Pfizer Inc. announced the United States (U.S.) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved TRAZIMERA„¢ (trastuzumab-qyyp), a biosimilar to Herceptin (trastuzumab),1 for the treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) overexpressing breast cancer and HER2 overexpressing metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.2
This is an important milestone in the U.S. which both adds to our growing portfolio of oncology treatments and has the potential to improve access to cancer care, said Andy Schmeltz, Global President, Pfizer Oncology. We are proud to be able to offer treatment options that can help address the diverse needs of patients.
The FDA approval was based on review of a comprehensive data package, which demonstrated a high degree of similarity between TRAZIMERA and the originator product. This includes results from the REFLECTIONS B327-02 clinical comparative study that was recently published in the British Journal of Cancer, which showed clinical equivalence, finding a high degree of similarity and no clinically meaningful differences between TRAZIMERA and the originator product in patients with first line HER2 overexpressing metastatic breast cancer.3
Approximately 15-30% of breast cancers and 10-30% of gastric cancers are HER2-positive, which is associated with aggressive disease and poor prognoses for patients, said Dr. Mark Pegram, associate director for clinical research at the Stanford Comprehensive Cancer Institute, and director of the Breast Oncology Program at the Stanford Womens Cancer Center.4 With the availability of biosimilars like TRAZIMERA in the U.S., oncologists will have additional treatment options to choose from, which may help provide patients with greater access to the medicines they need.
Pfizer has a robust portfolio of potential biosimilar candidates in mid- to late-stage development.5 TRAZIMERA is Pfizers first oncology monoclonal antibody (mAb) biosimilar and Pfizers fifth biosimilar to be approved by the FDA.2,6,7,8,9 TRAZIMERA was also approved for use in the EU in July 2018 for the treatment of HER2 overexpressing breast cancer and HER2 overexpressing metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.10
About TRAZIMERA (trastuzumab-qyyp)
TRAZIMERA is a monoclonal antibody (mAb) biosimilar of the originator biologic medicine, Herceptin, which targets HER2, a protein found on the surface of some cancer cells which can stimulate the cells to divide and grow.11 TRAZIMERA locks on to the HER2 protein and blocks the receptors, stopping cell division and growth.10
As part of the REFLECTIONS clinical trial program, TRAZIMERA has been studied in nearly 500 patients and across more than 20 countries to date.12,13,14,15,16
About Pfizer Oncology
At Pfizer Oncology, we are committed to advancing medicines wherever we believe we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients. Today, Pfizer Oncology has an industry-leading portfolio of 18 approved innovative cancer medicines and biosimilars across more than 20 indications, including breast, prostate, kidney, lung and hematology. Pfizer Oncology is striving to change the trajectory of cancer.
1 Herceptin is a registered trademark of Genentech Inc.
2 TRAZIMERA„¢ (trastuzumab-qyyp) Prescribing Information. New York. NY: Pfizer Inc: 2019. Available at https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2019/761081s000lbl.pdf.
3 Pegram M, Bondarenko I, Zorzetto MMC, et al. PF-05280014 (a trastuzumab biosimilar) plus paclitaxel compared with reference trastuzumab plus paclitaxel for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer: a randomised, double-blind study. Br J Cancer. 2019 Jan;120(2):172-182. doi: 10.1038/s41416-018-0340-2. Epub 2018 Dec 20.
4 Iqbal N, Iqbal N. Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) in Cancers: Overexpression and Therapeutic Implications. Mol Biol Int. 2014. 10.1155/2014/852748.
5 Pfizer Pipeline (as of January 29, 2019). Available at https://www.pfizer.com/sites/default/files/product-pipeline/Pipeline_Update_29JAN2019.pdf. Accessed March 2019.
6 INFLECTRA (infliximab-dyyb) Prescribing Information. New York. NY: Pfizer Inc: 2016.
Available at https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2016/125544s000lbl.pdf
7 IXIFI„¢ (infliximab-qbtx) Prescribing Information. New York. NY: Pfizer Inc: 2017.
Available at https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/761072s000lbl.pdf 8 RETACRIT„¢ (epoetin alfa-epbx) Prescribing Information. New York. NY: Pfizer Inc: 2018.
Available at https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2019/125545s003lbl.pdf 9 NIVESTYM„¢ (filgrastim-aafi) Prescribing Information. New York. NY: Pfizer Inc: 2018. Available at https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2018/761080s000lbl.pdf 10 European Medicines Agency. Herceptin Summary of Product Characteristics.
Available at http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/EPAR_-_Product_Information/human/000278/WC500074922.pdf. Accessed March 2019. 11 Macmillan Cancer Support. Trastuzumab.
Available at https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancerinformation/cancertreatment/treatmenttypes/biologicaltherapies/monoclonalantibodies/trastuzumab.aspx. Accessed March 2019. 12 Pegram M, Tan-Chiu E, Freyman A, et al. Abstract 238PD. A randomized, double-blind study of PF-05280014 (a potential trastuzumab biosimilar) vs trastuzumab, both in combination with paclitaxel, as first-line treatment for HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer. Presented at ESMO 2017. 13 Lammers PE, Dank M, Masetti R, et al. A randomized, double-blind study of PF-05280014 (a potential biosimilar) vs trastuzumab, both given with docetaxel (D) and carboplatin (C), as neoadjuvant treatment for operable human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer. Abstract 154PD. Presented at ESMO 2017. 14 Yin D, Barker K B, Li R, et al. A randomized phase 1 pharmacokinetic trial comparing the potential biosimilar PF-05280014 with trastuzumab in healthy volunteers (REFLECTIONS B327-01). BR J Clin Pharmacol. 2014. 78(6): 1281-90. 15 Clinicaltrials.gov. NCT01989676. A study of PF-05280014 [trastuzumab-Pfizer] or Herceptin (trastuzumab) plus paclitaxel in HER2 positive first line metastatic breast cancer treatment (REFLECTIONS B327-02). Available at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01989676?term=NCT01989676&rank=1. Accessed March 2019. 16 Clinicaltrials.gov. NCT02187744. A study of PF-05280014 or trastuzumab plus taxotere and carboplatin in HER2 positive breast cancer in the neoadjuvant setting (REFLECTIONS B327-04). Available at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02187744?term=NCT02187744&rank=1. Accessed March 2019.
