TOKYO - Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Naoki Okamura, 'Astellas') today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved VYLOY (zolbetuximab-clzb) in combination with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of adults with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma whose tumors are claudin (CLDN) 18.2 positive as determined by an FDA-approved test.1 VYLOY is the first and only CLDN18.2-targeted therapy approved in the U.S.
In the SPOTLIGHT and GLOW clinical trials, approximately 38% of patients screened had tumors that were CLDN18.2 positive.2,3 CLDN18.2 positivity is defined as 75% of tumor cells demonstrating moderate to strong membranous CLDN18 immunohistochemical staining, as determined by the VENTANA CLDN18 (43-14A) RxDx Assay from Roche.2,3 Astellas collaborated with Roche on the newly approved immunohistochemistry (IHC) companion diagnostic (CDx) test to identify patients who may be eligible for VYLOY.4
Moitreyee Chatterjee-Kishore, Ph.D., M.B.A., Senior Vice President and Head of Immuno-Oncology Development, Astellas
'The approval of VYLOY as the first and only targeted therapy for CLDN18.2-positive patients in the U.S. further delivers on our relentless pursuit of scientific progress for devastating diseases like gastric and GEJ cancers, which are often only discovered at the advanced stage. This achievement is the result of years of dedicated research and development focused on targeting a novel biomarker, and we are grateful to the patients, investigators, and Astellas team members who have made this important advancement for patients a reality.'
Samuel J. Klempner, M.D., Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School, Medical Oncologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
'While there have been advances in the first-line treatment of locally advanced unresectable and metastatic gastric and GEJ cancers in the last several years, there is still a tremendous unmet need among our patients. The approval of VYLOY, based on the pivotal Phase 3 SPOTLIGHT and GLOW trials, brings forward a novel biomarker and new therapy for patients whose tumors are CLDN18.2 positive, and for those on the frontlines of treatment decision-making.'
The approval is based on results from the Phase 3 SPOTLIGHT and GLOW clinical trials. The SPOTLIGHT study evaluated VYLOY plus mFOLFOX6 compared to placebo plus mFOLFOX6. The GLOW study evaluated VYLOY plus CAPOX (a combination chemotherapy regimen that includes capecitabine and oxaliplatin) compared to placebo plus CAPOX. Both trials met their primary endpoint, progression-free survival (PFS), as well as a key secondary endpoint, overall survival (OS), in patients treated with VYLOY plus chemotherapy compared to placebo plus chemotherapy. Across the SPOTLIGHT and GLOW trials, the most common all-grade treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) reported in the VYLOY treatment arms were nausea, vomiting and decreased appetite.
An FDA-approved test is used to identify patients who may be eligible for VYLOY.1 The VENTANA CLDN18 (43-14A) RxDx Assay from Roche is an FDA-approved IHC test used to help determine CLDN18.2 status. Testing is available in the U.S. at multiple reference laboratories nationwide and is expected to expand to additional laboratories over time.
Following today's FDA decision, VYLOY is now approved in five markets worldwide - Japan, the United Kingdom, the European Union, South Korea and the U.S. Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare approved VYLOY for use on March 26, 2024, representing the first global approval of this treatment. In August, VYLOY was approved by the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. In September, the European Commission granted marketing authorization to VYLOY in the European Union, and the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approved the therapy in South Korea. Astellas has submitted other applications for VYLOY to regulatory agencies around the world, with reviews ongoing.
Astellas has already reflected the impact from this approval in its financial forecast for the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2025.
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About VYLOY (zolbetuximab-clzb)
VYLOY (zolbetuximab-clzb) is a claudin 18.2-directed cytolytic antibody that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in combination with fluoropyrimidine- and platinum-containing chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of adults with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma whose tumors are claudin (CLDN) 18.2 positive as determined by an FDA-approved test. As a first-in-class monoclonal antibody (mAb), VYLOY targets and binds to CLDN18.2, a transmembrane protein. VYLOY depletes CLDN18.2-positive cells via antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC).1
About Astellas
Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. We are promoting the Focus Area Approach that is designed to identify opportunities for the continuous creation of new drugs to address diseases with high unmet medical needs by focusing on Biology and Modality. Furthermore, we are also looking beyond our foundational Rx focus to create Rx+ healthcare solutions that combine our expertise and knowledge with cutting-edge technology in different fields of external partners. Through these efforts, Astellas stands on the forefront of healthcare change to turn innovative science into VALUE for patients.
Cautionary Notes
In this press release, statements made with respect to current plans, estimates, strategies and beliefs and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements about the future performance of Astellas. These statements are based on management's current assumptions and beliefs in light of the information currently available to it and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: (i) changes in general economic conditions and in laws and regulations, relating to pharmaceutical markets, (ii) currency exchange rate fluctuations, (iii) delays in new product launches, (iv) the inability of Astellas to market existing and new products effectively, (v) the inability of Astellas to continue to effectively research and develop products accepted by customers in highly competitive markets, and (vi) infringements of Astellas' intellectual property rights by third parties.
Information about pharmaceutical products (including products currently in development) which is included in this press release is not intended to constitute an advertisement or medical advice.
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