Takeda's Ixazomib Effective As Multiple Myeloma Maintenance Therapy, Study Finds

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company announced that a Phase 2 study of single-agent ixazomib (MLN9708) demonstrated feasibility for the agent as a maintenance therapy for patients with multiple myeloma (MM). The company announced the results in a press release, stating that study participants had previously received ixazomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone as induction therapy. Takeda presented the data at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH) in San Francisco, CA. The company also announced that it renamed its oncology unit, previously known as Millennium Pharmaceuticals, to Takeda Oncology.

Michael Vasconcelles, M.D., Head of the Oncology Therapeutic Area Unit at Takeda, said, “Indeed, we have recently initiated enrollment into our Phase 3 TOURMALINE-MM3 study to assess the potential benefit of single-agent ixazomib following autologous stem cell transplant. We look forward to this study completing enrollment and follow up, so that important new information about the use of ixazomib in the maintenance setting may be learned.”

Ixazomib

Ixazomib is an oral proteasome inhibitor, an orphan drug in the U.S. and the EU for multiple myeloma (MM) and systemic light-chain (AL) amyloidosis. The first oral proteasome inhibitor to enter Phase 3 clinical trials, ixazomib blocks the proteasomes, enzymes that break down, recycle, or discard proteins. Interfering with the proteasomes disrupts protein metabolism and cancer cell proliferation. Myeloma cells make M-proteins, which may be especially sensitive to proteasome inhibitors. Takeda considers ixazomib to be a second-generation inhibitor after Velcade (bortezomib), another Takeda agent, which is injectable, unlike oral ixazomib.

Ixazomib Trials

Takeda is running four Phase 3 trials for ixazomib and reporting on a Phase 2 trial of ixazomib as a single-agent. The study found that of the 50 people that enrolled and received ixazomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone as induction therapy for up to twelve 28-day cycles, 21 continued and received single-agent ixazomib for a median of 19 treatment cycles. Investigators found that 10 of 21 patients (48 percent) improved their response during maintenance.

Takeda Activities

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company is headquartered in Osaka, Japan. In December 2014, the company announced that it was retiring the Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company brand. The business unit, located in Cambridge, MA, will be called Takeda Oncology in order to reflect Takeda’s global oncology business strategy. The Oncology unit will work closely with the Oncology Therapeutic Area and Takeda’s Oncology Drug Discovery Unit.