Exelixis initiates phase 3 trial of cabozantinib in advanced renal cell carcinoma

Exelixis, Inc. announced that it is initiating COSMIC-313, a phase 3 pivotal trial of cabozantinib (CABOMETYX) in combination with nivolumab (Opdivo) and ipilimumab (Yervoy) versus nivolumab and ipilimumab in patients with previously untreated advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with intermediate- or poor-risk disease per the International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium. The primary endpoint of the trial is progression-free survival, and the secondary endpoints are overall survival and objective response rate.

“Clinical observations suggest cabozantinib promotes an immune-permissive environment, which could present an opportunity for additive or synergistic effects with immune checkpoint inhibitors,” said Gisela Schwab, M.D., President, Product Development and Medical Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, Exelixis. “The mechanisms of action of single agent cabozantinib and the combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab are complementary, and each has demonstrated efficacy in advanced renal cell carcinoma. The further combination of these agents as a triplet regimen may offer promise to previously untreated patients with intermediate- or poor-risk disease, who are known to have poor treatment outcomes.”

COSMIC-313 is a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, controlled phase 3 pivotal trial that aims to enroll approximately 676 patients at 150 sites globally. Patients will be randomized 1:1 to the experimental arm of cabozantinib in combination with nivolumab and ipilimumab and to the control arm of nivolumab and ipilimumab in combination with matched placebo.

Design of this phase 3 pivotal trial was informed by results from the ongoing phase 1b study of cabozantinib plus nivolumab with or without ipilimumab in patients with previously treated advanced genitourinary cancers, including RCC. The phase 1b trial is being conducted by the U.S. National Cancer Institute and includes centers from its Experimental Therapeutics Clinical Trials Network.

Bristol-Myers Squibb is providing nivolumab and ipilimumab for use in this trial.