Pharmacyclics, Inc.,. a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, has enrolled fifth patient for the international phase III randomized, multicentre, open-label clinical trial, Resonate (PCYC-1112), of ibrutinib versus ofatumumab for patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL).
The enrollment of the fifth patient has subsequently triggered a $50 million milestone payment obligation from Janssen Biotech, Inc. (Janssen), one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson and the worldwide collaborator on ibrutinib in oncology. As Pharmacyclics or Janssen initiate further phase III trials in specific indications and enrol the 5th patient, additional milestone payments of $50 million may be triggered up to a total of $250 million. We anticipate an additional phase III trial milestone payment during calendar 2013.
"This is the first phase III trial of a broad development plan to evaluate the potential of ibrutinib in a range of haematologic malignancies," said Bob Duggan, chairman and CEO of Pharmacyclics. "We are very excited to have moved this molecule in such short time from first patient dosed in the spring of 2009 to now a pivotal phase III clinical trial. The initiation of this first phase III trial with ibrutinib is a testament to the hard work and focused efforts of the entire Pharmacyclics team, our external collaborators and the support and cooperation we enjoy with our partner Janssen. We look forward with confidence to continued progress."
"Data from patients with CLL/SLL observed in our phase Ib/II programme provide strong rationale for initiating the phase III registration trial," said Lori A. Kunkel, M.D. chief medical officer, Pharmacyclics. "CLL/SLL is an important component of our development plan to evaluate ibrutinib in B-cell malignancies. This trial complements other ongoing and planned trials for patients with unmet needs, including additional Phase III trials in relapsed or refractory CLL/SLL of ibrutinib in combination therapies, a Phase III trial of ibrutinib in frontline elderly CLL/SLL patients as a single agent and the trials in mantle cell lymphoma, all expected to start late 2012 or early 2013."
The Resonate study is a randomized, open—label phase III registration trial of ibrutinib as a monotherapy. The primary endpoint of the study is to demonstrate a clinically significant improvement in progression-free survival in relapsed or refractory CLL/SLL patients as compared to that achieved with ofatumumab therapy. The key secondary endpoints include overall response rate, overall survival, and quality of life measures. This global study conducted by PCYC is planned to enrol 350 patients worldwide.
NCT01578707 — "A Phase 3 Study of Ibrutinib (PCI-32765) Versus Ofatumamb in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia (Resonate)"
Pharmacyclics and Janssen plan to initiate three additional phase III studies over the next 6 - 9 months. These studies include: phase III combination study of bendamustine/rituximab plus ibrutinib versus bendamustine/rituximab plus placebo in relapsed or refractory CLL/SLL patients; phase III frontline study of single agent ibrutinib versus a comparator in elderly CLL/SLL patients; phase III study outside the US of ibrutinib versus temsirolimus in subjects with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who have received at least one prior chemotherapy regimen.
As previously announced on December 8, 2011, Pharmacyclics entered into a worldwide collaboration with Janssen to develop and commercialize ibrutinib, a novel, oral, first-in-class Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase (BTK) inhibitor. Pharmacyclics received from Janssen an upfront payment totaling $150 million upon signing the contract. With the dosing of a fifth patient in the RESONATE™ Study, as announced today, a milestone payment of $50 million has been earned. Pharmacyclics may receive up to an additional $775 million in development and regulatory milestone payments; for total potential upfront and milestone payments of $975 million.
Following regulatory approval, both Pharmacyclics and Janssen will book revenue and co-commercialize ibrutinib. In the US, Pharmacyclics will book sales and take a lead role in US commercial strategy development. Both Pharmacyclics and Janssen will share in commercialization activities. Outside the United States, Janssen will book sales and lead and perform commercialization activities. Profits and losses from the commercialization activities will be split 50/50 on a worldwide basis. Development and commercialization activities under the collaboration will be managed through a shared governance structure. Each company will lead development for specific indications as stipulated in a global development plan, with development costs shared on a 40/60 basis (Pharmacyclics 40% and Janssen 60%).
Pharmacyclics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing innovative small-molecule drugs for the treatment of cancer and immune mediated diseases.