Country for PR: United Kingdom
Contributor: PR Newswire Europe
Friday, July 22 2022 - 00:03
AsiaNet
Karyopharm and Menarini Group Receive Full Marketing Authorisation from the European Commission for NEXPOVIO(R) (selinexor) for the Treatment of Patients with Multiple Myeloma After at Least One Prior Therapy
NEWTON, Mass. and FLORENCE, Italy, July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --

– Based on Results from Phase 3 BOSTON Study, Marketing Authorisation Expands 
Multiple Myeloma Indication –

– Approval Follows Positive Opinion by European Committee for Medicinal 
Products for Human Use (CHMP) in May 2022 –

Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: KPTI), a commercial-stage pharmaceutical 
company pioneering novel cancer therapies, and the Menarini Group ("Menarini"), 
a privately-held, leading international pharmaceutical company, today announced 
that the European Commission (EC) has granted Marketing Authorisation for 
NEXPOVIO(R) (selinexor), a first-in-class, oral exportin 1 (XPO1) inhibitor, in 
combination with once-weekly bortezomib (Velcade(R)) and low-dose dexamethasone 
(SVd) for the treatment of adults with multiple myeloma who have received at 
least one prior therapy. With this approval for the extension of NEXPOVIO(R)'s 
indication in the European Union (EU), the conditional marketing authorisation 
is now converted to a full approval. The marketing authorisation, which marks 
the second indication for NEXPOVIO(R), is valid in all 27 member states of the 
EU as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Northern Ireland. Stemline 
Therapeutics B.V., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Menarini Group, will be 
responsible for all commercialization activities in Europe.
 
 
 The approval follows a positive opinion granted in May 2022 by the CHMP based 
on results from the Phase 3 BOSTON study that demonstrated once-weekly SVd 
resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the risk of disease 
progression or death compared to standard twice-weekly bortezomib plus 
dexamethasone (Vd) regimen. The results from the BOSTON study were published in 
The Lancet (Grosicki, et al.) in November 2020.

"The European Commission's approval of an expanded use of NEXPOVIO(R) provides 
another option for patients with multiple myeloma who have relapsed, or become 
resistant to current treatment regimens," said Richard Paulson, President and 
Chief Executive Officer of Karyopharm. "Our decision to pursue approval for 
this patient population is indicative of our commitment to expand access to 
selinexor across the globe and we look forward to working closely with Menarini 
who will commercialize NEXPOVIO(R) in Europe."

"The approval of NEXPOVIO(R) marks an important step forward for patients in 
Europe where nearly 51,000 new cases of multiple myeloma are diagnosed each 
year and therapeutic options are limited," said Elcin Barker Ergun, Chief 
Executive Officer of Menarini. "We are committed to offering patients and 
physicians a valuable new treatment option and are working hard to make 
NEXPOVIO(R) available in different European countries as quickly as possible."

About the BOSTON study  
  
The Marketing Authorisation is based upon the Phase 3 BOSTON (Bortezomib, 
Selinexor and Dexamethasone) study, which was a multi-center, randomized study 
(NCT03110562) that evaluated 402 adult patients with relapsed or refractory 
multiple myeloma who had received one to three prior lines of therapy. The 
study was designed to compare the efficacy, safety and certain health-related 
quality of life parameters of once-weekly SVd versus twice-weekly Vd. The 
primary endpoint of the study was progression-free survival and key secondary 
endpoints included overall response rate, rate of peripheral neuropathy, and 
others. To learn more about this study, please refer to  Karyopharm and 
Menarini's press release on the positive CHMP opinion issued on May 20, 2022.

About Multiple Myeloma in Europe

Multiple myeloma is an incurable cancer with significant morbidity and the 
second most common hematologic malignancy. According to the World Health 
Organization, in 2020, there were approximately 51,000 new cases and 32,000 
deaths from multiple myeloma in Europe1. While the treatment of multiple 
myeloma has improved over the last 20 years, and overall survival has increased 
considerably, the disease remains incurable, and nearly all patients will 
eventually relapse and develop disease that is refractory to all approved 
anti-myeloma therapies. Therefore, there continues to be a high unmet medical 
need for new therapies, particularly those with novel mechanisms of action.

About NEXPOVIO(R) (selinexor)

NEXPOVIO(R), which is marketed as XPOVIO(R) in the U.S., has been approved in 
the following oncology indications by the European Commission: (i) in 
combination with dexamethasone for the treatment of multiple myeloma in adult 
patients who have received at least four prior therapies and whose disease is 
refractory to at least two proteasome inhibitors, two immunomodulatory agents 
and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, and who have demonstrated disease 
progression on the last therapy; and (ii) in combination with bortezomib and 
dexamethasone for the treatment of adults with multiple myeloma who have 
received at least one prior therapy.

The expanded NEXPOVIO(R) indication now allows adult patients with multiple 
myeloma to be treated in earlier lines of therapy. The indication for 
NEXPOVIO(R) is valid in the EU Member States as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, 
Norway, and Northern Ireland. NEXPOVIO(R) is also approved in the UK under a 
Conditional Marketing Authorisation. The extension of indication in combination 
with bortezomib and dexamethasone for the treatment of adults with multiple 
myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy is currently under review 
by Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency.

NEXPOVIO(R) is a first-in-class, oral exportin 1 (XPO1) inhibitor. NEXPOVIO(R) 
functions by selectively binding to and inhibiting the nuclear export protein 
exportin 1 (XPO1, also called CRM1). NEXPOVIO(R) blocks the nuclear export of 
tumor suppressor, growth regulatory and anti-inflammatory proteins, leading to 
accumulation of these proteins in the nucleus and enhancing their anti-cancer 
activity in the cell. The forced nuclear retention of these proteins can 
counteract a multitude of the oncogenic pathways that, unchecked, allow cancer 
cells with severe DNA damage to continue to grow and divide in an unrestrained 
fashion.

Please see NEXPOVIO(R) Summary of Product Characteristics and European Public 
Assessment Report at 
https://ec.europa.eu/health/documents/community-register/html/h1537.htm 

UNITED STATES IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Contraindications: Hypersensitivity to selinexor.
Special warnings and precautions for use:

Recommended concomitant treatments
Patients should be advised to maintain adequate fluid and caloric intake 
throughout treatment. Intravenous hydration should be considered for patients 
at risk of dehydration. 

Prophylactic concomitant treatment with a 5-HT3 antagonist and/or other 
anti-nausea agents should be provided prior to and during treatment with 
NEXPOVIO(R).

Haematology:
Patients should have their complete blood counts (CBC) assessed at baseline, 
during treatment, and as clinically indicated. Monitor more frequently during 
the first two months of treatment.

Thrombocytopenia: 
Thrombocytopenic events (thrombocytopenia and platelet count decreased) were 
frequently reported in adult patients receiving selinexor, which can be severe 
(Grade 3/4). Patients should be monitored for signs and symptoms of bleeding 
and evaluated promptly.

Neutropenia: 
Severe neutropenia (Grade 3/4) has been reported with selinexor.
Patients with neutropenia should be monitored for signs of infection and 
evaluated promptly.

Gastrointestinal toxicity: 
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, which sometimes can be severe and may require the 
use of anti-emetic and anti-diarrhoeal medicinal products.

Weight loss and anorexia: 
Patients should have their body weight, nutritional status and volume checked 
at baseline, during treatment, and as clinically indicated. Monitoring should 
be more frequent during the first two months of treatment.

Confusional state and dizziness: 
Patients should be instructed to avoid situations where dizziness or 
confusional state may be a problem and to not take other medicinal products 
that may cause dizziness or confusional state without adequate medical advice. 
Patients should be advised not to drive or operate heavy machinery until 
symptoms resolve.

Hyponatraemia: 
Patients should have their sodium levels checked at baseline, during treatment, 
and as clinically indicated. Monitoring should be more frequent during the 
first two months of treatment.

Cataract:
Selinexor can cause new onset or exacerbation of cataract. Ophthalmologic 
evaluation may be performed as clinically indicated.  Cataract should be 
treated as per medical guidelines, including surgery if warranted.

Tumour lysis syndrome (TLS): 
TLS has been reported in patients receiving therapy with selinexor. Patients at 
a high risk for TLS should be monitored closely. Treat TLS promptly in 
accordance with institutional guidelines.

Fertility, pregnancy and lactation
Women of childbearing potential/contraception in males and females: 
Women of childbearing potential and male adult patients of reproductive 
potential should be advised to use effective contraceptive measures or abstain 
from sexual intercourse while being treated with selinexor and for at least 1 
week following the last dose of selinexor.

Pregnancy:
There are no data from the use of selinexor in pregnant women.  Selinexor is 
not recommended during pregnancy and in women of childbearing potential not 
using contraception.

Breast-feeding: 
It is unknown whether selinexor or its metabolites are excreted in human milk. 
A risk to breast-fed children cannot be excluded. Breast-feeding should be 
discontinued during treatment with selinexor and for 1 week after the last dose.

Undesirable effects

Summary of the safety profile
The most frequent adverse reactions (greater than or equal to 30%) of selinexor 
in combination with dexamethasone were nausea, thrombocytopenia, fatigue, 
anaemia, decreased appetite, decreased weight, diarrhea, vomiting, 
hyponatraemia, neutropenia and leukopenia.

The most commonly reported serious adverse reactions (greater than or equal to 
3%) were pneumonia, sepsis, thrombocytopenia, acute kidney injury, and anaemia.

Description of selected adverse reactions

Infections: Infection was the most common non-haematological toxicity. Upper 
respiratory tract infection and pneumonia were the most commonly reported 
infections with 25% of reported infections being serious and fatal infections 
occurring in 3% of treated adult patients.

Elderly population
Patients 75 years and older had a higher incidence of discontinuation due to an 
adverse reaction, higher incidence of serious adverse reactions, and higher 
incidence of fatal adverse reactions.

Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions after Authorisation of the medicinal 
product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk 
balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report 
any suspected adverse reactions via the national reporting system listed in 
Appendix V.

About Karyopharm Therapeutics

Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc. (Nasdaq: KPTI) is a commercial-stage 
pharmaceutical company pioneering novel cancer therapies. Since its founding, 
Karyopharm has been the industry leader in oral Selective Inhibitor of Nuclear 
Export (SINE) compound technology, which was developed to address a fundamental 
mechanism of oncogenesis: nuclear export dysregulation. Karyopharm's lead SINE 
compound and first-in-class, oral exportin 1 (XPO1) inhibitor, XPOVIO(R) 
(selinexor), is approved in the U.S. and marketed by the Company in three 
oncology indications and has received regulatory approvals in various 
indications in a growing number of ex-U.S. territories and countries, including 
Europe and the United Kingdom (as NEXPOVIO(R)), China, Singapore, Canada, 
Israel, South Korea, and Australia. Karyopharm has a focused pipeline targeting 
multiple high unmet need cancer indications, including in multiple myeloma, 
endometrial cancer, myelodysplastic syndromes and myelofibrosis. For more 
information about our people, science and pipeline, please visit 
www.karyopharm.com, and follow us on Twitter at @Karyopharm and LinkedIn.
About Menarini Group
The Menarini Group is a leading international pharmaceutical and diagnostics 
company, with a turnover of over $4 billion and over 17,000 employees. Menarini 
is focused on therapeutic areas with high unmet needs with products for 
oncology, cardiology, pneumology, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, 
diabetology, inflammation, and analgesia. With 18 production sites and 9 
Research and Development centers, Menarini's products are available in 140 
countries worldwide. For further information, please visit www.menarini.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of 
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking 
statements include those regarding the ability of selinexor to treat adult 
patients with multiple myeloma, the commercial launch of NEXPOVIO(R) in Europe, 
and expectations related to future clinical development and potential 
regulatory submissions of selinexor. Such statements are subject to numerous 
important factors, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond 
Karyopharm's control, that may cause actual events or results to differ 
materially from Karyopharm's current expectations. For example, there can be no 
guarantee that Karyopharm will successfully commercialize XPOVIO or that any of 
Karyopharm's drug candidates, including selinexor and eltanexor, will 
successfully complete necessary clinical development phases or that development 
of any of Karyopharm's drug candidates will continue. Further, there can be no 
guarantee that any positive developments in the development or 
commercialization of Karyopharm's drug candidate portfolio will result in stock 
price appreciation. Management's expectations and, therefore, any 
forward-looking statements in this press release could also be affected by 
risks and uncertainties relating to a number of other factors, including the 
following: the risk that the COVID-19 pandemic could disrupt Karyopharm's 
business more severely than it currently anticipates, including by negatively 
impacting sales of XPOVIO, interrupting or delaying research and development 
efforts, impacting the ability to procure sufficient supply for the development 
and commercialization of selinexor or other product candidates, delaying 
ongoing or planned clinical trials, impeding the execution of business plans, 
planned regulatory milestones and timelines, or inconveniencing patients; the 
adoption of XPOVIO in the commercial marketplace, the timing and costs involved 
in commercializing XPOVIO or any of Karyopharm's drug candidates that receive 
regulatory approval; the ability to obtain and retain regulatory approval of 
XPOVIO or any of Karyopharm's drug candidates that receive regulatory approval; 
Karyopharm's results of clinical trials and preclinical studies, including 
subsequent analysis of existing data and new data received from ongoing and 
future studies; the content and timing of decisions made by the U.S. Food and 
Drug Administration and other regulatory authorities, investigational review 
boards at clinical trial sites and publication review bodies, including with 
respect to the need for additional clinical studies; the ability of Karyopharm 
or its third party collaborators or successors in interest to fully perform 
their respective obligations under the applicable agreement and the potential 
future financial implications of such agreement; Karyopharm's ability to enroll 
patients in its clinical trials; unplanned cash requirements and expenditures; 
development or regulatory approval of drug candidates by Karyopharm's 
competitors for products or product candidates in which Karyopharm is currently 
commercializing or developing; and Karyopharm's ability to obtain, maintain and 
enforce patent and other intellectual property protection for any of its 
products or product candidates. These and other risks are described under the 
caption "Risk Factors" in Karyopharm's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the 
quarter ended March 31, 2022, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (SEC) on May 5, 2022, and in other filings that Karyopharm may make 
with the SEC in the future. Any forward-looking statements contained in this 
press release speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by law, 
Karyopharm expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking 
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
References

[1] World Health Organization. 2020. 
https://gco.iarc.fr/today/data/factsheets/cancers/35-Multiple-myeloma-fact-sheet.pdf


Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/652491/MENARINI_Group_Logo.jpg

Source: Menarini Industrie Farmaceutiche Riunite
Translations

Japanese