Tokyo: Astellas Pharma Inc. and Pfizer Inc. have announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has validated for review a Type II variation application for PADCEV (enfortumab vedotin) with KEYTRUDA (pembrolizumab) as a combination therapy for the first-line treatment of adult patients with previously untreated locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer (la/mUC).
"If approved, PADCEV with KEYTRUDA has the potential to change the treatment paradigm, becoming the first combination treatment to offer an alternative to platinum-containing chemotherapy, the current standard of care in first-line la/mUC," the Company stated.

Globally, approximately 573,000 new cases of bladder cancer and 212,000 deaths are reported annually.
It is estimated that approximately 200,000 people in Europe are diagnosed with bladder cancer each year.
Ahsan Arozullah, M.D., M.P.H., Senior Vice President, Head of Oncology Development, Astellas said, "Patients in Europe need better treatment options for advanced stage urothelial cancer, and we look forward to working with the EMA on their review of the combination of enfortumab vedotin and pembrolizumab. If approved, the combination would be the first alternative to a chemotherapy-based treatment for this patient population. This milestone is another opportunity to affirm our commitment to helping patients with advanced urothelial cancer live longer."
Roger Dansey, M.D., Chief Development Officer, Oncology, Pfizer said, "The EV-302 pivotal trial demonstrated the benefits of combining PADCEV with pembrolizumab for advanced bladder cancer. Patients with bladder cancer in Europe face poor outcomes at the advanced stage, and innovative therapies that extend survival are needed. This acceptance brings us closer to our mission: delivering breakthroughs that help address the unmet needs of patients and reshape the advanced urothelial cancer treatment landscape."
The Type II variation application for first-line use of the combination is based on results from the Phase 3 EV-302 clinical trial (also known as KEYNOTE-A39). The study found the combination improved overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) with statistically significant and clinically meaningful results in patients with previously untreated la/mUC compared to platinum-containing chemotherapy. The safety results were consistent with those previously reported with this combination, and no new safety issues were identified.
The EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) and subsequently the European Commission (EC) are expected to share their opinions and decisions on the Type II variation application in calendar year 2024. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the combination therapy in December 2023.
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