| Full Name: |
Velcade® (bortezomib) for Injection |
 |
| Other Names: |
PS-341, MLN341, and LDP-341 |
 |
| Description: |
Proteasome inhibitor (intravenous) |
 |
| Phase: |
Approved in over 40 countries worldwide, including the US and EU |
 |
| Company: |
Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
www.millennium.com
www.velcade.com |
What It Is
Velcade is the first in a class of medicines called
proteasome inhibitors and was the first treatment in more than a decade to be approved for patients with multiple myeloma in 2003. It received full approval for use in patients who have received one prior therapy in 2005.
Based on promising Phase II data in the front-line setting, Millennium has initiated several large Phase III trials exploring Velcade-based regimens in this patient population. Velcade is also under investigation in other hematologic cancers, particularly certain types of lymphoma, and in a variety of solid cancers, including prostate, lung, breast, and ovarian cancer.
How It Works
Overview
Velcade is a potent, specific, and reversible proteasome inhibitor and the first drug of this type to enter clinical trials. Proteasomes are present in all cells and function to help regulate cell growth. In nonclinical studies, normal cells appear to be able to recover from intermittent proteasome inhibition, but many types of cancer cells undergo apoptosis (programmed cell death) when proteasomes are inhibited, even for a short time.
Details on Velcade's Mechanism of Action
The proteasome is an enzyme complex that exists in all cells and plays an important role in degrading proteins involved in the cell cycle, growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis), cell adhesion, cytokine production, apoptosis, and other important cellular processes. Many of the processes that rely on proteasome function can contribute to the growth and survival of cancer cells. Velcade is a potent but reversible inhibitor of the proteasome. By disrupting normal cellular processes, proteasome inhibition promotes apoptosis. Non-clinical data has demonstrated that cancer cells are more susceptible to the effects of proteasome inhibition than normal cells. Due to the reversibility of proteasome inhibition with Velcade, normal cells can recover from its effects, whereas cancer cells are more likely to undergo apoptosis.
Click here to go to the Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Web site to view a video clip that shows how proteasome inhibitors work.
In addition to its potential use as a single agent, non-clinical research suggests that when Velcade is combined with steroids, other cytotoxic treatments, especially alkylating agents and DNA damaging agents, other novel agents (such as lenalidomide [Revlimid®, Celgene]) or radiation, there is an additive or synergistic effect.
Details on Velcade's Mechanism of Action in Myeloma
Velcade appears to act on myeloma cells in several ways. It appears to act directly on the myeloma cells to cause cell death as well as indirectly inhibiting their growth and survival by acting on the bone microenvironment.
Many of Velcade's anti-myeloma effects are thought to be due to its ability to block a key survival protein known as
nuclear factor κB (NF–κB). NF–κB is found within the cell and acts as a transcription factor, turning on genes that cause production of proteins that stimulate cell growth.
When a cell receives an external signal, such as a growth factor, proteins such as NF–κB transfer the message to the nucleus of the cell, causing some type of response, such as cell growth. NF–κB also sends a message for cells to increase the expression of various molecules on their cell surface. In the case of myeloma, these surface molecules (
adhesion molecules) allow myeloma cells to stick to cells in the bone marrow. This interaction stimulates the bone marrow cells to produce factors that promote the growth and survival of myeloma cells, such as
interleukin 6 (IL–6) and
vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which promotes
angiogenesis to nourish the tumor.
Therefore, by blocking NF–κB, Velcade inhibits myeloma cell growth and induces myeloma cell death. It also inhibits the production of growth and survival factors by blocking the production of adhesion molecules on the myeloma cell surface and the interaction between myeloma and bone marrow cells. Angiogenesis is also inhibited as a result.
The figure below, which is based on laboratory studies, shows one possible way in which Velcade may work.
Dosage and Administration
The recommended dose of Velcade is 1.3 mg/m
2/dose administered as an intravenous injection twice weekly for 2 weeks (days 1, 4, 8, and 11), followed by a 10-day rest period (days 12-21). Doses are typically given on Monday and Thursday or Tuesday and Friday. This 3-week period is considered a treatment cycle.
For extended therapy of more than 8 cycles, Velcade may be administered on this standard schedule or on a maintenance schedule of once weekly injections for 4 weeks (days 1, 8, 15, and 22) followed by a 13-day rest period (days 23 to 35). At least 70-72 hours should elapse between consecutive doses of Velcade.
The length of treatment is determined on an individual basis, depending on a patient's response and tolerability. In clinical trials, patients were able to receive Velcade for up to 8 cycles, but patients who were still benefiting were allowed to continue for additional cycles, including maintenance treatment – typically given on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 every 35 days for three or more cycles.
If a patient experiences any severe side effects (
Grade 3 non-hematological or
Grade 4 hematological toxicities, excluding
neuropathy as discussed below), Velcade therapy should be stopped until the symptoms resolve. Velcade can then be started again at a 25% reduced dose (ie, if a patient had been receiving Velcade at 1.3 mg/m² , it should be restarted at 1.0 mg/m²; if receiving 1.0 mg/m², Velcade should be restarted at 0.7 mg/m²).
Patients who experience neuropathic pain (pain associated with neuropathy) and/or peripheral neuropathy (abnormal or decreased sensation, or burning/tingling) on Velcade therapy should have their dose and/or schedule adjusted as indicated in the table below.
Recommended Dose Modification for Velcade-related Neuropathic Pain and/or Peripheral Neuropathy |
| Severity of Peripheral Neuropathy Signs and Symptoms |
Modification of Dose and Regimen |
Grade 1* (paresthesias [sensations of numbness, tingling, or prickling] and/or loss of reflexes) without pain or loss of function |
No action |
Grade 1 with pain or Grade 2 (interfering with function but not with activities of daily living) |
Reduce Velcade dose to 1.0 mg/m2 |
Grade 2 with pain or Grade 3 (interfering with activities of daily living) |
Withhold Velcade therapy until toxicity resolves. When toxicity resolves, reinitiate with a reduced dose of Velcade at 0.7 mg/m2 and change treatment schedule to once per week. |
Grade 4 (permanent sensory loss that interferes with function) |
Discontinue Velcade |
|
Preliminary results of a small Phase II study evaluating the effects of once-weekly Velcade administration in patients with previously treated myeloma (n=37) show some early evidence of activity and tolerability. (Greco et al.
J Clin Oncol. ASCO Annual Meeting Proceedings, Part I. 2006;24(18S). Abstract 7547.) Further evaluation will help confirm these results and determine whether weekly administration may be a viable future option.
Preliminary results of a pharmacologic study of Velcade in adult cancer patients, including myeloma patients, show that pharmacokinetics of the drug are not affected by creatinine clearance and the approved dose (1.3 mg/m² on days 1,4, 8, and 11 every 3 weeks) is well tolerated in patients with impaired renal function, including those who are on dialysis. (Mulkerin et at.
J Clin Oncol. ASCO Annual Meeting Proceedings, Part I. 2006;24(18S). Abstract 2032.) Results of this study will help in developing dosing recommendations in this patient population.
Potential Side Effects
The most commonly reported side effects of Velcade (1.3 mg/m²) in the Phase III APEX study are shown in the table below. In general, these side effects were manageable with medications, increased fluid intake, dose reductions or by stopping treatment temporarily, and/or other supportive care measures. The incidence of side effects between the Phase II and Phase III trials was consistent.
Most Common Side Effects Noted in the Phase III APEX Velcade Trial |
| Side Effect |
Percentage of Patients (N=331) |
Asthenic conditions (fatigue, malaise, weakness) |
61% |
Diarrhea |
57% |
Nausea |
57% |
Constipation |
42% |
Peripheral neuropathy* |
36% |
Vomiting |
35% |
Fever |
35% |
Thrombocytopenia |
35% |
Psychiatric disorders |
35% |
Decreased appetite or weight loss |
34% |
Tingling sensation and impairment of sensitivity |
27% |
Anemia |
26% |
Headache |
26% |
Cough |
21% |
|
The incidence of serious adverse events was similar on both arms of treatment: 43% with high-dose dexamethasone versus 44% with Velcade. The most commonly reported serious adverse events with Velcade were fever (6%), diarrhea (5%), difficulty breathing and pneumonia (4%), and vomiting (3%). Fourteen percent of patients receiving Velcade reported at least one episode of Grade 4 toxicity; the most common Grade 4 toxicities were
thrombocytopenia (low platelet counts, 4%),
neutropenia (2%), and
hypercalcemia (2%).
Most patients are able to continue with Velcade therapy despite fatigue but patients are advised not to operate machinery or drive a car if they experience fatigue. In general, thrombocytopenia was transient, dropping during the dosing period and recovering to baseline during the rest period. Severe Grade 4 thrombocytopenia was uncommon unless a patient's initial platelet count was already low (less than 70,000; a normal platelet count in adults is 150,000 to 400,000).
In the Phase III trial, the neuropathy seen was mostly
Grade 1 (mild) or
Grade 2 (moderate). Following dose adjustments, neuropathy (Grade 2 or higher) improved or resolved for 64% of patients in a median of 3.5 months (median study follow-up of 8.3 months). (See Clinical Trials section below for more information.)
Preclinical Studies
Velcade has been tested extensively in laboratory studies and in animals. These studies show that Velcade:
-
induced cancer cell apoptosis
-
had a unique mechanism of action
-
affected the tumor microenvironment
-
appeared to have additive activity with a variety of chemotherapy agents and with radiation therapy
Velcade continues to be tested in preclinical studies in combination with a variety of agents, and results of several studies were presented at recent medical meetings. Synergistic anti-myeloma effects were reported in preclinical models when Velcade was combined with novel agents such as:
lenalidomide (Revlimid®, Celgene)
heat shock protein (HSP90) inhibitors, such as KOS-953 (17-AAG, Kosan Biosciences, Inc.)
SCIO 469 (Scios, Inc.), an inhibitor of p38-MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase)
COX–2 inhibitors (NS398)
histone deacetylase inhibitors (ie, SAHA and LAQ824)
arsenic trioxide (Trisenox®, Cephalon)
farnesyl transferase inhibitors (Sarasar™, lonafarnib, Schering–Plough Research Institute; Zarnestra®, tipifarnib, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development)
other proteasome inhibitors
Importantly, Velcade is especially active in combination with certain cytotoxic drugs including alkylating agents (such as melphalan and cyclophosphamide) and DNA damaging agents (including doxorubicin) where preclinical studies suggest synergy, providing a platform for the combinations outlined below.
A number of combinations are being investigated in clinical trials.
Clinical Trials
Velcade is now fully approved in the US for use in patients who have received one prior therapy. On May 13, 2003, Velcade received
accelerated approval in the United States for the treatment of multiple myeloma patients who have received at least two prior therapies and have demonstrated disease progression on the last therapy.The approval was based on the data from the Phase II SUMMIT registration trial and the Phase II CREST trial (see below). At that time, the confirmatory Phase III APEX (Assessment of Proteasome Inhibition for Extending Remissions) trial of Velcade in relapsed or refractory myeloma was underway. As part of the accelerated approval, Millennium will be completing preclinical and phase IV clinical studies.
On April 24, 2004, the European Commission also approved Velcade for use in the same myeloma patient population?those who have received at least two prior therapies and have progressed on their most recent therapy. Velcade is now marketed
in over 40 countries worldwide.
Millennium had filed an
NDA (New Drug Application) with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in January, 2003 and a
Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) to the European regulatory agency in February, 2003 for approval to market Velcade as a treatment for relapsed and refractory myeloma. Velcade received
Fast Track designation for myeloma from the FDA, which meant that the FDA would facilitate and expedite the development and review of the application. It was granted
Priority Review by the FDA on March 10, 2003. Velcade had also received
Orphan Drug designation for myeloma, which is granted to certain drugs used to treat rare diseases affecting fewer than 200,000 Americans.
On March 25, 2005, the FDA expanded Velcade's labeling to include the treatment of patients with myeloma who have received at least one prior therapy. In December 2004, the FDA accepted for review the company's
supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) and granted
priority review designation for Velcade for this indication. Priority review expedites the approval process for such an sNDA by reducing the review period from 10 months to 6 months. The sNDA submission and approval of Velcade as second-line therapy in myeloma was based upon the results of the Phase III APEX confirmatory study, which included patients who had received one to three prior therapies. The APEX study showed statistically significantly improved survival in patients who received Velcade compared with a traditional myeloma therapy (high-dose dexamethasone).
On April 28, 2005, the European Commission also approved Velcade for use as monotherapy for myeloma patients who have received at least one prior therapy and who have already undergone or are unsuitable for stem cell transplantation.
Based on promising Phase II data in the front-line setting, Millennium has initiated several large Phase III trials exploring Velcade-based regimens in this patient population. For example, in January 2005, Millennium initiated a multicenter, international Phase III trial of Velcade in combination with melphalan and prednisone versus melphalan and prednisone in patients with newly diagnosed myeloma who are not transplant candidates.
The links below summarize results from recent clinical trials regarding the use of Velcade in the following settings:
Ongoing Clinical Trials
Phase IV
EVEREST. Millennium is conducting a multicenter
Phase IV clinical trial to evaluate the clinical activity and safety of Velcade when used for retreatment of myeloma. The trial is known as EVEREST, which stands for the Evaluation of Velcade Employed as Retreatment for Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability. The trial will assess best confirmed M-protein response in patients who have previously responded to Velcade and relapsed following a treatment-free remission. Velcade has proven to be effective in patients with relapsed and refractory myeloma, with responses lasting for about 1 year. When these patients relapse, they have few treatment options. Because there is no known mechanism of resistance to Velcade and no new cumulative toxicity with extended therapy, it is hoped that retreatment with Velcade will be beneficial.
This trial will enroll approximately 78 patients who have previously received Velcade (1.0 or 1.3 mg/m²) alone or in combination and achieved a ≥50% in M-protein that has lasted at least 4 months. Patients must meet criteria for disease progression and at least 2 months must have elapsed since the last dose of Velcade. Patients cannot have received any other treatment in that interim. The trial is being conducted at approximately 80 sites in North America.
Phase III
Preliminary results of a number of Phase II clinical trials have demonstrated the feasibility of mobilizing stem cells following Velcade therapy. Based on this fact and the promising response rates seen, Millennium is initiating several large randomized phase III studies exploring Velcade-based regimens in the front-line setting.
VISTA. On January 10, 2005, Millennium initiated VISTA: Velcade as Initial Standard Therapy in multiple myeloma: Assessment with melphalan and prednisone. VISTA is a multicenter, international Phase III trial of Velcade in combination with melphalan and prednisone (MP) versus MP in patients with newly diagnosed disease who are not transplant candidates. The study will assess the efficacy and overall safety and tolerability of this regimen compared with MP alone.
Two additional multi-national Phase III frontline myeloma trials (IFM and HOVON) were initiated in 2006. These trials will include patients who are planning to undergo autologous stem cell transplantation and Velcade will be incorporated into the induction regimen. The IFM trial is comparing Velcade plus dexamethasone (VD) and vincristine/Adriamycin (doxorubicin)/dexamethasone (VAD), while the HOVON trial is comparing Velcade/Adriamycin/dexamethasone (PAD) and VAD.
Phase I and II
A number of Phase I and II trials continue to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Velcade alone and as part of combination therapy in relapsed/refractory disease, as front-line therapy, and in the transplant setting.
Velcade/Revlimid. The safety and efficacy of Velcade in combination with Revlimid® (lenalidomide, Celgene) in the treatment of relapsed and relapsed/refractory myeloma has been evaluated in a Phase I trial at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The rationale for this combination is that preclinical studies have shown that in patient myeloma cells that are resistant to Velcade, Revlimid can restore sensitivity and the combination has a synergistic effect.
Patients with relapsed or refractory myeloma who had received at least one prior therapy were eligible for the study, whose primary objectives were to evaluate the safety of the combination and determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended dose for future study.
Patients received daily Velcade (1.0 or 1.3 mg/m² on days 1, 4, 8, and 11 of each 21-day cycle) in combination with Revlimid (5-20 mg) for a maximum of 8 cycles, with an extension phase for responding patients. Dexamethasone could be added if patients experienced progressive disease. A total of 8 cohorts (one for each dose combination) of 3 to 6 patients each were enrolled, with an additional 10 patients at the MTD.
Encouraging preliminary results were presented at the 2005 Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). (
Richardson et al. Blood. 2005;106(11). Abstract #365.) Of the 21 evaluable patients, 67% had achieved a response (1 complete response [CR], 1 near CR, 9 partial responses [PR], and 3 minor responses). These patients were heavily pretreated, with a median of 4 lines of previous therapy, which in some cases, included either Velcade or Revlimid.
At the time of the meeting, no dose-limited toxicity (DLT) had been reported in the first 3 cohorts (up to 10 mg Revlimid and 1.0 mg/m² Velcade). One DLT (low serum sodium level, Grade 3 in severity) was reported in cohort 4 (10 mg Revlimid and 1.3 mg/m² Velcade) and one DLT (a secondary shingles infection that delayed treatment) was reported in cohort 6 (up to 15 mg Revlimid and 1.3 mg/m² Velcade). Dose reductions of Velcade only (n=6) or both Velcade and Revlimid (n=3) were undertaken beyond the second cycle due to low white blood cell or platelet counts but there were no discontinuations of treatment. The maximum tolerated dose had not yet been reached. Phase II trials of this regimen are planned both in relapsed and/or refractory disease and in newly diagnosed myeloma.
Click here to go to the MMRF Clinical Trial Matching Service to view a list of ongoing Velcade clinical trials.
|
For More Information on Velcade:
Millennium Pharmaceuticals has developed brochures for patients and health care professionals that address frequently asked question about Velcade.
Click here to go to the Millennium web site. Here you can access the following information:
Patient brochure
Healthcare professionals question and answer brochure
Reimbursement assistance and information
Full prescribing information
Click here to access the Patient Brochure in Spanish.
For More Information on Clinical Trials:
1-800-589-9005 (9 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST)
Medical Information Line: 1-866-VELCADE
Reviewed by:

Paul G. Richardson, MD
Clinical Director, Jerome Lipper Multiple Myeloma Center
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School