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The efficacy and safety of KYMRIAH® (tisagenlecleucel) was established in a global phase 2 clinical trial (ELIANA) of 68 children and young adult patients.
GLOBAL PHASE 2 PIVOTAL TRIAL (ELIANA)1
(N=68)
Initiated 20152
Primary end point: Overall remission rate (ORR)* within 3 months postinfusion
*The trial required remission status to be maintained for at least 28 days without clinical evidence of relapse.
KYMRIAH helped the majority of patients achieve remission in the global phase 2 pivotal trial. Moreover, 100% of patients who achieved remission were minimal residual disease negative (MRD–),† which is a strong marker for positive prognosis.1,4
GLOBAL PHASE 2 PIVOTAL TRIAL1
Primary End Point: ORR at 3 Months‡
100% of patients in remission (n=52) were MRD–
96% of responders (n=52) achieved remission between Days 26 and 31, with a median time of 29 days
†MRD– was defined as MRD by flow cytometry <0.01%.
‡ORR consisted of complete remission (CR) and complete remission with incomplete blood count recovery (CRi defined as less than 5% of blasts in the bone marrow, no evidence of extramedullary disease, and without full recovery of peripheral blood counts with or without blood transfusion). Remission status was required to be maintained for at least 28 days without clinical evidence of relapse.
§5 patients who were infused with KYMRIAH were excluded from the efficacy set. The efficacy analysis set (N=63) is a subset of the full analysis set which consists of all patients treated with KYMRIAH at least 3 months prior to data cut-off.1,3
REMISSION WAS ACHIEVABLE WITH KYMRIAH REGARDLESS OF PATIENTS’ CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS3
aThe area of each box is proportional to the number of patients in the particular grouping. The 95% CIs are exact Clopper-Pearson CIs calculated for each subgroup.
After treatment with KYMRIAH, 88% of responders did not proceed to SCT.1,3 KYMRIAH is a potentially definitive treatment for patients.
DURATION OF REMISSION3
ǁDuration of remission (DOR) was defined as time since onset of CR or CRi to relapse or death due to underlying cancer, whichever is earlier, censoring for new cancer therapy including SCT (n=52).
OVERALL SURVIVAL3
¶Overall survival analysis was conducted on full analysis set (n=68).
As early as 3 months after KYMRIAH infusion, patients experienced an increase in health-related quality of life. These improvements were sustained through 6 months postinfusion in the global phase 2 pivotal trial.3
QUALITY-OF-LIFE IMPROVEMENTS WERE SUSTAINED THROUGH 6 MONTHSa
aPatient-reported outcome results are mean values from a study population of patients ≥8 years of age (n=48). Population at each time point is the number of patients with nonmissing score at that time point.3
References: 1. Kymriah [prescribing information]. East Hanover, NJ: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; 2017. 2. Data on file. Study CTL019B2202. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; Sept 2017. 3. Data on file. Study CTL019B. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp; Feb 2017. 4. Borowitz MJ, Wood BL, Devidas M, et al. Prognostic significance of minimal residual disease in high risk B-ALL: a report from Children’s Oncology Group study AALL0232. Blood. 2015;126(8):964-971. 5. Varni JW, Burwinkle TM, Seid M, Skarr D. The PedsQL™* 4.0 as a pediatric population health measure: feasibility, reliability, and validity. Ambul Pediatr. 2003;3(6):329-341. 6. Pickard AS, Neary MP, Cella D. Estimation of minimally important differences in EQ-5D utility and VAS scores in cancer. Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2007;5:70.
Indication
KYMRIAH is a CD19-directed genetically modified autologous T cell immunotherapy indicated for the treatment of patients up to 25 years of age with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that is refractory or in second or later relapse.
Important Safety Information for KYMRIAH® (tisagenlecleucel)
WARNING: CYTOKINE RELEASE SYNDROME AND NEUROLOGICAL TOXICITIES
Warnings and Precautions
Cytokine Release Syndrome: CRS, including fatal or life-threatening reactions, occurred following treatment with KYMRIAH. CRS occurred in 54 (79%) of the 68 patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) ALL receiving KYMRIAH, including ≥ grade 3 (Penn Grading System) in 33 (49%) of patients. The median time to onset of CRS in KYMRIAH trials was 3 days (range: 1-51), and in only 2 patients was onset after Day 10. The median time to resolution was 8 days (range: 1-36).
Of the 54 patients with r/r ALL who had CRS, 27 (50%) received tocilizumab; 7 (13%) patients received 2 doses of tocilizumab, 3 (6%) patients received 3 doses of tocilizumab and 14 (26%) patients received addition of corticosteroids (eg, methylprednisolone).
Five deaths occurred within 30 days of KYMRIAH infusion. One patient with r/r ALL died with CRS and progressive leukemia, 1 patient had resolving CRS with abdominal compartment syndrome, coagulopathy, and renal failure when an intracranial hemorrhage occurred. Among patients with r/r ALL who had CRS, key manifestations included fever (96%), hypotension (67%), hypoxia (20%), and tachycardia (30%). CRS may be associated with hepatic, renal, and cardiac dysfunction, and coagulopathy.
Delay KYMRIAH infusion after lymphodepleting chemotherapy if patient has unresolved serious adverse reactions from preceding chemotherapies including pulmonary toxicity, cardiac toxicity, or hypotension, active uncontrolled infection, active graft vs host disease, or worsening of leukemia burden.
Ensure that 2 doses of tocilizumab are available on-site prior to KYMRIAH infusion. Monitor patients for signs or symptoms of CRS 2 to 3 times during the first week, then for at least 4 weeks after treatment. Counsel patients to remain within proximity of the health care facility for at least 4 weeks following infusion and seek immediate medical attention should signs or symptoms of CRS occur at any time. At the first sign of CRS, immediately evaluate the patient for hospitalization and institute treatment with supportive care, tocilizumab, and/or corticosteroids as indicated.
Risk factors for severe CRS are high pre-infusion tumor burden (≥50% blasts in bone marrow), uncontrolled or accelerating tumor burden following lymphodepleting chemotherapy, active infections, and/or inflammatory processes.
Neurological Toxicities: Neurological toxicities, including severe or life-threatening reactions, occurred in 49 (72%) of the 68 patients with r/r ALL following treatment with KYMRIAH including ≥ grade 3 in 21% of patients. Among patients who had a neurological toxicity, 88% occurred within 8 weeks after KYMRIAH infusion. Median time to the first event was 6 days (range: 1-359) from infusion, and the median duration was 6 days for patients with r/r ALL. The onset of neurological toxicity can be concurrent with CRS, following resolution of CRS, or in the absence of CRS.
The most common neurological toxicities observed in r/r ALL studies included headache (37%), encephalopathy (34%), delirium (21%), anxiety (13%), sleep disorders (10%), dizziness (6%), tremor (9%), and peripheral neuropathy (4%). Other manifestations included seizures, mutism and aphasia.
Monitor patients for neurological events, specifically 2 to 3 times during the first week following KYMRIAH infusion, and exclude other causes for neurological symptoms. Provide supportive care as needed for KYMRIAH-associated neurological events.
KYMRIAH REMS to Mitigate CRS and Neurological Toxicities: Because of the risk of CRS and neurological toxicities, KYMRIAH is available only through a restricted program under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) called the KYMRIAH REMS. Further information is available at www.kymriah-rems.com or 1-844-4KYMRIAH (1-844-459-6742).
Hypersensitivity Reactions: Allergic reactions may occur with KYMRIAH. Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, may be due to dimethyl sulfoxide or dextran 40 in KYMRIAH.
Serious Infections: Infections, including life-threatening or fatal infections, occurred in 95 (55%) of 174 patients after infusion with KYMRIAH in clinical trials. Fifty-eight (33%) patients experienced grade ≥3 infections, including fatal infections in 2 (3%) patients with r/r ALL after KYMRIAH infusion. Prior to KYMRIAH infusion, infection prophylaxis should follow local guidelines. Patients with active uncontrolled infection should not start KYMRIAH treatment until the infection is resolved. Monitor patients for signs and symptoms of infection after treatment with KYMRIAH and treat appropriately.
Febrile neutropenia (≥ grade 3) was also observed in 37% of patients with r/r ALL after KYMRIAH infusion and may be concurrent with CRS. In the event of febrile neutropenia, evaluate for infection and manage with broad spectrum antibiotics, fluids, and other supportive care as medically indicated.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation, in some cases resulting in fulminant hepatitis, hepatic failure, and death, can occur in patients treated with drugs directed against B cells. Perform screening for HBV, HCV, and HIV in accordance with clinical guidelines before cell collection for manufacturing.
Prolonged Cytopenias: Patients may exhibit cytopenias for several weeks following lymphodepleting chemotherapy and KYMRIAH infusion. In patients with r/r ALL, ≥ grade 3 cytopenias not resolved by Day 28 following KYMRIAH treatment included neutropenia (40%) and thrombocytopenia (27%) among 52 responding patients. At 56 days following KYMRIAH, 17% and 12% of responding patients had ≥ grade 3 neutropenia or thrombocytopenia, respectively. Prolonged neutropenia has been associated with increased risk of infection. Myeloid growth factors, particularly GM-CSF, are not recommended during the first 3 weeks after KYMRIAH infusion or until CRS has resolved.
Hypogammaglobulinemia: Hypogammaglobulinemia and agammaglobulinemia (IgG) can occur in patients with a complete remission after KYMRIAH infusion. Hypogammaglobulinemia was reported in 43% of patients with r/r ALL. Monitor immunoglobulin levels after treatment with KYMRIAH and manage using infection precautions, antibiotic prophylaxis, and immunoglobulin replacement standard guidelines.
The safety of immunization with live viral vaccines during or following KYMRIAH treatment has not been studied. Vaccination with live virus vaccines is not recommended for at least 6 weeks prior to the start of lymphodepleting chemotherapy, during KYMRIAH treatment, and until immune recovery following treatment with KYMRIAH.
Pregnant women who have received KYMRIAH may have hypogammaglobulinemia. Assess immunoglobulin levels in newborns of mothers treated with KYMRIAH.
Secondary Malignancies: Patients treated with KYMRIAH may develop secondary malignancies or recurrence of their cancer. Monitor lifelong for secondary malignancies. If a second malignancy occurs, call 1-844-4KYMRIAH (1-844-459-6742) to obtain instructions on patient samples to collect for testing.
Effects on Ability to Drive and Use Machines: Due to the potential for neurological events, including altered mental status or seizures, patients receiving KYMRIAH are at risk for altered or decreased consciousness or coordination in the 8 weeks following infusion. Advise patients to refrain from driving and engaging in hazardous occupations or activities, such as operating heavy or potentially dangerous machinery, during this initial period.
Drug Interactions
HIV and the lentivirus used to make KYMRIAH have limited, short spans of identical genetic material (RNA). Therefore, some commercial HIV nucleic acid tests (NATs) may yield false positive results in patients who have received KYMRIAH.
Pregnancy, Lactation, Females and Males of Reproductive Potential
No data are available of KYMRIAH use in pregnant or lactating women. Therefore, KYMRIAH is not recommended for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Pregnancy after KYMRIAH administration should be discussed with the treating physician. Pregnancy status of females of reproductive potential should be verified with a pregnancy test prior to starting treatment with KYMRIAH. Report pregnancies to Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation at 1-888-669-6682.
Adverse Reactions
The most common adverse reactions (≥20%) in patients with r/r ALL were cytokine release syndrome, hypogammaglobulinemia, infections-pathogen unspecified, pyrexia, decreased appetite, headache, encephalopathy, hypotension, bleeding episodes, tachycardia, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, viral infectious disorders, hypoxia, fatigue, acute kidney injury, edema, cough, and delirium.
Please see full Prescribing Information for KYMRIAH, including Boxed WARNING, and Medication Guide.
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