A Study to Assess the Safety and the Efficacy of IV Fosnetupitant/Palonosetron (260 mg/0.25 mg) Combination Compared to Oral Netupitant/Palonosetron (300 mg/0.5 mg) Combination for the Prevention of CINV in AC Chemotherapy in Women With Breast Cancer

Helsinn Healthcare

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 3

Conditions: Chemotherapy-induced Nausea and Vomiting

Treatments: Drug: fosnetupitant/ palonosetron; Drug: dexamethasone; Drug: netupitant/palonosetron

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Industry

Identifiers

NCT03403712

NEPA-17-05

Details and patient eligibility

About

Multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel group, stratified study assessing the safety and describing the efficacy of a single dose of intravenous (IV) fosnetupitant/palonosetron (260 mg/0.25 mg) infusion [test] versus oral netupitant/palonosetron (300 mg/0.5 mg) combination [control]; each administered with oral dexamethasone prior to initial and repeated cycles of AC chemotherapy in female breast cancer patients.

Enrollment: 404 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

Cycle 1:

The following inclusion criteria must be checked prior to inclusion at Cycle 1:

1. Patient read, understood and signed the written informed consent before any study related activity, agreeing to participate in the study and to comply with study requirements.

2. Female patient of at least 8 years of age.

3. Histologically or cytologically confirmed breast cancer, including recurrent or metastatic.

4. Naïve to moderately or highly emetogenic antineoplastic agents.

5. Scheduled to receive at least 4 consecutive cycles of an AC combination regimen.

   Notes:

   1. additional not emetogenic, minimally or low emetogenic antineoplastic agents are permitted at any time after start of AC combination on Day 1.
   2. additional highly or moderately emetogenic antineoplastic agents are only allowed on Day 1 after the start of AC combination, provided their administration is completed within 6 hours from the start of the AC combination administration.

6. ECOG Performance Status of 0 or 1.

7. Patient shall be: a) of non-childbearing potential or b) of childbearing potential using reliable contraceptive measures and having a negative urine pregnancy test within 24 hours prior to dose of investigational product.

   Notes:

   1. Female patients of non-childberaring potential are defined as being in post-menopausal state since at least 1 year; or having documented surgical sterilization or hysterectomy at least 3 months before study participation.
   2. Reliable contraceptive measures include implants, injectables, combined oral contraceptives, intrauterine devices, vasectomized partner or complete (long term) sexual abstinence;

8. Hematologic and metabolic status adequate for receiving a cycle of AC chemotherapy based on investigator's assessment.

9. If the patient has a known hepatic or renal impairment, she may be enrolled in the study at the discretion of the Investigator.

10. Able to read, understand, follow the study procedure and complete the patient diary.

All inclusion criteria will be checked at screening visit (Visit 1 of Cycle 1); inclusion criteria 7 will be re-checked at Day 1 (Visit 2).

Cycles 2 to 4:

The following inclusion criteria must be checked prior to inclusion at each repeated cycle:

1. Participation in the study during the next cycle of chemotherapy is considered appropriate by the Investigator and does not pose unwarranted risk to the patient.
2. Scheduled to receive an AC chemotherapy regimen or AC chemotherapy together with other chemotherapies as defined in Inclusion criterion #5 for Cycle 1.
3. Patient shall be: a) of non-childbearing potential or b) of childbearing potential using reliable contraceptive measures and having a negative urine pregnancy test within 24 hours prior to dosing of investigational product.
4. Adequate hematologic and metabolic status for receiving a cycle of AC chemotherapy according to the Investigator's opinion.

All inclusion criteria will be checked at screening visit (Visit 1); inclusion criterion #3 will be re-checked at Day 1 (Visit 2).

Exclusion criteria

Cycle 1:

The following exclusion criteria must be checked prior to inclusion at Cycle 1:

1. Lactating patient.

2. Current use of illicit drugs or current evidence of alcohol abuse.

3. Scheduled to receive moderately or highly emetogenic antineoplastic agent in addition to the AC regimen, from 6 hours after the start of the AC chemotherapy on Day 1 and up to Day 1 of Cycle 2.

4. Received or is scheduled to receive radiation therapy to the abdomen or the pelvis within 1 week prior to the start of AC chemotherapy administration on Day 1 or between Days 1 to 5, inclusive.

5. Any vomiting, retching, or nausea (grade 1 as defined by National Cancer Institute) within 24 hours prior to the start of AC chemotherapy administration on Day 1.

6. Symptomatic primary or metastatic central nervous system (CNS) malignancy.

7. Active peptic ulcer disease, gastrointestinal obstruction, increased intracranial pressure, hypercalcemia, an active infection or any illness or medical conditions (other than malignancy) that, in the opinion of the Investigator, may confound the results of the study, represent another potential etiology for emesis and nausea (other than chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting [CINV]) or pose unwarranted risks in administering the study drugs to the patient.

8. Known hypersensitivity or contraindication to 5 hydroxytryptamine type 3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonists (e.g., palonosetron, ondansetron, granisetron, dolasetron, tropisetron, ramosetron), to dexamethasone, or to neurokinin-1 (NK1) receptor antagonists (e.g., aprepitant, rolapitant).

9. Known contraindication to the IV administration of 50 mL 5% glucose solution.

10. Participation in a previous clinical trial involving IV fosnetupitant or oral netupitant administered alone or in combination with palonosetron.

11. Any investigational drugs taken within 4 weeks prior to Day 1, and/or is scheduled to receive any investigational drug (other than those planned by the study protocol) during the present study.

12. Systemic corticosteroid therapy within 72 hours prior to the start of AC chemotherapy administration on Day 1, except the dexamethasone provided as additional study drug. However, topical and inhaled corticosteroids are permitted.

13. Scheduled to receive bone marrow transplantation and/or stem cell rescue therapy during the study participation.

14. Other than as administered as part of the study protocol, any medication with known or potential antiemetic activity within 24 hours prior to the start of AC chemotherapy administration on Day 1, including:

    • 5-HT3 receptor antagonists (e.g., ondansetron, granisetron, dolasetron, tropisetron, ramosetron, palonosetron)
    • NK1 receptor antagonists (e.g., aprepitant, fosaprepitant, rolapitant or any other new drug of this class)
    • benzamides (e.g., metoclopramide, alizapride)
    • phenothiazines (e.g., prochlorperazine, promethazine, fluphenazine, perphenazine, thiethylperazine, chlorpromazine)
    • benzodiazepines (except if the subject is receiving such medication for sleep or anxiety and has been on a stable dose for at least seven days prior to Day 1).
    • butyrophenones (e.g., haloperidol, droperidol)
    • anticholinergics (e.g., scopolamine, with the exception of inhaled anticholinergics for respiratory disorders, e.g., ipratropium bromide)
    • antihistamines (e.g., cyclizine, hydroxyzine, diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine)
    • domperidone
    • mirtazapine
    • olanzapine
    • prescribed cannabinoids (e.g., tetrahydrocannabinol or nabilone)
    • Over The Counter (OTC) antiemetics, OTC cold or OTC allergy medications.

15. Scheduled to receive any strong or moderate inhibitor of CYP3A4 during the efficacy assessment period (Day 1 to Day 5, inclusive) or its intake within 1 week prior to Day 1.

16. Scheduled to receive any CYP3A4 inducer during the efficacy assessment period (Day 1 to Day 5, inclusive) or its intake within 4 weeks prior to Day 1, with the exception of corticosteroids (for which exclusion criterion #12 applies).

17. History or predisposition to cardiac conduction abnormalities, except for incomplete right bundle branch block.

18. History of risk factors for Torsades de Pointes (heart failure, hypokalemia, family history of Long QT Syndrome).

19. Severe or uncontrolled cardiovascular diseases, including myocardial infarction within 3 months prior to Day 1, unstable angina pectoris, significant valvular or pericardial disease, history of ventricular tachycardia, symptomatic Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III-IV, and severe uncontrolled arterial hypertension.

All exclusion criteria with the exception of criteria #5, #12, and #14 will be checked at screening visit (Visit 1). Exclusion criteria #5, #12, and #14 will be checked at Day 1 (Visit 2) only.

Exclusion criteria #3, #4, #7, #11, #13, #15, and #16 need to be re-checked at Day 1 (Visit 2).

Cycles 2 to 4:

The following exclusion criteria must be checked prior to inclusion at each repeated cycle:

1. Scheduled to receive moderately or highly emetogenic antineoplastic agent in addition to the AC regimen, from 6 hours after the start of the AC chemotherapy on Day 1 of current cycle and up to Day 1 of the next cycle.
2. Active infection or uncontrolled disease that may pose unwarranted risks in administering the study drugs to the patient.
3. Started any of the prohibited medications.
4. Any vomiting, retching, or nausea (grade ≥ 1 as defined by National Cancer Institute) within 24 hours prior to the start of AC chemotherapy administration on Day 1.
5. Received or is scheduled to receive radiation therapy to the abdomen or the pelvis within 1 week prior to the start of AC chemotherapy administration on Day 1 or between Days 1 to 5.
6. Symptomatic primary or metastatic CNS malignancy.
7. Any illness or medical condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, may confound the results of the study or pose unwarranted risks in administering the investigational product or dexamethasone to the patient.

All exclusion criteria, with exception of criterion #4, will be checked at screening visit (Visit 1). Exclusion criterion #4 will be checked at Day 1 (Visit 2) only. Exclusion criteria #2, #3 and #5 need to be re-checked at Day 1 (Visit 2).

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Quadruple Blind

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404 participants in 2 patient groups

Test group

Experimental group

Description:

intravenous fosnetupitant/ palonosetron (260 mg/0.25 mg) fixed-dose combination, administered as a 30-minute infusion of a 50 mL solution, on Day 1 of each cycle. Oral dexamethasone will be administered on Day 1 of each cycle (12 mg)

Treatment:

Drug: dexamethasone

Drug: fosnetupitant/ palonosetron

Control group

Active Comparator group

Description:

oral netupitant/palonosetron (300 mg/0.50 mg) fixed-dose combination on Day 1 of each cycle. Oral dexamethasone will be administered on Day 1 of each cycle (12 mg)

Treatment:

Drug: netupitant/palonosetron

Drug: dexamethasone