Pomalyst Gets Accelerated Approval for Kaposi Sarcoma

Avatar photoDiana Ernst, RPh
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Kaposi sarcoma, a type of vascular cancer once only seen in elderly people of Jewish or Mediterranean descent, is one of the two most common opportunistic diseases associated with AIDS. Its spread, however, is an uncommon cause of death; AIDS patients are more likely to succumb to Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, the other rampant opportunistic infection associated with AIDS.
Kaposi sarcoma, a type of vascular cancer once only seen in elderly people of Jewish or Mediterranean descent, is one of the two most common opportunistic diseases associated with AIDS. Its spread, however, is an uncommon cause of death; AIDS patients are more likely to succumb to Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, the other rampant opportunistic infection associated with AIDS.
This indication was granted accelerated approval based on overall response rate (ORR) and continued approval may be contingent upon confirmatory trial results.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has expanded the approval of Pomalyst (pomalidomide; Bristol Myers Squibb) to include treatment of adult patients with AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma after failure of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) or Kaposi sarcoma in adult patients who are HIV-negative. This indication was granted accelerated approval based on overall response rate (ORR) and continued approval may be contingent upon confirmatory trial results.

Pomalidomide is an analogue of thalidomide with immunomodulatory, antiangiogenic, and antineoplastic properties. The approval for Kaposi sarcoma was based on an open-label, single-arm study that evaluated the safety and efficacy of pomalidomide in 28 patients (18 HIV-positive, 10 HIV-negative). Patients received pomalidomide 5mg once daily on Days 1 through 21 of each 28-day cycle until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity; all patients continued HAART and also received aspirin 81mg once daily for thromboprophylaxis.

Results showed an ORR (primary end point) of 71% (95% CI, 51-87) among all patients, with a median duration of response of 12.1 months (95% CI, 7.6-16.8). Among HIV-positive patients, the ORR was 67% (95% CI, 41-87), with a median duration of response of 12.5 months (95% CI, 6.5-24.9). An ORR of 80% (95% CI, 44-98) was observed among HIV-negative patients, with a median duration of response of 10.5 months (95% CI, 3.9-24.2). 

With regard to safety, the most common adverse reactions observed in the Kaposi sarcoma trial were decreased absolute neutrophil count or white blood cells, elevated creatinine or glucose, rash, constipation, fatigue, decreased hemoglobin, platelets, phosphate, albumin, or calcium, increased ALT, nausea, and diarrhea.

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“Pomalyst has shown positive results in Kaposi sarcoma patients, regardless of their HIV status,” said Robert Yarchoan, MD, Chief of the HIV and AIDS Malignancy Branch within the Center for Cancer Research of the National Cancer Institute. “Also, it provides a therapy that is taken orally and works by a different mechanism of action than the cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs generally used to treat Kaposi sarcoma.”

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Pomalyst is supplied as 1mg, 2mg, 3mg, and 4mg capsules. 

For more information visit bms.com.

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