GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) announced that analysis of the MAGRIT trial, a phase III trial of its MAGE-A3 cancer immunotherapeutic in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, showed that the trial did not meet its first or second co-primary endpoint as it did not significantly extend disease-free survival (DFS) when compared to placebo in either the overall MAGE-A3 positive population (first co-primary endpoint) or in those MAGE-A3-positive patients who did not receive chemotherapy (second co-primary endpoint). GSK currently remains blinded to the overall trial data from the analysis of the first two co-primary endpoints to allow for the unbiased generation of a mathematical model to assess the third co-primary end point.

MAGRIT, a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, is evaluating the efficacy and safety of the MAGE-A3 cancer immunotherapeutic in Stage IB, II and IIIA completely resected NSCLC patients whose tumours expressed the MAGE-A3 gene. Patients were given up to 13 intramuscular injections of either the MAGE-A3 immunotherapeutic or placebo over a period of 27 months.

MAGE-A3 is a tumour-specific antigen expressed in a variety of cancers but not in normal cells. In NSCLC, it is expressed in approximately one third of tumours in patients diagnosed with Stage IB-IIIA disease. The MAGRIT trial enrolled 2,312 MAGE-A3-positive patients across more than 400 sites in 34 countries worldwide.

The Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) indicated that its review of the current safety information raised no specific concern for the continuation of the trial and is in line with the known safety information for the MAGE-A3 cancer immunotherapeutic. As planned GSK will continue the trial in order to assess the third co-primary endpoint. This endpoint is designed to identify a subset of MAGE-A3 positive patients that may benefit from the treatment with the MAGE-A3 cancer immunotherapeutic. Results from a final analysis are expected in 2015.

Vincent Brichard, senior vice-president & Head of Immunotherapeutics, GSK Vaccines said: “We want to thank all patients, their families and healthcare workers for their involvement in the MAGRIT trial.  We are disappointed that the trial did not demonstrate a benefit for overall MAGE-A3 positive patient population, but we remain committed to the effort to identify a sub-population of NSCLC patients who may benefit from this investigational treatment.”

GSK is continuing to evaluate in another phase III clinical study (DERMA) whether a gene signature can identify a sub population of melanoma patients that would benefit from the same investigational MAGE-A3 cancer immunotherapeutic. This follows the read-out of the first co-primary endpoint in September 2013, of DFS in the overall MAGE-A3 positive population, which was not met.  Work is progressing on the mathematical model to allow assessment of DFS in the gene signature population, the second co-primary endpoint in the study. The outcome is expected in 2015.