News Feature | April 7, 2014

Novartis To Present Data On 19 Compounds At AACR 2014

By Estel Grace Masangkay

Novartis announced that it will present early stage data on 19 investigational compounds in its oncology pipeline at the annual meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) this month in San Diego, CA. More than 50 abstracts involving the company’s investigational compounds will be presented at the meeting.

Data from single agent and combination studies will be featured, including key investigational compounds in the Novartis Oncology breast cancer development program. These are directed at multiple molecular targets and pathways. The company said it is currently exploring over 30 targets related to cancer.

“Our research approach is driven by an understanding of cancers on a genomic level and developing therapies directed at those targets. The AACR presentations demonstrate the depth and breadth of our pipeline, which allows us to test various combinations at an early stage to target different pathways and mutations involved in cancer,” said Alessandro Riva, President, Novartis Oncology ad interim and Global Head of Oncology Development and Medical Affairs.

Among the data to be presented at the meeting are:     

  • LEE011/BMK120/BYL719 - In vivo efficacy of combined targeting of CDK4/6, ER and PI3K signaling in ER+ breast cancer
  • BYL719 - Loss of PTEN leads to clinical resistance to the PI3K inhibitor BYL719 and provides evidence of convergent evolution under selective therapeutic pressure
  • LDK378- The ALK inhibitor LDK378 overcomes crizotinib resistance in non-small cell lung cancer; Combination CDK4/6 and ALK inhibition demonstrates on-target synergy against neuroblastoma; The Mdm2 inhibitor NVP-CGM097 enhances the anti-tumor activity of NVP-LDK378 in ALK mutant neuroblastoma models

The investigational compound LDK378 in particular has been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation by the FDA in 2013 and is currently under review. Several compounds featured in the studies have started Phase III trials including LEE which is being studies in patients with HR+ breast cancer. Safety and efficacy profiles of the investigational compounds have not yet been established.