Article
作者: Wang, C-C ; Ramirez Fallas, R A L ; Kowalski, D M ; Casarini, I A ; Şendur, M A N ; Song, X ; Felip, E ; Lala, M ; Martins, J ; Wang, M ; Nair, S ; Yoshioka, H ; Rojas, C I ; Calles Blanco, A ; Eiras, R ; Csöszi, T ; Schenker, M ; Takahashi, T ; Deng, X
BACKGROUND:Pembrolizumab with berahyaluronidase alfa is for subcutaneous (s.c.) administration. The phase III open-label 3475A-D77 study (NCT05722015) assessed s.c. pembrolizumab versus intravenous (i.v.) pembrolizumab, plus chemotherapy, for treatment of metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (mNSCLC).
PATIENTS AND METHODS:Participants with newly diagnosed stage IV squamous or nonsquamous NSCLC without sensitizing EGFR, ALK, or ROS1 alterations were randomized 2 : 1 to pembrolizumab s.c. 790 mg every 6 weeks (q6w) or pembrolizumab i.v. 400 mg q6w (18 cycles), each given with platinum-doublet chemotherapy. Dual primary endpoints were pharmacokinetic exposure measures of cycle 1 area under the curve (AUC0-6 weeks) and steady-state trough concentration (Ctrough) of pembrolizumab. The noninferiority margin for AUC0-6 weeks and Ctrough geometric mean ratios (GMRs) of pembrolizumab s.c. versus i.v. was specified as 0.8. Secondary endpoints included additional pharmacokinetic exposure measures, pembrolizumab immunogenicity, efficacy, and safety.
RESULTS:In total 377 participants were randomized to the pembrolizumab s.c. (n = 251) or i.v. (n = 126) arms. The median time from randomization to data cut-off (12 July 2024) was 9.6 months (range 6.2-16.4 months). The median injection time for pembrolizumab s.c. was 2.0 min (range 1-12 min). The GMR [96% confidence interval (CI)] for cycle 1 AUC0-6 weeks was 1.14 (1.06-1.22); P < 0.0001. The GMR (94% CI) for steady-state Ctrough was 1.67 (1.52-1.84); P < 0.0001. Secondary pharmacokinetic endpoints were within established bounds for pembrolizumab. Anti-pembrolizumab antibodies were detected in 1.4% (pembrolizumab s.c. arm) and 0.9% (pembrolizumab i.v. arm) of participants. For the pembrolizumab s.c. versus i.v. arms, objective response rates (ORRs) were 45.4% versus 42.1% (ORR ratio 1.08, 95% CI 0.85-1.37). Other efficacy measures were similar and safety profiles were consistent between treatment arms.
CONCLUSIONS:Overall exposure and trough concentrations of pembrolizumab s.c. 790 mg q6w were noninferior to those of pembrolizumab i.v. 400 mg q6w given with chemotherapy in participants with treatment-naive mNSCLC. Results support pembrolizumab s.c. as a treatment option in all indications where pembrolizumab i.v. can be used.