The safe use of FRUZAQLA during breast-feeding has not been established. It is not known whether FRUZAQLA or its metabolites are excreted in human milk. There are no animal data on the excretion of FRUZAQLA in animal milk. A risk to the breastfeeding newborns/infants cannot be excluded. Breastfeeding should be discontinued during treatment and for 2 weeks after the last dose; Fertility: There are no data on the effects of FRUZAQLA on human fertility. Results from animal studies indicate that FRUZAQLA may impair male and female fertility.
SPECIAL WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS FOR USE
· Hypertension: Hypertension, including hypertensive crisis, has been reported in patients treated with FRUZAQLA. Pre-existing hypertension should be monitored and adequately controlled in accordance with standard medical practices before starting FRUZAQLA treatment.
Hypertension should be medically managed with antihypertensive medicinal products and adjustment of the FRUZAQLA dose, if necessary. FRUZAQLA should be permanently discontinued for hypertension that cannot be controlled with antihypertensive therapy or in patients with hypertensive crisis.
· Hemorrhagic events: Hemorrhagic events have been reported in patients treated with FRUZAQLA, including gastrointestinal (GI) tract events. Serious and sometimes fatal bleeding events have been reported in patients after treatment with FRUZAQLA.
Hematologic and coagulation profiles should be monitored in accordance with standard medical practices in patients at risk for bleeding, including those treated with anticoagulants or other concomitant medicinal products that increase the risk of bleeding. In the event of severe bleeding requiring immediate medical intervention, FRUZAQLA should be permanently discontinued.
· Gastrointestinal perforation: GI perforation events, including fatal events, have been reported in patients treated with FRUZAQLA.
Symptoms of GI perforation should be periodically monitored during treatment with FRUZAQLA.
FRUZAQLA should be permanently discontinued in patients developing GI perforation.
· Proteinuria: Proteinuria events have occurred in patients treated with FRUZAQLA.
Proteinuria should be monitored before initiation and during treatment with FRUZAQLA in accordance with standard medical practices. If urine dipstick proteinuria ≥ 2 g / 24 hours is detected, dose interruptions, adjustments, or discontinuation may be necessary. FRUZAQLA should be permanently discontinued in patients developing nephrotic syndrome.
· Palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome (PPES): PPES is the most frequently reported dermato-logical adverse reaction.
If Grade ≥2 skin reactions are detected, dose interruptions, adjustments, or discontinuation may be necessary.
· Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES): PRES has been reported in 1 patient (0.1%) treated with FRUZAQLA in clinical studies. PRES is a rare neurologic disorder that can present with headache, seizure, lethargy, confusion, altered mental function, blindness, and other visual or neurological disturbances, with or without associated hypertension. A diagnosis of PRES requires confirmation by brain imaging, preferably magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In patients developing PRES, discontinuation of FRUZAQLA, along with control of hypertension and supportive medical management of other symptoms, are recommended.
· Impaired wound healing: Impaired wound healing has been reported in 1 patient (0.1%) treated with FRUZAQLA in clinical studies.
Patients are recommended to withhold FRUZAQLA for at least 2 weeks prior to surgery. FRUZAQLA should not be resumed for at least 2 weeks after surgery, as clinically indicated when there is evidence of adequate wound healing.
· Arterial and venous thromboembolic events: It is recommended to avoid starting treatment with FRUZAQLA in patients with a history of thromboembolic events (including deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) within the past 6 months or if they have a history of stroke and/or transient ischemic attack within the last 12 months. If arterial thrombosis is suspected, FRUZAQLA should be discontinued immediately.
INTERACTIONS
Effects of other medicinal products on the pharmacokinetics of FRUZAQLA
CYP3A inducers
Co-administration of FRUZAQLA with rifampicin (a strong CYP3A inducer) 600 mg once daily decreased FRUZAQLA AUCinf by 65% and decreased Cmax by 12%. The concomitant use of FRUZAQLA with strong and moderate CYP3A inducers should be avoided.
CYP3A inhibitors
Co-administration of FRUZAQLA with itraconazole (a strong CYP3A inhibitor) 200 mg twice daily did not result in clinically meaningful changes in the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) and Cmax of FRUZAQLA. No dose adjustment of FRUZAQLA is needed during concomitant use with CYP3A inhibitors.
Gastric acid lowering agents
Co-administration of FRUZAQLA with rabeprazole (a proton pump inhibitor) 40 mg once daily did not result in clinically meaningful changes in the AUC of FRUZAQLA. No dose adjustment of FRUZAQLA is needed during concomitant use with gastric acid lowering agents.
Effect of FRUZAQLA on the pharmacokinetics of other medicinal products
Medicinal products that are substrates of P-glycoprotein (P-gp)
Co-administration of a single dose of dabigatran etexilate 150 mg (a P-gp substrate) with a single dose of FRUZAQLA 5 mg decreased AUC of dabigatran by 9%. No dose adjustment is recommended for P-gp substrates during concomitant use with FRUZAQLA.
Medicinal products that are substrates of breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP)
Co-administration of a single 10 mg dose of rosuvastatin (a BCRP substrate) with a single 5 mg dose of FRUZAQLA decreased AUC of rosuvastatin by 19%. No dose adjustment is recommended for BCRP substrates during concomitant use with FRUZAQLA.
UNDESIRABLE EFFECTS: The most commonly reported adverse reactions with FRUZAQLA are:
Very common (frequency ≥1/10) |
Thrombocytopenia, hypothyroidism, anorexia, hypertension, dysphonia, diarrhoea, stomatitis, aspartate aminotransferase increased, total bilirubin increased, alanine aminotransferase increased, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome, musculoskeletal discomfort, arthralgia, proteinuria, asthenia, and fatigue |
Common (≥1/100 to <1/10) |
Pneumonia, upper respiratory tract infection, bacterial infections, leukopenia, neutropenia, hypokalemia, epistaxis, throat pain, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, gastrointestinal perforation, pancreatic enzymes increased, oral pain, rash, and mucosal inflammation |
For US Prescribing Information:
https://www.fruzaqla.com/sites/default/files/resources/fruzaqla-prescribing-information.pdf
For Japan Prescribing Information:
https://www.pmda.go.jp/PmdaSearch/iyakuDetail/ResultDataSetPDF/400256_42910H0M1028_1_01
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward‑looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the US Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements reflect HUTCHMED's current expectations regarding future events, including but not limited to, its expectations regarding the receipt of the milestone payment, the therapeutic potential of fruquintinib for the treatment of such patients with CRC and the further clinical development of fruquintinib in this and other indications. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Such risks and uncertainties include, among other things, assumptions regarding the sufficiency of clinical data to support approval of fruquintinib for the treatment of patients with CRC or other indications in other jurisdictions such as
Medical Information
This press release contains information about products that may not be available in all countries, or may be available under different trademarks, for different indications, in different dosages, or in different strengths. Nothing contained herein should be considered a solicitation, promotion or advertisement for any prescription drugs including the ones under development.
CONTACTS
Investor Enquiries |
+852 2121 8200 / ir@hutch-med.com |
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Media Enquiries |
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Ben Atwell / Alex Shaw, FTI Consulting |
+44 20 3727 1030 / +44 7771 913 902 (Mobile) / +44 7779 545 055 (Mobile) / HUTCHMED@fticonsulting.com |
Zhou Yi, Brunswick |
+852 9783 6894 (Mobile) / HUTCHMED@brunswickgroup.com |
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Nominated Advisor |
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Atholl Tweedie / Freddy Crossley / Rupert Dearden, Panmure Liberum |
+44 (20) 7886 2500 |
[1] American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2024.
[2] Bray F, et al. Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 Countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2024;74(3):229-263. doi:10.3322/caac.21834.
[3] Ferlay J, et al. Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today.
[4] Bando H, et al. Therapeutic landscape and future direction of metastatic colorectal cancer. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 20(5)306‑322. doi:10.1038/s41575‑022‑00736‑1.
[5] D'Haene N, et al. Clinical application of targeted next‑generation sequencing for colorectal cancer patients: a multicentric Belgian experience. Oncotarget. 2018;9(29):20761‑20768. Published 2018 Apr 17. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.25099.
[6] Venderbosch S, et al. Mismatch repair status and BRAF mutation status in metastatic colorectal cancer patients: A pooled analysis of the
[7] Koopman M, et al. Deficient mismatch repair system in patients with sporadic advanced colorectal cancer. Br J Cancer. 2009;100(2), 266-273. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6604867.
[8] Ahcene Djaballah S, et al. HER2 in Colorectal Cancer: The Long and Winding Road From Negative Predictive Factor to Positive Actionable Target. Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book. 2022;42:1‑14. doi:10.1200/EDBK_351354.
[9] Dasari NA, et al. Fruquintinib versus placebo in patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (FRESCO‑2): an international, multicentre, randomised, double‑blind, Phase III study. Lancet. 2023;402(10395):41‑53. doi:10.1016/S0140‑6736(23)00772‑9.
[10] Li J, et al. Effect of Fruquintinib vs Placebo on Overall Survival in Patients With Previously Treated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: The FRESCO Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2018;319(24):2486-2496. DOI:10.1001/jama.2018.7855.
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