Phase III study of NEPA, a fixed combination of netupitant and palonosetron, versus an aprepitant regimen for prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV).

Abstract

10090 Background: Co-administration of multiple antiemetics that inhibit several molecular pathways involved in emesis is required to optimize CINV control in patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC). NEPA, a novel fixed combination of a highly selective NK1 receptor antagonist (RA), netupitant (300 mg), and palonosetron (PALO 0.50 mg), a pharmacologically distinct 5-HT3RA, has shown superior CINV prevention compared to PALO in cisplatin and AC-based settings. This study is the first head-to-head comparison of NEPA versus an aprepitant (APR)/granisetron (GRAN) regimen, with the primary objective being to demonstrate non-inferiority in preventing CINV. Methods: This randomized, double-blind, parallel group Phase III study conducted in an Asian population was designed to compare efficacy and safety of a single oral dose of NEPA with a 3-day oral APR/GRAN regimen in chemotherapy-naïve patients receiving cisplatin-based HEC. All patients also received oral dexamethasone (DEX) on days 1-4. The primary efficacy endpoint was complete response (CR: no emesis, no rescue medication) during the overall (0-120 h) phase. Non-inferiority was defined as a lower 95% CI greater than the non-inferiority margin set at -10%. Secondary efficacy endpoints included no emesis and no significant nausea (NSN: < 25mm on 100mm VAS). Results: Treatment groups were comparable for the 828 patients analyzed: predominantly male (71%); mean age 54.5 years; ECOG 0-1 (98%); lung cancer (58%). NEPA demonstrated non-inferiority to APR/GRAN for overall CR; no emesis and NSN rates favored NEPA. Most frequent study drug-related adverse events (AEs) for NEPA included constipation (8.0%) and hiccups (2.7%). The type/incidence/severity of AEs were similar for NEPA and APR/GRAN. Conclusions: In this first study comparing NK1RA regimens and 4 days of DEX, NEPA administered only on day 1 was non-inferior to a 3-day oral APR/GRAN regimen in preventing CINV associated with HEC. [Table: see text]