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  6. FDA grants approval to atezolizumab for alveolar soft part sarcoma
  1. Resources for Information | Approved Drugs

FDA grants approval to atezolizumab for alveolar soft part sarcoma

On December 9, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved atezolizumab (Tecentriq, Genentech, Inc.) for adult and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older with unresectable or metastatic alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS).

Efficacy was evaluated in Study ML39345 (NCT03141684), an open-label, single-arm study in 49 adult and pediatric patients with unresectable or metastatic ASPS. Eligible patients were required to have histologically or cytologically confirmed ASPS incurable by surgery and an ECOG performance status of ≤2. Patients were excluded for primary central nervous system (CNS) malignancy or symptomatic CNS metastases, clinically significant liver disease, or a history of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pneumonitis, organizing pneumonia, or active pneumonitis on imaging. Adult patients received 1200 mg intravenously and pediatric patients received 15 mg/kg (up to a maximum of 1200 mg) intravenously once every 21 days until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

The main efficacy outcome measures were overall response rate (ORR) and duration of response (DOR) determined by an independent review committee using RECIST v1.1. ORR was 24% (95% CI: 13, 39). Of the 12 patients who experienced an objective response, 67% had a DOR of 6 months or more, and 42% had a DOR of 12 months or more.

The median patient age was 31 years (range: 12-70); 47 adult patients (2% were ≥65 years of age) and 2 pediatric patients ≥12 years of age were enrolled; 51% were female, 55% White, 29% Black or African American, 10% Asian.

The most common adverse reactions (≥15%) were musculoskeletal pain (67%); fatigue (55%); rash (47%); cough (45%); nausea, headache, and hypertension (43% each), vomiting (37%), constipation and dyspnea (33% each), dizziness and hemorrhage (29% each), insomnia and diarrhea (27% each), pyrexia, anxiety, abdominal pain and hypothyroidism (25% each), decreased appetite and arrhythmia (22% each), influenza-like illness and weight decreased (18% each), and allergic rhinitis and weight increased (16% each).

The recommended atezolizumab dosage for adult patients is 840 mg every 2 weeks, 1200 mg every 3 weeks, or 1680 mg every 4 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The recommended dosage for pediatric patients 2 years of age and older is 15 mg/kg (up to a maximum of 1200 mg) every 3 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

View full prescribing information for Tecentriq.

This review used the Assessment Aid, a voluntary submission from the applicant to facilitate the FDA’s assessment. The FDA approved this application 3 weeks ahead of the FDA goal date.

This application was granted priority review and breakthrough designation. A description of FDA expedited programs is in the Guidance for Industry: Expedited Programs for Serious Conditions-Drugs and Biologics. The application also was granted orphan drug designation.

Healthcare professionals should report all serious adverse events suspected to be associated with the use of any medicine and device to FDA’s MedWatch Reporting System or by calling 1-800-FDA-1088.

For assistance with single-patient INDs for investigational oncology products, healthcare professionals may contact OCE’s Project Facilitate at 240-402-0004 or email OncProjectFacilitate@fda.hhs.gov

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