Blueprint Medicines Corporation (Nasdaq: BPMC) today announced clinical data for multiple programs across its precision therapy portfolio at the 2023 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting. The presentations showcase the company’s progress in developing precision therapies to address the needs of broad patient populations, including hormone-receptor-positive/HER2-negative (HR+/HER2-) breast cancer and EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
“At ASCO, we are reporting early clinical data for three therapeutic candidates highlighting the breadth of our pipeline, which lays the foundation for our next wave of precision therapy programs to tackle significant medical challenges,” said Becker Hewes, M.D., Chief Medical Officer at Blueprint Medicines. “Together, these presentations reflect how we are developing differentiated, highly selective therapies against promising disease targets, and demonstrate strong execution in advancing potential treatment options for large patient populations, including HR+/HER2- breast cancer and EGFR-mutant lung cancer. The datasets represent a diversity of fundamental value drivers in our clinical portfolio, which create opportunities to substantially expand our patient impact and highlight our ambition to deliver many more transformational medicines to patients in the future.”
CDK2 Program
CDK2 is a cell cycle regulator and important cancer target across a broad range of malignancies, including HR+/HER2- breast cancer. Based on the underlying science on the role of CDK2 inhibition in cancer, and the potential for this mechanism to impact large populations of patients, BLU-222 represents one of the most important programs within Blueprint Medicines’ early clinical development pipeline. The data reported at ASCO begin to demonstrate the clinical profile of BLU-222, a highly selective and potent oral CDK2 inhibitor.
VELA trial: BLU-222 in HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer and other advanced cancers
Abstract number: 3095
Presentation location and time: Hall A; Saturday, June 3 from 8:00 a.m. — 11:00 a.m. CT
Results from the ongoing dose escalation part of the VELA trial of BLU-222 (n=27) showed encouraging safety and evidence of cell cycle pathway modulation consistent with the treatment’s best-in-class preclinical profile. Based on these data, Blueprint Medicines is continuing monotherapy dose escalation to identify a maximum tolerated dose, and has initiated dose escalation of BLU-222 in combination with the CDK4/6 inhibitor, ribociclib, and the estrogen receptor antagonist, fulvestrant, in patients with HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer.
- BLU-222 was generally well-tolerated with no discontinuations due to adverse events (AEs). Treatment-related hematologic AEs commonly seen with CDK4/6 inhibitors were generally mild and primarily reported in patients with a history of low blood cell counts. No cardiac AEs or QTc prolongation were observed.
- BLU-222 showed evidence of cell cycle pathway modulation as demonstrated by circulating and tumor tissue-based biomarker data. Increased BLU-222 doses led to robust reductions in thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) activity and phosphorylated retinoblastoma (pRB).
- In addition, the presentation highlighted a confirmed partial response in a BLU-222 monotherapy-treated patient with HR+/HER2- metastatic breast cancer who previously received five lines of therapy, including the CDK4/6 inhibitors palbociclib and abemaciclib.
EGFR Programs
EGFR represents one of the most common oncogenic drivers in NSCLC, and Blueprint Medicines is developing a portfolio of investigational precision therapies to inhibit the broad spectrum of EGFR activating and resistance mutations. With three novel EGFR inhibitors, the company seeks to transform treatment options for patients with EGFR-mutant NSCLC, including with highly active, well-tolerated combinations in the front-line setting. Data reported at ASCO feature two of the company’s investigational EGFR inhibitors:
- BLU-451, a wildtype-EGFR-sparing, CNS-penetrant oral inhibitor of EGFR exon 20 insertions and atypical mutations with best-in-class potential
- BLU-945, a potent oral EGFR inhibitor designed to be highly selective over wildtype EGFR, supporting its potential as a differentiated combination partner
CONCERTO trial: BLU-451 in advanced NSCLC driven by EGFR exon 20 insertions or atypical mutations
Abstract number: 9064
Presentation location and time: Hall A; Sunday, June 4 from 8:00 a.m. — 11:00 a.m. CT
Results from the ongoing dose escalation part of the CONCERTO trial of BLU-451 in heavily pretreated patients with NSCLC driven by EGFR exon 20 insertions (n=48) or atypical mutations (n=9) showed evidence of safety and clinical benefits, including central nervous system (CNS) activity. The data support continued dose escalation to determine the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D), and further development in patients with EGFR exon 20 insertions as well as additional patients with atypical EGFR mutations. Collectively, these mutations represent approximately 20 percent of EGFR-mutant NSCLC cases.
- BLU-451 was generally well-tolerated in patients, with no grade 3 or higher AEs associated with wildtype EGFR inhibition, no dose-limiting toxicities and no discontinuations due to treatment-related AEs.
- In patients with EGFR exon 20 insertion-positive NSCLC, BLU-451 demonstrated evidence of clinical activity including circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) clearance, tumor reductions including confirmed partial responses, and CNS activity. Multiple patients showed CNS benefits including one who had a partial CNS response per RECIST version 1.1 criteria and one who had a CNS complete response with resolution of multiple non-target brain lesions, as highlighted by patient vignettes in the presentation.
- In patients with NSCLC driven by atypical EGFR mutations, BLU-451 showed emerging dose-dependent ctDNA clearance and tumor shrinkage, reflecting an expanded development opportunity.
SYMPHONY trial: BLU-945 monotherapy and in combination with osimertinib in late-line, EGFR-mutant NSCLC
Abstract number: 9011
Presentation location and time: S406; Monday, June 5 from 11:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m. CT
Updated results from the dose escalation part of the SYMPHONY trial showed the safety and clinical activity of BLU-945 as a monotherapy (n=112) and in combination with osimertinib (n=55) in patients with late-line, osimertinib-refractory, EGFR-mutant NSCLC. Based on the unprecedented and favorable safety profile for the combination of BLU-945 and osimertinib observed to-date, dose escalation is continuing which impacts the timeframe to establish the RP2D and begin the randomized, first-line treatment portion of the study. Consequently, the company no longer anticipates presenting initial dose expansion data for BLU-945 in combination with osimertinib in first-line, EGFR L858R-positive NSCLC by the end of 2023.
- BLU-945, as a monotherapy and in combination with osimertinib, was generally well-tolerated, and AEs associated with wildtype EGFR inhibition were infrequent, with the majority reported as Grade 1. For the combination, the discontinuation rate due to treatment-related AEs was 3.6 percent.
- BLU-945 monotherapy and the combination showed evidence of clinical activity, with ctDNA clearance and tumor reductions including confirmed partial responses observed in patients whose tumors had progressed following treatment with osimertinib. For combination regimens with a total BLU-945 daily dose of 300 mg or higher, tumor shrinkage was observed in 51 percent of patients with molecularly heterogenous, osimertinib-refractory, late-line EGFR-mutant NSCLC, with multiple confirmed responses.
Copies of Blueprint Medicines data presentations from the ASCO Annual Meeting are available in the “Science—Publications and Presentations” section of the company’s website at www.blueprintmedicines.com.