GTx Presents Phase II Ostarine (MK-2866) Cancer Cachexia Clinical Trial Results At Endocrine Society Annual Meeting

Main Category: Cancer / Oncology
Also Included In: Clinical Trials / Drug Trials
Article Date: 14 Jun 2009 - 2:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

GTx, Inc. (Nasdaq: GTXI) announced results of a Phase II clinical trial evaluating Ostarine™ (MK-2866), an investigational selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM), in patients with cancer induced muscle loss, also known as cancer cachexia. In the study, Ostarine treatment led to statistically significant increase in lean body mass (LBM) and improvement in muscle performance measured by stair climb in patients with cancer cachexia compared to baseline in both the Ostarine 1 mg and 3 mg treatment cohorts. These study results were the subject today of an oral podium presentation at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the Endocrine Society in Washington.

In the study, Ostarine met the primary endpoint of LBM, measured by a dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan, by demonstrating statistically significant increases in LBM compared to baseline in both the Ostarine 1 mg and 3 mg treatment cohorts. Specifically, the change from baseline in LBM for the placebo, 1 mg and 3 mg treatment groups was 0.1 kg (p=0.874 compared to baseline), 1.5 kg (p=0.001) and 1.3 kg (p=0.045), respectively, at the end of the 16-week trial.

"Approximately half of all cancer patients suffer from the devastating effects of cancer induced muscle loss. Increasing lean body mass may improve patients' quality of life and even their response to cancer treatment," said Adrian Dobs, MD, MHS, an investigator in the Phase II clinical trial of Ostarine and Professor of Medicine and Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "These Phase II results demonstrate the potential of a SARM to fill an important unmet need as there are currently no FDA-approved therapies available for cancer cachexia."

GTx and Merck & Co., Inc. are collaborating to develop Ostarine as part of a broader SARMs clinical development program. SARMs are a new class of drugs with the potential to treat musculoskeletal conditions including cancer cachexia and sarcopenia-the loss of skeletal muscle mass resulting in reduced physical strength and ability to perform activities of daily living.

"We are encouraged by results of this Phase II trial in patients with cancer cachexia, where Ostarine showed significant improvements in lean body mass in both treatment cohorts," said Mitchell S. Steiner, MD, CEO of GTx. "We look forward to our continued partnership with Merck on the SARM program, and to evaluating the full potential of our lead product candidate Ostarine in conditions such as cancer cachexia, sarcopenia, and other muscle wasting conditions."

Cancer cachexia is the severe and progressive loss of muscle that occurs in cancer patients and is responsible for at least 20 percent of cancer deaths. An estimated 410,000 patients in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer cachexia each year. Currently, there are no drugs approved for the treatment of cancer induced muscle loss.

Study Summary

159 cancer patients with non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or breast cancer were randomized in the placebo-controlled study at 35 sites in the U.S. and Argentina. Participants received placebo, 1 mg or 3 mg Ostarine once daily for 16 weeks. Average weight loss prior to entry among all subjects was 8.8 percent and patients were allowed to receive standard chemotherapy during the trial. The drop-out rate during the trial was 33 percent, lower than the expected 50 percent rate observed in other cancer supportive care clinical trials.

The study also met the secondary endpoint of muscle function (performance) as measured by a 12-step stair climb test measuring speed and calculating power, with each Ostarine treatment arm demonstrating a statistically significant average decrease in time to completion and average percentage increase in power exerted. The change from baseline in stair climb power in the placebo, 1 mg and 3 mg treatment groups was 0.23 watts (p=0.66 compared to baseline), 8.4 watts (p=0.002) and 10.1 watts (p=0.001), respectively. Statistically significant decreases from baseline in stair climb time were also observed. No improvement in speed or power was observed for the placebo group. There were no improvements in the endpoints of grip strength and gait speed.

The incidence of serious adverse events, deaths and tumor progression were similar among placebo and the treatment cohorts. The most common side effects reported among all subjects in the trial were fatigue, anemia, nausea, and diarrhea.

About Cancer Cachexia

Cancer induced muscle loss occurs in about 50 percent of cancer patients and may lead to loss of protein stores, severe weakness and fatigue, immobility, loss of independence, and an inability to tolerate and respond to cancer treatments. Cancer induced muscle wasting is responsible for at least 20 percent of cancer deaths. There are no drugs currently approved for the treatment of cancer wasting.

Source
GTx