Novartis to highlight strength of its expanded oncology portfolio at ASCO 2015

Novartis will highlight the strength of its expanded oncology portfolio in 21 medicines and 11 investigational compounds across more than 185 data presentations at the upcoming American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, May 29-June 2, and the Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA), June 11-14. Data will demonstrate advances in research in a variety of cancer types, including melanoma, lung, breast, kidney and blood cancers, underscoring Novartis' leadership in developing treatments with the potential to improve and possibly extend the lives of people with solid and hematologic tumors.

"Novartis is proud to showcase our portfolio of medicines, enhanced by the acquisition of oncology products and related assets from GSK," said Bruno Strigini, President of Novartis Oncology. "In addition to new data across many disease areas, we look forward to presenting the overall survival data for the combination regimen of two of the assets we acquired – Tafinlar and Mekinist – as these targeted therapies play a critical role for certain patients fighting metastatic melanoma. These medicines – plus the many others highlighted at ASCO and EHA – exemplify our mission to transform cancer care."

Key data presentations show potential benefit of identifying tumor-specific biomarkers and combination treatment strategies:

• Tafinlar^® (dabrafenib) and Mekinist^® (trametinib): Full COMBI-d overall survival data in metastatic BRAF V600E/K mutation-positive cutaneous melanoma (ASCO Abstract #102; May 31, 9:45 AM CDT), and interim results of a Phase II study of the BRAF inhibitor dabrafenib in combination with the MEK inhibitor trametinib in patients with BRAF V600E mutated metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (ASCO Abstract #8006; May 31, 10:00 AM CDT)
• Zykadia^™ (ceritinib): First presentation of data from Phase II ASCEND-2 and ASCEND-3 efficacy and safety studies in ALK+ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (ASCO Abstract #8059; June 1, 8:00 AM CDT); (ASCO Abstract #8060; June 1, 8:00 AM CDT)
• Afinitor^® (everolimus): Identification of efficacy biomarkers in a large metastatic renal cell carcinoma cohort through next-generation sequencing; results from RECORD 3 (ASCO Abstract #4509; June 2, 9:45 AM CDT); biomarker analysis of BOLERO-1 and BOLERO-3 in HER2+ breast cancer (ASCO Abstract #512; May 31, 12:18 PM CDT)

"Our significant presence at ASCO demonstrates that Novartis is at the forefront of transforming how cancer is managed and treated, with a commitment to genomic medicine, innovative combinations, as well as the pursuit of scientific partnerships to further advance drug discovery and development," said Alessandro Riva, MD, Global Head, Novartis Oncology Development and Medical Affairs. "Our broad portfolio illustrates how we use scientific insights to 'starve or destroy' cancer cells implicated in a wide range of tumor types."

Additional data being presented at ASCO and EHA evaluate efficacy and safety of targeting multiple cancer pathways in a variety of solid tumors and blood cancers:

• Phase I study of dabrafenib in pediatric patients (pts) with relapsed or refractory BRAF V600E high- and low-grade gliomas (HGG, LGG), Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), and other solid tumors (OST) (ASCO Abstract #10004; May 30, 4:12 PM CDT)
• A Phase I/II study of the combination of panobinostat (PAN) and carfilzomib (CFZ) in patients (pts) with relapsed or relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM) (ASCO Abstract #8513; June 2, 11:33 AM CDT)
• Panobinostat plus bortezomib and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma who received prior bortezomib and IMiDs: A predefined subgroup analysis of PANORAMA 1 (ASCO Abstract #8526; May 31, 8:00 AM CDT) (EHA Abstract #S102; June 12, 11:45 CEST)

Important studies feature Novartis precision medicines and scientific insight based on genomic attributes of specific cancer types:

• Phase I study of ceritinib in pediatric patients (Pts) with malignancies harboring a genetic alteration in ALK (ALK+); Safety, pharmacokinetic (PK), and efficacy results (ASCO Abstract #10005; May 30, 4:24 PM CDT)
• First-in-human Phase I study of EGF816, a third generation mutant-selective EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring T790M (ASCO Abstract #8013; June 1, 8:00 AM CDT)
• Effect of mutations in distinct components of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway on sensitivity to endocrine therapy in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer (ASCO Abstract #532; May 30, 8:00 AM CDT)
• Evaluation of possible linkage between everolimus benefit in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer and genomic alterations of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway (ASCO Abstract #530; May 30, 8:00 AM CDT)

Early data indicate the potential of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cell (CAR T) therapies in a variety of cancers including lymphoma, multiple myeloma and pancreatic cancer:

• Phase IIa trial of chimeric antigen receptor modified T cells directed against CD19 (CTL019) in patients with relapsed or refractory CD19+ lymphomas (ASCO Abstract #8516; June 1, 3:24 PM CDT)
• Safety and efficacy of anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified autologous T cells (CTL019) in advanced multiple myeloma (ASCO Abstract #8517; June 1, 3:36 PM CDT)
• Safety and antitumor activity of chimeric antigen receptor modified T cells in patients with chemotherapy refractory metastatic pancreatic cancer (ASCO Abstract #3007; June 1, 3:27 PM CDT)

Other noteworthy data to be presented at ASCO and EHA:

• Final overall survival analysis for the RECORD-3 study of first-line everolimus followed by sunitinib versus first-line sunitinib followed by everolimus in metastatic RCC (mRCC) (ASCO Abstract #4554; June 1, 1:15 PM CDT)
• RECORD-4: A multicenter Phase II trial of second-line everolimus (EVE) in patients (pts) with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) (ASCO Abstract #4518; June 1, 1:15 PM CDT)
• Efficacy and safety of frontline nilotinib in 1089 European patients (pts) with chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase (CML-CP): ENEST1st final analysis (EHA Abstract #S486, June 13, 3:45 PM CEST)
• Efficacy and safety of nilotinib vs. imatinib in newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase: 6-year follow-up of ENESTnd (EHA Abstract #P228, June 12, 5:15 PM CEST)
• ENESTcmr 4-Y results: Patients (pts) with CML in chronic phase (CML-CP) and residual disease more likely to achieve deep molecular response following switch to nilotinib (NIL) (EHA Abstract #P229, June 12, 5:15 PM CEST)
• Ofatumumab (O) in combination with fludarabine (F) and cyclophosphamide (C) (OFC) vs. FC in patients with relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL): Results of the Phase III study COMPLEMENT 2 (EHA Late-Breaker Abstract #LB219, June 12, 5:15 PM CEST)
• Ruxolitinib in polycythemia vera: Follow-up from the RESPONSE trial (ASCO Abstract #7087; May 31, 8:00 AM CDT); (EHA Abstract #S447; June 13, 11:45 AM CEST)

Throughout ASCO and EHA, Novartis Oncology will host a dedicated webpage that will provide unique insights and perspectives into emerging areas of cancer care and research.