Pfizer announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved BRAFTOVI (encorafenib) in combination with cetuximab and mFOLFOX6 (fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin) for the treatment of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) with a BRAF V600E mutation, as detected by an FDA-approved test.

The indication was approved based on a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in response rate and durability of response in treatment-naïve patients treated with BRAFTOVI in combination with cetuximab and mFOLFOX6 from the Phase 3 BREAKWATER trial. Continued approval for this indication is contingent upon verification of clinical benefit. This accelerated approval is among the first in the industry to be conducted under the FDA’s Project FrontRunner, which seeks to support the development and approval of new cancer drugs for advanced or metastatic disease.

“Historically, treatment options have been limited and outcomes poor for patients diagnosed with metastatic colorectal cancer with BRAF mutations,” said Scott Kopetz, M.D., Ph.D., FACP, Professor and Deputy Chair of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and co-principal investigator of the BREAKWATER trial. “As the first and only combination regimen featuring a BRAF-targeted therapy for this patient population, usable even in first-line treatment, the encorafenib regimen has demonstrated high response rates that are rapid and durable. This represents an encouraging sign of continued disease control and a source of renewed hope for patients.”

The ongoing BREAKWATER trial is evaluating BRAFTOVI plus cetuximab with or without chemotherapy (mFOLFOX6) in previously untreated mCRC patients who harbor a BRAF V600E mutation. It is the only Phase 3 trial for a BRAF-targeted therapy regimen in first-line BRAF V600E -mutant mCRC.

“For more than a decade, Pfizer has been a pioneer in delivering targeted therapies for molecular-driven cancers. With today’s accelerated approval of the BRAFTOVI regimen, patients with metastatic colorectal cancer with a BRAF V600E mutation now have a first-line treatment option, which contains a targeted therapy specifically for a mutation that is driving their cancer,” said Chris Boshoff, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Oncology Officer, Executive Vice President, Pfizer. “This milestone adds to our legacy of developing innovative medicines in BRAF tumors, some of the hardest-to-treat cancers. We look forward to continuing to expand our portfolio, including the exploration of a next-generation brain-penetrant BRAF inhibitor.”

“Finding out that your cancer has spread can be a frightening time for those with colorectal cancer and their loved ones. The prognosis for those receiving a metastatic colorectal cancer diagnosis has improved slightly in recent years, but the same cannot be said for those with a BRAF mutation who unfortunately face an especially aggressive disease and worse outcomes,” said Michael Sapienza, Chief Executive Officer of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. “Today’s approval of the first combination regimen including a BRAF-targeted therapy for BRAFV600E -mutant metastatic colorectal cancer, which can be used for previously untreated patients, offers new promise for the community and marks an important step forward in our collective mission to end this disease.”