Tecemotide (INN; emepepimut-S (USAN); formerly known as BLP25 or EMD 531444) is a synthetic lipopeptide that is used as antigen in an investigational therapeutic cancer vaccine (formerly known as Stimuvax, L-BLP25, BLP25 liposomal vaccine, or BLP25 liposome vaccine). The investigational therapeutic cancer vaccine is designed to induce a cellular immune response to cancer cells that express MUC1, a glycoprotein antigen that is widely over-expressed on common cancers such as lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer. The cellular immune response may lead to a rejection of tumor tissue expressing the MUC1 antigen.[1]
Tecemotide was developed – until Clinical trial phase II – by the Canadian biotech company Biomira Inc., which changed its company name to Oncothyreon Inc. in 2007.[2] Oncothyreon is now located in Seattle, Washington, and it changed its name to SGEN after a merger and acquisition in March 2018.[citation needed]
In 2001, Merck KGaA, of Darmstadt, Germany, entered into a collaboration and supply agreement with Biomira. In 2007, Merck KGaA acquired the exclusive worldwide marketing rights from Biomira, and Merck KGaA has since then been entirely responsible for the further clinical development of tecemotide.[3] In 2008, Merck KGaA acquired the manufacturing rights for tecemotide from Oncothyreon.[4] In 2011, Ono Pharmaceutical Company, of Japan, acquired a co-development and co-marketing license for tecemotide in Japan; Ono paid Merck KGaA 5 million euros.[5]
Composition
Tecemotide is a synthetic lipopeptide that is 27 amino acids long. Its molecular formula is C124H203N33O38, and its amino acid sequence is STAPPAHGVTSAPDTRPAPGSTAPPKG. The first 25 amino acids of tecemotide are derived from the mucin 1 (MUC1, carcinoma-associated mucin, episialin, or CD227) sequence. The 26th modified amino acid, K, is palmityl-lysine (N6-(1-oxohexadecyl)-L-lysine), and the 27th is glycine.[6]
Structure of the cancer vaccine
Structure of the cancer vaccine. The antigen tecemotide (orange) and the adjuvant MPL (dark blue) are anchored in the membrane of the liposome. The liposome is formed by the lipids (light blue).
In the investigational therapeutic cancer vaccine (formerly known as Stimuvax, L-BLP25, BLP25 liposomal vaccine or BLP25 liposome vaccine), the antigen tecemotide is anchored — together with the adjuvant 3-O-deacyl-4′-monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL) — in the membrane of the liposome made from the lipids cholesterol, dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol (DMPG), and dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine. MPL is a derivative of the lipid A molecule found in the membrane of Gram-negative bacteria used as an adjuvant to initiate a non-specific immune stimulus, thereby stimulating the activation of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) through the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) as well as macrophages. MPL is also used as an adjuvant in other vaccines, like Cervarix, a vaccine against certain types of cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV).[1]
The precise mixture of lipids in the vaccine, as well as providing the structure of the liposome, is also formulated to enhance the uptake of the vaccine by the aforementioned antigen-presenting cells.[7]
The cancer vaccine is a lyophilized powder, which is formulated to contain 300 μg of tecemotide and 150 μg of MPL per vial.[1]
Clinical trials
Overview and results of all trials
Tecemotide clinical trials (as of September 2, 2014)[8] sorted by (estimated) primary completion date:[9]
Clinical trials:
Lung cancer, Breast cancer, Prostate cancer, Colorectal cancer, and Multiple myeloma
NCT Number / Title
Other IDs
Start Date
(Estimated) Primary Completion Date
Recruitment
Conditions
Interventions
Phases
Enrollment (Patients)
Sponsor / Collaborators
Clinical trial number NCT00157209 for "Phase IIb Randomized Controlled Study of BLP25 Liposome Vaccine for Immunotherapy of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer" at ClinicalTrials.gov
B25-LG-304 / EMR 63325-005
August 2000
March 2006
Completed
Lung Neoplasms, Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung
Biological: BLP25 Liposome Vaccine plus best supportive care; Other: Best Supportive Care (BSC)
Phase 2
171
Merck KGaA
Results: A Phase IIb clinical trial of 171 patients with inoperable stage IIIb non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), in which tecemotide showed a trend towards extending median overall survival from 13.3 months for patients receiving best supportive care (BSC) to 30.6 months for patients receiving tecemotide plus BSC. Although this represents a subgroup analysis that is not statistically significant (with a nonsignificant P-value: p = 0.16), the magnitude of the difference and its durability over a prolonged period of follow up suggest an efficacy signal for the vaccine and would support further testing of tecemotide in a definitive phase III trial. Reported side effects included mild-to-moderate flu-like symptoms, gastrointestinal disturbances, and mild injection-site reactions.[10]Butts C, Maksymiuk A, Goss G, Soulières D, Marshall E, Cormier Y, etal. (September 2011). "Updated survival analysis in patients with stage IIIB or IV non-small-cell lung cancer receiving BLP25 liposome vaccine (L-BLP25): phase IIB randomized, multicenter, open-label trial". Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology. 137 (9): 1337–1342. doi:10.1007/s00432-011-1003-3. PMID21744082. S2CID25108866.
NCT00157196 Safety Study of BLP25 Liposome Vaccine in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients With Unresectable Stage III Disease
B25-LG-305 / EMR 63325-006
April 2005
September 2009
Completed
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung, Lung Neoplasms
Biological: BLP25 Liposome Vaccine
Phase 2
22
Merck KGaA
NCT00925548 STRIDE - STimulating Immune Response In aDvanced brEast Cancer
STRIDE, EMR 200038–010, 2008-005544-17
September 2009
August 2010
Terminated
Breast Cancer
Biological: Tecemotide (L-BLP25) and Hormonal Treatment, Biological: Placebo of tecemotide (L-BLP25) and Hormonal Treatment, Drug: cyclophosphamide, Drug: sodium chloride (NaCl)
Phase 3
16
EMD Serono
A thirty-site phase III trial (STRIDE) began in September 2009 on 900 women. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the addition of tecemotide to hormonal treatment is effective in prolonging progression-free survival in postmenopausal women with endocrine-sensitive inoperable locally advanced, recurrent, or metastatic breast cancer.[11][12]
Results: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) put the Phase III STRIDE trial on hold in March 2010 after a patient participating in a Phase II clinical trial with tecemotide in patients with multiple myeloma developed encephalitis.[13] The study was terminated in August 2010 (16 patients were enrolled in the study).
NCT01094548 Study of Stimuvax in Patients With Slowly Progressive Multiple Myeloma With no Symptoms and Who Have Had no Chemotherapy
EMR63325-008
February 2008
February 2011
Completed
Multiple Myeloma
Biological: L-BLP25, cyclophosphamide prior to first vaccination, Biological: L-BLP25
Phase 2
34
Merck KGaA
NCT00409188 Cancer Vaccine Study for Unresectable Stage III Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
Results: The primary endpoint of overall survival was not met in the START trial.[14] However, the exploratory subgroup analysis in the START trial generated a reasonable hypothesis to warrant additional study.Kolahdooz F, Jang SL, Corriveau A, Gotay C, Johnston N, Sharma S (October 2014). "Knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours towards cancer screening in indigenous populations: a systematic review". The Lancet. Oncology. 15 (11): e504–e516. doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(14)70508-X. PMID25281469.
NCT01731587 Anti-cancDer MUC1-specific Immunotherapy for Unresectable Stage III Non-small Cell Lung Cancer
FINGERPRINT, EMR 63325–019, 2012-001435-31
Withdrawn
Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Stage III
Other: Biological: MUC1 peptide specific immunotherapy, Drug: Cyclophosphamide (CPA)
Phase 1
0
Merck KGaA
NCT00960115 Study of EMD531444 in Subjects With Stage III Unresectable Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Following Primary Chemoradiotherapy
Results: The analysis of EMR 63325–009, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase I/II study in Japanese patients with Stage III unresectable, locally advanced NSCLC who had received concurrent or sequential chemoradiotherapy (CRT), with a minimum of two cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy and radiation dose ≥50 Gy shows the following results: Of the patients included in the Phase II part of the study, the majority had received concurrent CRT. The results indicate that no effect has been observed for either the primary endpoint, overall survival (OS), or any of the secondary endpoints (progression-free survival [PFS], time to progression [TTP], and time to treatment failure). An analysis of the reported adverse events has not identified a clinically meaningful difference in the frequency between treatment groups. Merck Serono made the recommendation to stop the investigational treatment for patients in the EMR 63325-009 study in Japan.[15]
EudraCT: 2011-004822-85 A prospective, open, randomized, phase-II study of a therapeutic cancer vaccine (L-BLP25, Stimuvax) in the pre-operative treatment of women with primary breast cancer
NCT00828009 BLP25 Liposome Vaccine and Bevacizumab After Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Newly Diagnosed Stage IIIA or Stage IIIB Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer That Cannot Be Removed by Surgery
Primary endpoint not met. Subgroup analysis favorable.
EMR 63325-009 (Japan study)
1, 2
NSCLC
December 2008
May 2014
Primary endpoint and secondary endpoints not met. Subgroup analysis not favorable.
Discontinued development
On August 18 and September 12, 2014, Oncothyreon[23] and Merck KGaA, respectively, reported that a randomized Phase 1/2 study, EMR 63325–009, of tecemotide compared to a placebo in Japanese patients with Stage III non-small cell lung cancer did not meet its primary endpoint of an improvement in overall survival, and no treatment effect was seen in any of the secondary endpoints (progression-free survival, time to progression, or time to failure). Merck made the recommendation to stop the investigational treatment of patients in the EMR 63325-009 study in Japan.
Furthermore, Merck KGaA announced its decision to discontinue the Phase III START2 and INSPIRE studies, and all other Merck-sponsored clinical trials with tecemotide in NSCLC, worldwide. Merck will continue to supply tecemotide for ongoing investigator-sponsored trials in other indications in accordance with their agreements with the sponsors of these studies.[24]
Drug development risks
Risks that could affect the further development of tecemotide published in the annual reports of Oncothyreon (grantor of the license) and Merck KGaA (license holder; responsible for clinical development, marketing and manufacturing) are listed in the following sections.[citation needed]
Efficacy
As published so far, primary end points have not been met in the clinical studies, and tecemotide has shown treatment effects only in statistical analyses of certain subgroups.[25]
Patent situation
Oncothyreon's patent protection for tecemotide in the U.S. was scheduled to expire in 2018.[26]
Human resources
In 2013, Merck KGaA reported problems with recruiting and retaining qualified employees: "Sourcing, recruiting and retaining specialists and talent at Merck are among the company's top priorities. Nevertheless, employee-related risks that affect business activities are likely, even though their impact is difficult to assess. Merck rates this as a medium risk."[27]
Merck KGaA further reported with respect to its pharma division, Merck Serono: "Over 80% of the Merck Serono senior management positions [have been] replaced since 2011 [as of September 2014]."[28]
Novel technologies
Tecemotide is based on novel technologies, which may raise new regulatory issues that could delay or complicate regulatory approval. Additionally, as of 2013, the FDA had approved for commercial sale in the United States only one active vaccine designed to stimulate an immune response against cancer. Consequently, there is limited precedent for the successful development or commercialization of products based on these technologies in this area.[29]
Manufacture
Merck KGaA currently relies on third-party manufacturers to supply the product candidate: On Baxter International for the manufacture of tecemotide, and on GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) for the manufacture of the adjuvant in tecemotide, monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL). As of 2013, there was a risk that if tecemotide were not approved by 2015, GSK could terminate its obligation to supply MPL. In this case, Oncothyreon would have had to retain the necessary licenses from GSK required to have the adjuvant MPL manufactured, but the transfer of the process to a third party would delay the development and commercialization of tecemotide.[30]
Competition
There are currently two products approved as maintenance therapy following treatment of inoperable locoregional Stage III NSCLC with induction chemotherapy: Tarceva (erlotinib), a targeted small molecule from Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, and Alimta (pemetrexed), a chemotherapeutic from Eli Lilly and Company. Tecemotide has not been tested in combination with or in comparison to these products. It is possible that other existing or new agents will be approved for this indication. In addition, there are at least two vaccines in development for the treatment of NSCLC, including GSK's MAGE A3 vaccine in Phase 3 and Transgene's TG-4010 in Phase 2/3. TG-4010 also targets MUC1, although using technology different from tecemotide.[31]
Drug development cost
The costs spent on tecemotide development – beginning in the late 1990s – have not been published in detail by the companies Biomira/Oncothyreon, Merck KGaA, and Ono Pharmaceutical. Additionally, the estimation of the full cost of bringing a new drug to market – from discovery through clinical trials to approval – is complex and controversial.[citation needed]
However, a cautious estimate of the tecmotide development cost spent until 2014 ranges from €300 to €500 million (US$390 to US$650 million;[citation needed] for more information see Drug development).
Biomira publishes results of a Phase I study of the BLP25 (tecemotide)Palmer M, Parker J, Modi S, Butts C, Smylie M, Meikle A, etal. (August 2001). "Phase I study of the BLP25 (MUC1 peptide) liposomal vaccine for active specific immunotherapy in stage IIIB/IV non-small-cell lung cancer". Clinical Lung Cancer. 3 (1): 49–57, discussion 58. doi:10.3816/clc.2001.n.018. PMID14656392.
Mar 2006
Results of the Phase IIb Study (EMR 63325-005): Subgroup analysis favorable
Aug 2007
Merck KGaA acquires worldwide marketing rights for tecemotide from Oncothyreon and will be entirely responsible for the further clinical development of tecemotide
Sep 2007
Biomira changes company name to Oncothyreon
Dec 2008
Merck KGaA acquires manufacturing rights for tecemotide from Oncothyreon
Dec 2009
INSPIRE study (EMR63325-012) started. Estimated primary completion date is May 2020
Oct 2011
Ono Pharmaceutical acquires a co-development and co-marketing license for tecemotide in Japan
Dec 2012
Results of the START study (EMR 63325-001): Primary endpoint not met. Subgroup analysis favorable
Mar 2014
START2 study (EMR 63325-021) started. Estimated primary completion date is July 2018
Aug 2014
Results of the Japan study (EMR 63325-009): Primary endpoint and secondary endpoints not met. Subgroup analysis not favorable[33]
Sep 2014
Merck KGaA terminates the NSCLC development
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↑ The primary completion date is defined as the date when the final subject was examined or received an intervention for the purposes of final collection of data for the primary outcome.
↑ The primary completion date is defined as the date when the final subject was examined or received an intervention for the purposes of final collection of data for the primary outcome.
↑ All references related to this table can be found in the section "Overview and results of all trials"
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