Antisoma, following discussions with FDA and trial investigators, plans to amend the primary endpoint in the ACCEDE study of AS1413.
The ACCEDE study is an ongoing randomised, controlled phase III trial that compares AS1413 plus cytarabine with daunorubicin plus cytarabine, in patients newly diagnosed with secondary acute myeloid leukaemia (secondary AML).
Reportedly, the primary endpoint of the trial will continue to be based on remission rate, defined as the proportion of patients who achieve complete remission (CR) or complete remission with incomplete blood count recovery (CRi).
However, the requirement for confirmation of remission before further intervention will be removed. The revised primary endpoint will therefore be initial remission rate rather than confirmed remission rate. Confirmed remission rate will become a secondary endpoint, alongside duration of remission and overall survival.
The company said that the primary endpoint is being changed because a number of trial investigators considered it inappropriate to perform additional bone marrow sampling to confirm CR or CRi before instigating post-remission therapy. Where patients were proceeding rapidly to post-remission therapy, the need to confirm remission meant a second invasive procedure was required within days of the initial test for remission.
Antisoma’s decision to change the primary endpoint will mean that the ACCEDE study is no longer covered by a Special Protocol Assessment (SPA). FDA has confirmed, however, that the amendment will have no impact on whether a New Drug Application (NDA) based on results from ACCEDE would be accepted for filing.
Enrollment into the ACCEDE study is on track, with approximately one third of the target of 450 patients now recruited. Key data, including those critical for regulatory filings, are expected to be available in late 2010 or early 2011.
Robert Stuart, an investigator in the ACCEDE trial, said: “This amendment brings the AS1413 trial in line with current medical practice for treatment of AML and reduces the need to conduct additional invasive tests. It will therefore be welcomed by investigators and patients. The ACCEDE study is an important and rigorous evaluation of a novel agent for AML patients who don’t benefit much from currently available drugs.”