Lilly’s breast cancer drug abemaciclib shows promising results in phase 3 trial

Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical giant Lilly has announced positive outcomes from its phase 3 clinical trial, MONARCH 2, involving its innovative breast cancer treatment, abemaciclib, in combination with fulvestrant. This trial marks a significant advancement in the treatment of hormone-receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) advanced breast cancer.

Groundbreaking Results in Cancer Treatment

The study revealed that the combination of abemaciclib and fulvestrant significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared to the control group receiving fulvestrant and a placebo. This finding positions abemaciclib as a potent therapy for women whose cancer has advanced despite previous endocrine therapy.

Levi Garraway, Global Development and Medical Affairs Senior Vice President at Lilly Oncology, reflected on the breakthrough: “These data are an important milestone in our goal of bringing abemaciclib to patients with advanced breast cancer, and we look forward to our upcoming conversations with regulators. This is another example of Lilly’s commitment to delivering breakthrough treatments and improving outcomes for patients with cancer.”

Trial Design and Execution

MONARCH 2 was a double-blind study conducted globally across various centers, involving 669 patients who were randomized to receive either abemaciclib or a placebo, in conjunction with the approved dose and schedule of fulvestrant. The trial rigorously monitored the patients until their cancer progressed, providing a robust data set to support the drug’s efficacy.

Patients enrolled in the trial had experienced cancer progression within 12 months prior to their participation, following endocrine treatment used in various therapeutic contexts, including the neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or metastatic settings.

Future Plans and Regulatory Steps

Following these promising results, Lilly is preparing to submit a new drug application (NDA) for single-agent abemaciclib, targeting refractory metastatic breast cancer patients who have undergone multiple prior treatments. An additional application based on the data from the MONARCH 2 trial is anticipated in the following quarter, reinforcing Lilly’s strategic commitment to expanding the therapeutic options available to breast cancer patients.

The success of the MONARCH 2 trial is a testament to the potential of targeted therapies in oncology, particularly those that inhibit CDK 4 and CDK 6 cyclin-dependent kinases, which are known to drive uncontrolled cell growth in various cancers. Abemaciclib’s ability to improve PFS in advanced breast cancer patients could significantly influence future treatment protocols and offers hope for better management of this challenging disease.