Odanacatib, An Investigational Cathepsin K Inhibitor, Reduced Markers Of Bone Turnover In Women With Breast Cancer And Bone Metastases

Main Category: Breast Cancer
Also Included In: Bones / Orthopaedics;  Cancer / Oncology
Article Date: 04 Jul 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Merck & Co., Inc, Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA, which operates in many countries as Merck Sharp & Dohme or MSD, announced results of a new study in which its investigational selective cathepsin K inhibitor odanacatib reduced measures of bone turnover (breakdown and rebuilding of bone) in women with breast cancer that has spread to the bones (bone metastases). Study results were presented today during an oral session at the VII International Meeting on Cancer Induced Bone Disease.

"Bone metastases represent a frequent and serious complication for patients with breast cancer," said Christopher Wynne, M.D., study investigator and clinical oncologist, Christchurch Clinical Studies Trust, New Zealand. "These findings show that odanacatib reduced several well characterised biochemical markers of bone turnover in cancer patients with metastasis to bone, indicating this investigational medicine has the potential to slow the accelerated rate of bone destruction associated with bone metastases."

Odanacatib is a highly selective, potent inhibitor of the cathepsin K enzyme. Cathepsin K enzyme plays a key role in breaking down the protein in bone. In cancer that has spread to the bones, tumour cells speed up the normal process of bone breakdown and formation, which in turn results in further tumour growth and bone destruction. By inhibiting cathepsin K activity, odanacatib represents a potential novel therapeutic approach for metastatic bone disease that works differently from other commonly used medicines.

In this study, treatment with oral odanacatib 5 mg once daily (n=29) reduced the level of urinary N-telopeptide (uNTx), a commonly used marker of bone resorption (breakdown), by 77 percent from baseline levels over four weeks. These results were seen as early as day seven, the first measurement point. Treatment with intravenous zoledronic acid 4 mg (n=14) reduced uNTx by 73 percent. In addition, responses to other markers of bone turnover, including the marker of bone resorption urinary deoxpyridinoline (uDPD), the marker of bone formation serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (sBSAP) and the marker of cathepsin K activity serum crosslinked C-terminal peptide (s1CTP) were evaluated in the study. The most common clinical adverse events reported with odanacatib included nausea, vomiting, headache, and bone pain.

This randomised, double-blind, multicenter study included 43 women with breast cancer and metastatic bone disease who received oral odanacatib 5 mg daily or intravenous zoledronic acid 4 mg on Day 1. The mean age of women was 60 years. The primary endpoints of the study were the marker of bone resorption urinary N-telopeptide of type I collagen corrected for creatinine (uNTx; pmol BCE/µmol creatinine) and safety.

"This is the first study to evaluate odanacatib in cancer patients," said Antonio Lombardi, M.D., senior director, Merck Research Laboratories. "Based on these findings, larger Phase III studies using the 5 mg daily dose of odanacatib are being planned for patients with breast and prostate cancer."

About bone metastases

Metastatic bone disease occurs when cancer cells from the primary tumour spread to the bone. Bone is a common site for cancer to spread in patients with breast cancer. Up to three-quarters of women with advanced breast cancer are affected and two-thirds of these women develop skeletal-related events or serious complications, such as excruciating pain, bone loss leading to fractures, nerve damage including spinal cord compression, surgery or radiation therapy for bone complications or dangerously high levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia).

Commitment to oncology research

MSD is committed to all aspects of cancer care - prevention, treatment and supportive care. Through strong internal research capabilities, selective alliances and acquisitions, and enabling technologies such as the molecular profiling platform of Rosetta, MSD is looking to lead in the discovery, development and delivery of targeted anticancer therapies customised for patient subpopulations.

About Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA

Merck & Co., Inc. (Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA), which operates in many countries as Merck Sharp & Dohme or MSD, is a global research-driven pharmaceutical company dedicated to putting patients first. Established in 1891, the Company currently discovers, develops, manufactures and markets vaccines and medicines to address unmet medical needs. The Company devotes extensive efforts to increase access to medicines through far-reaching programs that not only donate its medicines but help deliver them to the people who need them. Merck & Co., Inc. (Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA) also publishes unbiased health information as a not-for-profit service. For more information, visit http://www.merck.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties, which may cause results to differ materially from those set forth in the statements. The forward-looking statements may include statements regarding product development, product potential or financial performance. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA (the "Company") undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the Company's business, particularly those mentioned in the risk factors and cautionary statements in Item 1A of the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2007 and in any risk factors or cautionary statements contained in the Company's periodic reports on Form 10-Q or current reports on Form 8-K, which the Company incorporates by reference.

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