Novartis radioligand therapy Lutathera® demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful progression-free survival in first line advanced gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs)
Phase III NETTER-2 trial met primary endpoint of improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) and key secondary endpoint of objective response rate (ORR) in patients with Grade 2 and 3 advanced gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) who received first line treatment with Lutathera® in combination with long-acting octreotide, versus high-dose long-acting octreotide alone1,2
Lutathera is the first radioligand therapy (RLT) to demonstrate clinically meaningful benefit in a first line setting1
Findings to be presented at an upcoming medical meeting and discussed with regulatory authorities, with submissions to follow
Novartis is investigating a broad portfolio of RLTs, exploring their treatment potential in a range of advanced cancers beyond prostate and GEP-NET, including lung, breast, pancreatic and colon. The company also continues to support the increasing demand for RLTs with expansions at existing manufacturing sites in the U.S. and Europe and a new state-of-the-art facility in Indianapolis, U.S., which is awaiting FDA approval
Basel, September 25, 2023 — Today, Novartis announced the Phase III NETTER-2 trial with Lutathera® (INN: lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide / USAN: lutetium Lu 177 dotatate) met its primary endpoint. First line treatment with Lutathera in combination with long-acting octreotide demonstrated a significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with newly diagnosed somatostatin receptor (SSTR)-positive, Grade 2 and 3, advanced gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) versus high-dose long-acting octreotide alone1,2. No new or unexpected safety findings were observed in the study and data are consistent with the already well-established safety profile of Lutathera1-4.
NETs are a type of cancer that originate in neuroendocrine cells throughout the body and are commonly considered slow-growing malignancies. However, some NETs are associated with rapid progression and poor prognosis and in many cases, diagnosis is delayed until patients have advanced disease5-7. Even though NETs are a rare (orphan) disease, their incidence has grown over 500% in the last three decades5-8 and there is an urgent need for additional treatment options for patients newly diagnosed with inoperable or advanced disease.
With these results, NETTER-2 is Lutathera’s second Phase III trial showing clinically meaningful results for patients2,4. The approval of Lutathera was originally based on the pivotal NETTER-1 trial, which demonstrated highly significant and clinically meaningful PFS prolongation for patients treated with Lutathera in combination with long-acting octreotide versus high-dose (60 mg) long-acting octreotide for SSTR-positive, inoperable midgut neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) who were progressing despite standard treatment3-4,9.
“These positive results for Lutathera are quite remarkable and they represent the potential for radioligand therapy to make a meaningful impact for newly diagnosed patients living with advanced GEP-NETs,” said Jeff Legos, Executive Vice President, Global Head of Oncology Development at Novartis. “Exploring the use of radioligand therapies in earlier lines of treatment for patients with cancer is part of our larger, collaborative effort to precisely deliver novel treatment modalities directly to the cancer cells to improve patient outcomes.”
The findings from NETTER-2 will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting and discussed with regulatory authorities.
About NETTER-2 NETTER-2 (NCT03972488) is an open-label, multi-center, randomized, comparator-controlled Phase III trial assessing whether Lutathera plus long-acting octreotide when taken as a first line treatment can prolong PFS in patients with high-proliferation rate tumors (G2 and G3), compared to treatment with high-dose (60 mg) long-acting octreotide2. Eligible patients were diagnosed with SSTR-positive advanced GEP-NETs within 6 months before enrollment2.
About Lutathera® Lutathera® (INN: lutetium (177Lu) oxodotreotide / USAN: lutetium Lu 177 dotatate) is an Advanced Accelerator Applications RLT approved in the United States for the treatment of SSTR-positive GEP-NETs, including foregut, midgut and hindgut neuroendocrine tumors in adults and in Europe for unresectable or metastatic, progressive, well-differentiated (G1 and G2), SSTR-positive GEP-NETs in adults10-11.
Novartis and Radioligand Therapy (RLT) Novartis is reimagining cancer care with RLT for patients with advanced cancers. By harnessing the power of radioactive atoms and applying it to advanced cancers, RLT is theoretically able to deliver radiation to target cells anywhere in the body12-13. Novartis has established global expertise, specialized supply chain and manufacturing capabilities across its network of RLT production sites. In order to support growing demand for our RLT platform, we have expanded our RLT production capabilities in Millburn, New Jersey (U.S.), Zaragoza (Spain) and Ivrea (Italy), and are building a new radioligand manufacturing facility in Indianapolis, Indiana (U.S.), which is planned to be operational later in 2023. We are continually evaluating additional opportunities to expand capacity.
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ClinicalTrials.gov. NETTER-2 (NCT03972488). Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Lutathera in Patients With Grade 2 and Grade 3 Advanced GEP-NET (NETTER-2). Accessed September 15, 2023. https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03972488
Strosberg JR, Caplin ME, Kunz PL, et al. 177Lu-Dotatate plus long-acting octreotide versus high‑dose long-acting octreotide in patients with midgut neuroendocrine tumours (NETTER-1): final overall survival and long-term safety results from an open-label, randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial [published correction appears in Lancet Oncol. 2022 Feb;23(2):e59]. Lancet Oncol. 2021;22(12):1752-1763. doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(21)00572-6
NETTER-1 Phase III in Patients With Midgut Neuroendocrine Tumors Treated With 177Lu-DOTATATE: Efficacy and Safety Results. Clin Adv Hematol Oncol. 2016;14(5 Suppl 7):8-9.
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A, Shen C, Halperin D, Zhao B, Zhou S, Xu Y, Shih T, Yao JC. Trends in the Incidence, Prevalence, and Survival Outcomes in Patients With Neuroendocrine Tumors in the United States. JAMA Oncol. 2017; doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2017.0589
Frilling A, Åkerström G, Falconi, M, et al. Neuroendocrine tumor disease: an evolving landscape. Endoc Related Cancer 2012; 19: R163-815.
Lawrence B, Gustafsson BI, et al. The Epidemiology of Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors. Endocrinol Metab Clin N Am. 2011; 40:1–18
