Selpercatinib: First Approval

Abstract

Selpercatinib (RETEVMO™) is a receptor tyrosine kinase RET (rearranged during transfection) inhibitor being developed by Loxo Oncology for the treatment of cancers harbouring RET alterations. Based on results from the phase I/II LIBRETTO-001 trial, selpercatinib was recently approved by the US FDA for the treatment of RET fusion-positive non-small-cell lung cancer, RET fusion-positive thyroid cancer and RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of selpercatinib leading to this first approval.

Selpercatinib (RETEVMO™): Key Points

A receptor tyrosine kinase RET (rearranged during transfection) inhibitor is being developed by Loxo Oncology for the treatment of various cancers harbouring RET alterations

Received its first approval on 8th May 2020 in the US

Approved for use in adult patients with metastatic RET fusion-positive NSCLC, adult and paediatric patients ≥ 12 years of age with advanced or metastatic RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer who require systemic therapy and adult and paediatric patients ≥ 12 years of age with advanced or metastatic RET fusion-positive thyroid cancer who require systemic therapy and who are radioactive iodine-refractory (if radioactive iodine is appropriate)

Introduction

Selpercatinib (RETEVMO™) is a highly selective receptor tyrosine kinase RET (rearranged during transfection) inhibitor developed by Loxo Oncology (Loxo, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) [1]) for the treatment of various solid tumours including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and thyroid cancer. Abnormally activated RET can act as an oncogene in various cancers; RET fusions retaining the kinase domain are drivers of NSCLC and papillary thyroid cancer, and activating RET mutations are associated with different phenotypes of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 and sporadic medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) [2]. Selpercatinib was approved in the US in May 2020 for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic RET fusion-positive NSCLC, adult and paediatric patients ≥ 12 years of age with advanced or metastatic RET-mutant MTC who require systemic therapy and adult and paediatric patients ≥ 12 years of age with advanced or metastatic RET fusion-positive thyroid cancer who require systemic therapy and who are radioactive iodine-refractory (if radioactive iodine is appropriate) [3]. The recommended dose of the drug is 120 mg (in patients weighing < 50 kg) or 160 mg (in patients weighing ≥ 50 kg) orally twice daily (≈ 12 h) until disease progression or the emergence of unacceptable toxicity [4].

Company Agreements

In July 2013 Loxo entered into a multi-year licence and collaboration agreement with Array Biopharma (recently acquired by Pfizer [5]). The agreement covered intellectual property related to selpercatinib, as well as the discovery and development of small-molecule drugs for mutually agreed oncology targets. Under the terms of the agreement, Loxo would fund preclinical research undertaken by Array and was responsible for target selection and clinical trials. Array would receive up to $US434 million in milestone and royalty payments, as well as Loxo stock [6].

Key milestones in the development of selpercatinib leading to its approval for the treatment of for lung and thyroid cancers with RET gene mutations or fusions. CNS central nervous system, MTC medullary thyroid cancer, NSCLC non-small cell lung cancer

Scientific Summary

Pharmacodynamics

In vitro, selpercatinib potently inhibited proliferation of RET-mutant MTC cells (MZ-CRC-1 cell line [RETM918T]) RET-mutant medullary thyroid carcinoma cells (TT cell line [RET C634W]) RET fusion-positive thyroid papillary carcinoma cells (TPC-1 cell line [CCDC6-RET]) and (NSCLC LC-2/Ad cell line [CCDC6-RET]) cells, but had 20- to 1700-fold less inhibitory activity against a panel of cell lines not containing RET alterations (n = 83). The drug was also associated with tumour regression in vivo in engineered and patient-derived RET fusion-positive and RET-mutant murine models, including RET fusion-positive models harbouring the V804M acquired resistance gatekeeper mutation. In mice injected intracranially with CCDC6-RET fusion-positive PDX cell suspensions, orally administered selpercatinib was associated with significantly prolonged survival (median not reached) vs. vehicle (median 21 days) [7].

The effect of selpercatinib on the cardiac QTc interval has been studied in volunteers, with the largest mean increase in QTc predicted to be 10.6 ms at mean steady-state C_max with selpercatinib 160 mg administered twice daily [4].

Pharmacokinetics

In patients with cancer, selpercatinib AUC and C_max at steady-state increased in a slightly greater than dose proportional manner at doses between 20 and 240 mg twice daily (0.06–1.5 times the maximum recommended total daily dosage). Steady-state was reached after ≈ 7 days with a 3.4-fold median accumulation ratio at a dose of 160 mg twice daily. Mean steady-state C_max and AUC_0-24h were 2980 ng/mL and 51600 ng·h/mL, respectively, with a median t_max of 2 h. The mean absolute bioavailability of selpercatinib capsules was 73% in volunteers. Administration of selpercatinib with a high fat meal had no significant effect on selpercatinib AUC or C_max in volunteers. The drug had an apparent clearance (CL/F) of 6 L/h in patients and a t_½ of 32 h after oral administration to volunteers.

In volunteers, unchanged drug accounted for 86% of radioactivity after administration of a single oral 160 mg radiolabelled dose of selpercatinib. Sixty nine and 24% of radioactivity was recovered in faeces and urine, respectively (14 and 12% unchanged, respectively). The drug is primarily metabolised by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4.

Chemical structure of selpercatinib

Increasing body weight (27–177 kg) was associated with an increase in the apparent volume of distribution and clearance of selpercatinib. No clinically significant differences in the pharmacokinetics of selpercatinib were observed according to age (15–90 years), gender, or mild or moderate renal impairment, however, insufficient data are available to characterize the effect of severe renal impairment on the pharmacokinetic profile of the drug. The presence of mild, moderate and severe hepatic impairment increased the AUC_0-INF of selpercatinib by 7%, 32%, and 77%, respectively, compared to subjects with normal hepatic function [4].

Coadministration of selpercatinib with multiple daily doses of omeprazole was associated with decreased selpercatinib AUC_0-INF and C_max when selpercatinib was administered during fasting but not when administered with food. Coadministration of selpercatinib with multiple daily doses of ranitidine had no clinically relevant effect on the pharmacokinetic profile of selpercatinib [4].

Following selpercatinib coadministration with multiple doses of the strong CYP3A inhibitor itraconazole, the AUC_0-INF and C_max of selpercatinib was increased by 133% and 30%, respectively. Coadministration of selpercatinib with multiple doses of the moderate CYP3A inhibitors diltiazem, fluconazole, or verapamil is predicted to increase selpercatinib AUC (by 60–99%) and C_max (by 46–76%) [4].

Coadministration of selpercatinib with multiple doses of the strong CYP3A inducer rifampin decreased the selpercatinib AUC_0-INF and C_max by 87% and 70%, respectively; coadministration of selpercatinib with multiple doses of the moderate CYP3A inducers bosentan or efavirenz is predicted to decrease selpercatinib AUC and C_max by 40–70% and 34–57%, respectively, and coadministration of multiple doses of the weak CYP3A inducer modafinil is predicted to decrease the AUC and C_max of selpercatinib by 33 and 26%, respectively.

Coadministration of selpercatinib with the sensitive CYP2C8 substrate repaglinide increased the repaglinide AUC_0-INF and C_max by 188 and 91%, respectively.

Coadministration of selpercatinib with the sensitive CYP3A substrate midazolam increased midazolam AUC_0-INF and C_max by 54 and 39%, respectively.

The pharmacokinetic profile of selpercatinib was not significantly affected when coadministered with a single dose of the P-glycoprotein inhibitor rifampin and no clinically significant differences in glucose levels were observed when the multidrug and toxin extrusion protein 1 (MATE1) substrate metformin was coadministered with selpercatinib [4].

Features and properties of selpercatinib

Alternative names	LOXO-292, LY3527723
Class	Antineoplastics, aza compounds, ethers, nitriles, pyrazoles, pyridines
Mechanism of Action	Receptor tyrosine kinase RET (rearranged during transfection) inhibitor
Route of Administration	Oral
Pharmacodynamics	Selective inhibitor of receptor tyrosine kinase RET
Pharmacokinetics	Mean steady-state Cmax 2980 ng/mL, AUC0-24h 51600 ng·h/mL, median tmax 2 h
Adverse events
Most frequent	Increased AST levels, increased AST levels, increased glucose levels, decreased albumin levels, decreased leukocyte levels, decreased calcium levels, increased creatinine levels, dry mouth, diarrhoea, increased alkaline phosphatase levels, hypertension, fatigue, decreased platelet levels, oedema, increased total cholesterol levels, decreased sodium levels, rash, constipation, decreased magnesium levels, increased potassium levels, increased bilirubin levels, headache, decreased glucose levels, nausea, abdominal pain, cough, prolonged QT interval, dyspnoea, vomiting, haemorrhage
Occasional	Hypersensitivity
ATC codes
WHO ATC code	L01 (Antineoplastic Agents)
EphMRA ATC code	L1 (Antineoplastics)
Chemical name	6-(2-hydroxy-2-methylpropoxy)-4-(6-{6-[(6-methoxypyridin-3-yl)methyl]-3,6-diazabicyclo[3.1.1]heptan-3-yl}pyridin-3- yl)pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine-3-carbonitrile

Therapeutic Trials

RET-Altered NSCLC

Selpercatinib demonstrated marked antitumor activity in patients with RET fusion-positive NSCLC enrolled in the phase I/II LIBRETTO-001 trial (NCT03157128). In the initial phase I component of the study patients with advanced RET-altered solid tumours were treated with oral selpercatinib in 28-day cycles with the maximal tolerated dose and recommended dose for phase II trials established as 160 mg twice daily [8]. Phase II enrolled patients to 1 of 6 cohorts based on tumour type, RET alteration and prior therapies [9]. At the data cut-off of 17 June 2019, 253 RET fusion-positive NSCLC patients had been treated. The primary analysis set for this report comprised the first 105 consecutively enrolled NSCLC patients who had received prior platinum-based chemotherapy, including 58 who had also received prior anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 therapy, most of whom were followed for ≥ 6 months from first response; the data cutoff date for efficacy endpoint analyses was 16 December 2019. The overall response rate in the primary analysis set (primary endpoint) was 70% (73 of 105 patients) by investigator review and 64% (67 of 105 patients) by independent review. The median duration of response was 20 months (median follow up of 15 months) by investigator review and 18 months (median follow-up of 12 months) by independent review [9]. The intracranial overall response rate was 81% by independent review (18 of 22 patients; 5 and 13 confirmed complete and partial responses, respectively) in patients with central nervous system target lesions at baseline [10]. The overall response rate in treatment-naïve RET fusion-positive NSCLC patients (n = 39) was 85% by independent review and 90% by investigator review; median duration of response was not reached [9].

RET-Altered Thyroid Cancer

Selpercatinib had marked antitumor activity in patients with RET-altered thyroid cancer enrolled in LIBRETTO-001. At the data cutoff of 17 June 2019, 226 patients with RET-mutant MTC and 27 with RET fusion-positive thyroid cancer had been treated with selpercatinib. The primary analysis set for this report comprised the first 55 consecutively enrolled patients with RET-mutant MTC previously treated with cabozantinib and/or vandetanib. The data cutoff date for efficacy endpoint analyses was 16 December 2019. The overall response rate in the primary analysis set (primary endpoint) was 62% (34 of 55 patients) by investigator review and 69% (38 of 55 patients) by independent review. The median duration of response was not reached after a median 14.8 months’ follow-up. The overall response rate in evaluable patients with RET fusion-positive thyroid cancer (n = 19) was 58% by investigator review and 79% by independent review [11].

Key clinical trials of selpercatinib (Loxo Oncology)

Drug(s)	Indication	Phase	Status	Location(s)	Identifier
Selpercatinib	Advanced solid tumours, RET fusion-positive solid tumours, and medullary thyroid cancer	I/II	Recruiting	Multinational	NCT03157128, LIBRETTO-001
Selpercatinib	Advanced solid or primary CNS tumours in paediatric patients	I/II	Recruiting	US	NCT03899792, LIBRETTO-121
Selpercatinib	RET fusion-positive advanced NSCLC	II	Recruiting	US	NCT04268550
Selpercatinib, cabozantinib, vandetanib	RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer	III	Recruiting	Multinational	NCT04211337, LIBRETTO-531
Selpercatinib	Solid tumours with RET activation	II	Recruiting	China	NCT04280081, LIBRETTO-321
Selpercatinib, carboplatin, cisplatin, pemetrexed, pembrolizumab	Advanced or metastatic RET fusion-positive NSCLC	III	Recruiting	Multinational	NCT04194944, LIBRETTO-431
Selpercatinib	Advanced solid tumours, lymphomas, or histiocytic disorders with activating RET gene alterations, (a Paediatric MATCH Treatment Trial)	II	Pending	N/A	NCT04320888
Selpercatinib	Solid tumours with evidence of activating RET alteration (expanded access)	N/A	Available	Multinational	NCT03906331

RET-Altered Cancers in Paediatric Patients

Preliminary data indicate selpercatinib is effective in paediatric patients with RET-altered cancers. Children ineligible to participate in clinical trials were treated with oral selpercatinib in continuous cycles, starting at a dose of 90 mg/m² twice daily under regulatory agency-permitted, independent review board-approved single patient protocols. The first of two available reports detailed 4 cases aged between 13 months and 8 years with tumours harbouring RET alterations; one from the Republic of Korea with papillary thyroid cancer, and one patient each with infantile myofibroma/hemangiopericytoma, congenital mesoblastic nephroma/infantile fibrosarcoma, or lipofibromatosis from the USA. As of 31 January 2019 the duration of treatment with selpercatinib ranged from 3 to 120 days with all patients continuing to receive selpercatinib. Partial responses—both ongoing, 1 confirmed, 1 pending confirmation—were observed in two patients evaluable for response [12]. The second report detailed five cases aged between 2 months and 15 years with tumours harbouring RET alterations, two with MTC, and one each with neuroblastoma, mesoblastic nephroma/infantile fibrosarcoma or lipofibromatosis. As of 1 October 2019 four patients had partial response and one had stable disease [13].

Adverse Events

Adverse reactions (grade 1–4) occurring in ≥ 25% of patients treated with selpercatinib in LIBRETTO-001 included dry mouth (39%), diarrhoea (37%), constipation (25%), hypertension (35%), fatigue (35%), oedema (33%), rash (27%) [4]. Grades 3–4 adverse reactions occurring in ≥ 2% of patients were hypertension (18.0%) and dyspnoea (2.3%); grade 3 only adverse reactions were diarrhoea (3.4%), fatigue (2.0%), and prolonged QT interval (4%).

Laboratory abnormalities (≥ 25%) worsening from baseline in patients treated with selpercatinib in LIBRETTO-001 included increased AST levels (51%), increased ALT levels (45%), increased glucose levels (44%), decreased albumin levels (42%), decreased calcium levels (41%), increased creatinine levels (37%), increased alkaline phosphatase levels (36%), increased total cholesterol levels (31%), decreased sodium levels (27%), decreased leukocyte levels (levels (43%) and decreased platelet levels (33%) [4]. Grade 3–4 laboratory abnormalities occurring in ≥ 2% of patients were increased AST levels (8%), increased ALT levels (9%), increased glucose levels (2.2%), decreased calcium levels (3.8%), increased alkaline phosphatase levels (2.3%), increased bilirubin (2.0%) and decreased platelets (2.7%).

Serious adverse reactions were observed in 33% of patients treated with selpercatinib, most frequently pneumonia. Three percent of patients had fatal adverse reactions including sepsis, cardiac arrest and respiratory failure, each occurring in three patients. Five percent of patients required permanent discontinuation of selpercatinib therapy because of adverse reactions including increased ALT levels (0.4%), sepsis (0.4%), increased AST levels (0.3%), drug hypersensitivity (0.3%), fatigue (0.3%), and thrombocytopenia (0.3%). Dosage interruptions because of adverse reactions were required in 42% of patients treated with selpercatinib including increased ALT or AST levels, hypertension, diarrhoea, pyrexia, and QT prolongation; dosage reductions were required in 31% of patients because of adverse reactions including increased ALT or AST levels, QT prolongation and fatigue [4].

Companion Diagnostic

An FDA-approved test for the detection of RET gene fusions and RET gene mutations is not currently available [4]. Eli Lilly and Company has entered into an agreement with Thermo Fisher Scientific for the development of the Oncomine Dx Target Test, a qualitative in vitro diagnostic test that uses targeted high-throughput, parallel sequencing technology, as a companion diagnostic test for the selection of patients for whom selpercatinib would be indicated [14]. Additionally, Loxo has partnered with Illumina for next generation sequencing-based companion diagnostic development.

Ongoing Clinical Trials

The randomized phase III LIBRETTO-431 (NCT04194944) and LIBRETTO-531 (NCT04211337) trials are evaluating the efficacy of selpercatinib in patients with RET fusion-positive NSCLC and treatment-naïve RET-mutant MTC, respectively [15].

The phase II LIBRETTO-321 trial (NCT04280081) is underway in China evaluating the efficacy of selpercatinib in patients with advanced solid tumours including RET fusion-positive solid tumours, MTC and other tumours with RET activation.

LIBRETTO-121 (NCT03899792) is an ongoing multicentre phase I/II dose escalation multicentre trial in patients 6 months–21 years of age with advanced, RET-altered solid and CNS tumours [16].

Current Status

Selpercatinib received its first approval on 8th May 2020 in the US for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic RET fusion-positive NSCLC, adult and paediatric patients ≥ 12 years of age with advanced or metastatic RET-mutant MTC who require systemic therapy and adult and paediatric patients ≥ 12 years of age with advanced or metastatic RET fusion-positive thyroid cancer who require systemic therapy and who are radioactive iodine-refractory (if radioactive iodine is appropriate).

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Funding

The preparation of this review was not supported by any external funding.

Conflict of interest

During the peer review process the manufacturer of the agent under review was offered an opportunity to comment on the article. Changes resulting from any comments received were made by the authors on the basis of scientific completeness and accuracy. A. Markham is a contracted employee of Adis International Ltd/Springer Nature, is responsible for the article content and declares no relevant conflicts of interest.