Kyprolis fails FOCUS study for Multiple Myeloma - Amgen/Onyx

Amgen and its subsidiary, Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the Phase III clinical trial FOCUS (CarFilzOmib for AdvanCed Refractory MUltiple Myeloma European Study) did not meet its primary endpoint of improving overall survival (OS) (HR=0.975, 95 percent CI, 0.760, 1.249). The 315-patient, open-label study evaluated single-agent Kyprolis (carfilzomib) for Injection compared to an active control regimen of low-dose dexamethasone, or equivalent corticosteroids, plus optional cyclophosphamide in patients with relapsed and advanced refractory Multiple Myeloma. Nearly all patients in the control arm received cyclophosphamide. Patients were heavily pretreated and had received a median of five therapeutic regimens prior to study entry.

Treatment discontinuation due to adverse events and on-study deaths were comparable between the two arms. The rate of cardiac events observed in the Kyprolis arm was consistent with the current U.S. Kyprolis label. There was an increase in the incidence of renal adverse events of all grades observed in the Kyprolis arm compared to the active control arm and the label."While it is unfortunate that the FOCUS study did not meet its primary endpoint of overall survival, we believe the results from the recent positive ASPIRE Phase III clinical trial will be sufficient to support regulatory submissions around the world," said Pablo J. Cagnoni, M.D., president, Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.