Efficacy of Oral Decitabine/Cedazuridine (ASTX727) in the CMML Subgroup from the Ascertain Phase 3 Study

text: Background/Introduction: Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML) is an uncommon MDS/MPN overlap syndrome that has historically been included under the umbrella of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) for clinical trial and treatment. As a result, DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTi) such as decitabine or azacitidine have been the established standard of care for the treatment of CMML. The oral bioavailability of these agents has been limited due to rapid degradation by cytidine deaminase (CDA) in the gut and liver so treatment has required intravenous infusion or subcutaneous injections daily for 5-7 days every month (m) adding significant burden to older cancer patients due to daily time commitment and travel to treatment centers. In the context of pandemic SARS-CoV-2, parenteral therapy also increases contact with medical settings with increased infection risk. Oral decitabine 35 mg/cedazuridine 100 mg (ASTX727) is an oral fixed dose combination of decitabine and the CDA inhibitor cedazuridine that produced equivalent exposure (99%;90% CI 93% to 106%) to IV decitabine 20 mg/m 2 in a randomized cross-over study (Garcia-Manero et al, ASH 2019), and Median overall survival (mOS) for the entire study population in the ASCERTAIN study was approximately 32 months (Savona, 2021). Here, we present outcome data for this study for the enrolled subpopulation of patients with CMML. Methods: We used a randomized cross over design in which patients were randomized in the first 2 cycles 1:1 to either Sequence A: (decitabine 35 mg/ cedazuridine 100 mg in Cycle 1 followed by IV decitabine at 20 mg/m 2 in Cycle 2), or Sequence B: (IV decitabine in Cycle 1 followed by oral decitabine/cedazuridine in Cycle 2). We conducted an intra-patient comparison of decitabine PK (primary PK endpoint: decitabine AUC equivalence over 5 days of dosing). Cycles were repeated every 28 days (unless delays were needed). All patients received oral decitabine/cedazuridine in Cycles 3 and above until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients were eligible per the FDA-approved label of IV decitabine (MDS patients by FAB classification including CMML, or MDS IPSS Intermediate-1, 2 or high-risk patients). Clinical endpoints were best response according to International Working Group (IWG) 2006 response criteria, transfusion independence for at least 8 or 16 consecutive weeks, overall survival, and safety. Adverse events (AEs) were graded by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v 4.03. Results: Of the 133 patients enrolled and treated in ASCERTAIN, 16 (12%) had a diagnosis of CMML with demographics and as follows: median age 71.5 years, 69% Male/31% Female, median weight 87kg (range 65-124), 25% ECOG 0, 75% ECOG 1. Population disease characteristics were: 19% poor or intermediate risk cytogenetics, with median baseline hemoglobin 90 g/L, neutrophils 1.27 X 10 9/L, platelets 84 x 10 9/L, bone marrow blasts 5%, with 38% RBC transfusion dependent. Patients received a median of 7 cycles of therapy (range 3-24). Treatment-emergent adverse events of CTCAE Grade 3 or higher in > 10% of patients, independent of relationship to ASTX727, were cytopenias (neutropenia [69%], thrombocytopenia [63%], anemia [56%], leukopenia [19%]), febrile neutropenia (31%), fatigue (13%). Two patients (12.5%) had Complete Responses (CR), 8 (50%) had marrow CR ([mCR], including 3 (19%) with hematologic improvement (HI);Overall Response rate (ORR) [CR + PR+ mCR + HI] was 75%. Of six patients with baseline RBC transfusion dependence 3 (50%) became transfusion independent. Leukemia-free survival was 28.2 months and after a median follow up of more than 33 months, median overall survival had not been reached. Two patients (13%) went on to Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HCT). Conclusions: In the overall study, oral decitabine/cedazuridine delivered equivalent PK exposure to 5 days of IV decitabine 20mg/m 2 with a resultant clinical activity safety and efficacy profile in CMML patients consistent with the published literature (e.g Zeidan, et a 2017) and the Phase 2 experience. The use of oral decitabine/cedazuridine is a reasonable approach in CMML patients. References: Garcia-Manero, et al ASH 2019 Savona, et al, Int. MDS Symposium, 2021 Zeidan, et al, Cancer 2017: 3754-3762. [Formula presented] Disclosures: Savona: Geron: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;CTI: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Karyopharm: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;BMS-Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;NOVARTIS: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Ryvu: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Sierra Oncology: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Taiho: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;TG Therapeutics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;ALX Oncology: Research Funding;Astex: Research Funding;Incyte: Research Funding. McCloskey: Pfizer: Consultancy;Takeda: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau;Incyte: Speakers Bureau;Novartis: Consultancy;COTA: Other: Equity Ownership;BMS: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Amgen: Speakers Bureau;Jazz: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Griffiths: Boston Biomedical: Consultancy;Celgene/Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria;Taiho Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria;Genentech: Research Funding;Astex Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Research Funding;Takeda Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria;Novartis: Honoraria;Apellis Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding;Alexion Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding. Yee: Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Forma Therapeutics: Research Funding;Geron: Research Funding;Shattuck Labs: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Bristol-Myers Squibb/Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;F. Hoffmann La Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;AbbVie: Honoraria;Janssen: Research Funding;Onconova: Research Funding;Genentech: Research Funding;Otsuka: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;MedImmune: Research Funding;Jazz: Research Funding;Astex: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Tolero: Research Funding;Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;TaiHo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Paladin: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Zeidan: BeyondSpring: Consultancy;Janssen: Consultancy;Boehringer Ingelheim: Consultancy, Research Funding;BioCryst: Other: Clinical Trial Committees;AstraZeneca: Consultancy;Pfizer: Other: Travel support, Research Funding;Kura: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees;Incyte: Consultancy, Research Funding;Ionis: Consultancy;Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy;Epizyme: Consultancy;Novartis: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees, Travel support, Research Funding;Loxo Oncology: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees;Genentech: Consultancy;Geron: Other: Clinical Trial Committees;Cardiff Oncology: Consultancy, Other: Travel support, Research Funding;BMS: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees, Research Funding;Gilead: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees;Aprea: Consultancy, Research Funding;Astellas: Consultancy;Astex: Research Funding;Jazz: Consultancy;Jasper: Consu tancy;Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding;Agios: Consultancy;ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding;Acceleron: Consultancy, Research Funding;AbbVie: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees, Research Funding. Al-Kali: Novartis: Research Funding;Astex: Other: Research support to institution. Patel: Agios: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Celgene-BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;PVI: Honoraria. Sabloff: Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Astellas: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;TaiHo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Jaxx: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;ROCHE: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Dao: Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment. Fazal: Janssen Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Taiho Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Agios: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Sanofi Genzyme: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Glaxo Smith Kline: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;AMGEN: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Jazz Pharmaceuticals:Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Stemline Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Karyopharm Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Odenike: Celgene, Incyte, AstraZeneca, Astex, NS Pharma, AbbVie, Gilead, Janssen, Oncotherapy, Agios, CTI/Baxalta, Aprea: Research Funding;AbbVie, Celgene, Impact Biomedicines, Novartis, Taiho Oncology, Takeda: Consultancy. Kantarjian: Ipsen Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria;Astra Zeneca: Honoraria;Astellas Health: Honoraria;Aptitude Health: Honoraria;Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding;Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding;Jazz: Research Funding;Immunogen: Research Funding;Daiichi-Sankyo: Research Funding;BMS: Research Funding;Ascentage: Research Funding;Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding;AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding;KAHR Medical Ltd: Honoraria;NOVA Research: Honoraria;Precision Biosciences: Honoraria;Taiho Pharmaceutical Canada: Honoraria. DeZern: Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Taiho: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Roboz: Janssen: Research Funding;AbbVie: Consultancy;Actinium: Consultancy;Agios: Consultancy;Amgen: Consultancy;Astex: Consultancy;Astellas: Consultancy;AstraZeneca: Consultancy;Bayer: Consultancy;Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy;Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy;Celgene: Consultancy;Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy;Glaxo SmithKline: Consultancy;Helsinn: Consultancy;Janssen: Consultancy;Jasper Therapeutics: Consultancy;Jazz: Consultancy;MEI Pharma - IDMC Chair: Consultancy;Mesoblast: Consultancy;Novartis: Consultancy;Otsuka: Consultancy;Pfizer: Consultancy;Roche/Genentech: Consultancy. Busque: Novartis: Consultancy. Leber: Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, peakers Bureau;BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;AMGEN: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;TaiHo: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Otsuka: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Astellas: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Jazz: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Hao: Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment. Keer: Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment. Azab: Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Oral Decitabine/Cedazuridine in Patients with Lower Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome: A Longer-Term Follow-up of from the Ascertain Study

[Formula presented] Background/Introduction: Lower-risk (IPSS low risk and Int-1) myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are typically treated supportively to address cytopenias. DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTi) such as azacitidine and decitabine (DEC) are FDA-approved for higher risk MDS patients (pts), and while the DEC USPI includes IPSS Int-1 pts, it is not widely used in this population. Approved intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SC) regimens require 5-7 days of treatment every month burdening older cancer pts due to daily travel and treatment time and may increase potential risk from pandemic SARS-CoV-2 infection. Because DNMTis are rapidly degraded by cytidine deaminase (CDA) in the gut and liver, oral availability has only been recently possible. A randomized study with CC-486, an oral formulation of azacitidine, in the Int-1 population showed a median overall survival (mOS) of approximately 17 months for both placebo and treated patients (Garcia-Manero, 2021). Oral DEC 35 mg/cedazuridine 100 mg (ASTX727) or DEC-C, is an oral fixed dose combination (FDC) of DEC and the CDA inhibitor cedazuridine (CED) resulting in equivalent exposure (99%;90% CI 93% to 106%) to standard IV DEC 20 mg/m 2 for 5 days in an intra-patient randomized cross-over study (Garcia-Manero et al, ASH 2019). Here, we present data on patients with lower risk MDS from that study. Methods: We used a randomized cross over design with pts randomized 1:1 in the first 2 cycles to either Sequence A: (DEC 35 mg/ CED 100 mg in Cycle 1 and IV DEC at 20 mg/m 2 in Cycle 2), or Sequence B (IV DEC in Cycle 1 and oral DEC/CED in Cycle 2). Cycles were repeated every 28 days unless delays were needed, and all patients received oral DEC-C in Cycles 3+ until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. We conducted an intra-patient comparison of DEC PK (DEC AUC equivalence over 5 days of dosing). Pts were eligible as per the FDA-approved label of IV DEC (MDS pts by FAB classification including CMML, or MDS IPSS Intermediate-1, 2 or high-risk pts). Clinical endpoints were best response as assessed by an independent expert panel according to IWG 2006 response criteria, transfusion independence (TI), overall survival (OS), and safety. Results: Of the 133 pts treated in ASCERTAIN, 69 had a diagnosis of lower-risk MDS (93% Int-1, 7% LR). Median age was 70.0 years (range 45-87), 65% were male, median weight was 84 kg (range 50-127), median baseline hematologic parameters were: hemoglobin 89 g/L (range 69.8-146.5), WBCs 1.50 X 10 9/L (range 0.11-7.1), platelets (plt) 86 x 10 9/L (range 5-703), bone marrow blasts 4% (range 0-18), cytogenetics: 7 (10.1%) poor-risk, 21 (30.4%) intermediate risk, 37 (53.6%) better-risk, 4 (5.7%) missing or not evaluable. 27(39%) of the pts were RBC transfusion dependent (TD) and 6 (9%) plt TD. 17 (25%) had received prior MDS treatment, 3% prior DNMTi. Pts received a median of 9 cycles of therapy (range 1-28). Treatment-emergent adverse events of CTCAE Gr 3 or higher in >10% of pts, independent of relationship to ASTX727, included cytopenias (neutropenia [59%], thrombocytopenia [58%], anemia [48%], leukopenia [26%]), febrile neutropenia (32%), and pneumonia (19%). Sixteen pts (23%) achieved Complete Response (CR), 18 (26%) had marrow CR (mCR), including 9 (13%) with hematologic improvement (HI). Overall Response rate (ORR;CR + PR+ mCR + HI) was 57%. Of those RBC or plt TD at baseline, 13 (48%) became RBC TI and 4 (67%) became plt TI. With approximately 32 months of median follow up, neither median leukemia-free survival (mLFS) nor mOS had been reached (Figure 1). Twelve pts (17%) went on to allogeneic stem cell transplant. Conclusions: Oral decitabine/cedazuridine given as a FDC in MDS pts produced equivalent PK exposure to 20 mg/m 2 IV DEC;in lower risk MDS pts with treatment indicated, the agent was generally well-tolerated with prolonged treatment and could result in mLFS and mOS which exceeds 32 months. This FDC and other dosing regimens of oral DEC-C should be further studied in this patient population. References: Garcia-Mane o, et al, ASH 2019 Savona, et al, Int. MDS Symp. 2021 Garcia-Manero, et al, Phase III, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of CC-486 (Oral Azacitidine) in Patients with Lower-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndromes. J.Clin.Onc. 2021 39:13, 1426-1436 [Formula presented] Disclosures: McCloskey: Pfizer: Consultancy;Jazz: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau;COTA: Other: Equity Ownership;Incyte: Speakers Bureau;Takeda: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau;Novartis: Consultancy;BMS: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Amgen: Speakers Bureau. Griffiths: Alexion Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Research Funding;Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria;Taiho Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria;Genentech: Research Funding;Novartis: Honoraria;Takeda Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria;Astex Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Research Funding;Celgene/Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding;Apellis Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding;Boston Biomedical: Consultancy. Yee: Paladin: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;TaiHo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Genentech: Research Funding;Geron: Research Funding;Janssen: Research Funding;Jazz: Research Funding;MedImmune: Research Funding;Onconova: Research Funding;Tolero: Research Funding;AbbVie: Honoraria;Bristol-Myers Squibb/Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Otsuka: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Shattuck Labs: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;F. Hoffmann La Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Forma Therapeutics: Research Funding;Astex: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Zeidan: Novartis: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees, Travel support, Research Funding;Genentech: Consultancy;Ionis: Consultancy;Astellas: Consultancy;Epizyme: Consultancy;AbbVie: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees, Research Funding;Jasper: Consultancy;Cardiff Oncology: Consultancy, Other: Travel support, Research Funding;BeyondSpring: Consultancy;Loxo Oncology: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees;Janssen: Consultancy;Acceleron: Consultancy, Research Funding;AstraZeneca: Consultancy;Kura: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees;Gilead: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees;Agios: Consultancy;Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy;Boehringer Ingelheim: Consultancy, Research Funding;Geron: Other: Clinical Trial Committees;BMS: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees, Research Funding;BioCryst: Other: Clinical Trial Committees;Pfizer: Other: Travel support, Research Funding;Aprea: Consultancy, Research Funding;ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding;Jazz: Consultancy;Incyte: Consultancy, Research Funding;Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding;Astex: Research Funding. Al-Kali: Astex: Other: Research support to institution;Novartis: Research Funding. Patel: Celgene-BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;PVI: Honoraria;Agios: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Sabloff: Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Astellas: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;ROCHE: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;TaiHo: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Jaxx: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory ommittees;BMS: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Dao: Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment. Fazal: Taiho Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Stemline Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Sanofi Genzyme: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Karyopharm Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Janssen Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Glaxo Smith Kline: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;AMGEN: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Agios: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau;Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Odenike: AbbVie, Celgene, Impact Biomedicines, Novartis, Taiho Oncology, Takeda: Consultancy;Celgene, Incyte, AstraZeneca, Astex, NS Pharma, AbbVie, Gilead, Janssen, Oncotherapy, Agios, CTI/Baxalta, Aprea: Research Funding. Kantarjian: AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding;Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding;Ascentage: Research Funding;Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding;BMS: Research Funding;Daiichi-Sankyo: Research Funding;Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding;Ipsen Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria;Jazz: Research Funding;Astellas Health: Honoraria;Immunogen: Research Funding;Astra Zeneca: Honoraria;Aptitude Health: Honoraria;KAHR Medical Ltd: Honoraria;NOVA Research: Honoraria;Precision Biosciences: Honoraria;Taiho Pharmaceutical Canada: Honoraria. DeZern: Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisorycommittees;Taiho: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Roboz: Novartis: Consultancy;Mesoblast: Consultancy;Jasper Therapeutics: Consultancy;Jazz: Consultancy;MEI Pharma - IDMC Chair: Consultancy;Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy;Otsuka: Consultancy;Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy;Blueprint Medicines: Consultancy;Bayer: Consultancy;AstraZeneca: Consultancy;Astellas: Consultancy;Astex: Consultancy;Amgen: Consultancy;Agios: Consultancy;Actinium: Consultancy;AbbVie: Consultancy;Janssen: Research Funding;Celgene: Consultancy;Glaxo SmithKline: Consultancy;Helsinn: Consultancy;Janssen: Consultancy;Pfizer: Consultancy;Roche/Genentech: Consultancy. Busque: Novartis: Consultancy. Leber: Astellas: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Otsuka: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;TaiHo: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;AMGEN: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Abbvie: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;BMS: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau;Jazz: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Hao: Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment. Keer: Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Current Employment. Azab: Astex Pharmaceuticals, Inc.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Savona: Geron: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Karyopharm: Cons ltancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;CTI: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;BMS-Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;NOVARTIS: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Ryvu: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Sierra Oncology: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Taiho: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;TG Therapeutics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding;ALX Oncology: Research Funding;Astex: Research Funding;Incyte: Research Funding.

Changes in Multiple Myeloma Treatment Patterns during the Early COVID-19 Pandemic Period

Background: Early during the COVID-19 pandemic patient and provider anxiety concerning in-person visits and travel restrictions may have delayed cancer diagnosis and altered treatment. We evaluated changes in clinical presentation and treatment patterns in multiple myeloma (MM) during the early COVID-19 period compared to historical pre-COVID periods. Methods: Using the nationwide Flatiron Health EHR-derived de-identified database, we compared clinical presentation and treatment patterns in the immediate post-COVID period (2020) to a comparable pre-COVID period (2018 and 2019). We focused on two separate clinical settings: 1) patients newly diagnosed with MM during February-June in the years of interest (NEWPT) with evidence of management within 90 days and follow-up for 7 months;and 2) patients diagnosed with MM during 2014-2019 receiving active treatment as of February (2018, 2019, 2020, ACTIVE) and follow-up for 11 months. Delayed clinical presentation was assessed using baseline (90 days before diagnosis/index date) measures of ISS stage, ECOG performance status, anemia, and kidney function. We examined treatment patterns (choice of regimen) of both cohorts in the two time periods. We compared clinical features of initial presentation in pre-COVID and COVID period using Pearson's χ 2 test. For NEWPT, we also utilized Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank test to compare time to treatment initiation between the two periods. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model with death as a competing risk was used to determine impact of COVID on treatment initiation by adjusting sex, age at diagnosis, race, insurance, stage, baseline ECOG, and hospital setting. All analyses were conducted in SAS (Version 9.4, SAS Institute, Cary, North Carolina) with 2 sided tests and a type I error of 5%. Results: Our study included 1319 NEWPT (964 pre-COVID and 355 COVID) and 2206 ACTIVE (1014 pre-COVID and 1192 COVID) patients. In the NEWPT cohort, we observed no differences between the pre-COVID and COVID periods in terms of baseline characteristics, including clinical features like stage, ECOG performance status, anemia or kidney function (Table A). Patients in the pre-COVID period were more likely to initiate any treatment (91.1% vs 86.2%, p<.01). Median time to treatment initiation was 30 days pre-Covid and 32 days during the Covid period (log-rank test p=0.04, Figure A). After adjusting for patient demographic, clinical features (extent of anemia, hypercalcemia, kidney dysfunction), and hospital variables (US region, practice type academic vs community), the difference between the two periods was not significant (COVID vs pre-COVID hazard ratio=0.88, 95% confidence interval 0.78-1.10, p=0.07). In NEWPT cohort, compared with their pre-COVID counterparts, patients in COVID period were more likely to receive monoclonal antibody (mAb) (14.4% vs 4.8%, p<.01, Figure B) and used IMID-based regimen as their first line of therapy (80.4% vs 74.3%, p<.01). In ACTIVE cohort, more patients in the pre-COVID period were anemic (Hemoglobin <10 g/L, 14.9% vs 9.7%, p<.01) at baseline than those in the COVID period. As in NEWPT cohort, ACTIVE patients in the COVID period used mAb-based regimen more commonly (28.9% vs 16.9%, p<.01) (Figure C). In addition, fewer ACTIVE treatment patients in the COVID period received cyclophosphamide regimens (7.9% vs 15.1% p<.01). Conclusions: During early COVID-19 pandemic we did not observe evidence of delayed diagnosis or more advanced stage, anemia or kidney disease for NEWPT with MM. MM treatment patterns were notable for higher utilization of mAb, IMID-based therapies and decreased use of cyclophosphamide regimens, without significant change in time to treatment initiation. Reassuringly, changes in treatment-patterns during COVID pandemic were modest, some likely reflecting changes in MM treatment landscape (advances in mAb regimens) rather than direct impact of COVID. Further studies are needed to understand how these changes evolve and affect clinical outcomes over time beyond 2020. [Formula presen ed] Disclosures: Neparidze: GlaxoSmithKline: Research Funding;Eidos Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees;Janssen: Research Funding. Zeidan: Jasper: Consultancy;AstraZeneca: Consultancy;Aprea: Consultancy, Research Funding;Gilead: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees;Loxo Oncology: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees;Astellas: Consultancy;Agios: Consultancy;Kura: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees;Jazz: Consultancy;Pfizer: Other: Travel support, Research Funding;Genentech: Consultancy;Geron: Other: Clinical Trial Committees;BMS: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees, Research Funding;ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding;Novartis: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees, Travel support, Research Funding;Boehringer Ingelheim: Consultancy, Research Funding;Astex: Research Funding;BeyondSpring: Consultancy;Incyte: Consultancy, Research Funding;Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy;Epizyme: Consultancy;BioCryst: Other: Clinical Trial Committees;Cardiff Oncology: Consultancy, Other: Travel support, Research Funding;Janssen: Consultancy;Ionis: Consultancy;Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding;Acceleron: Consultancy, Research Funding;AbbVie: Consultancy, Other: Clinical Trial Committees, Research Funding. Podoltsev: Pfizer: Honoraria;PharmaEssentia: Honoraria;Blueprint Medicines: Honoraria;Incyte: Honoraria;Novartis: Honoraria;CTI BioPharma: Honoraria;Bristol-Myers Squib: Honoraria;Celgene: Honoraria. Shallis: Curis: Divested equity in a private or publicly-traded company in the past 24 months. Ma: Celgene/Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding. Davidoff: Amgen: Consultancy;AbbVie: Other: Family member consultancy. Huntington: AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria;TG Therapeutics: Research Funding;Thyme Inc: Consultancy;Flatiron Health Inc.: Consultancy;Genentech: Consultancy;SeaGen: Consultancy;Novartis: Consultancy;Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Honoraria;Servier: Consultancy;Bayer: Honoraria;DTRM Biopharm: Research Funding;AbbVie: Consultancy;Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding.

Feasibility of Peri-Transfusion Quality of Life Assessment for Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes

BACKGROUND: Decreased quality of life (QOL) due to fatigue in the setting of anemia is common with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), often leading to dependence on red blood cell (RBC) transfusions. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in considerably reduced blood supply such that the importance of conserving donor RBCs for patients particularly in need is even more crucial (Shander, Anesth Analg 2020). While some patients with MDS experience improved QOL after transfusions, many do not, even at the same ECOG performance status (PS) and hemoglobin (Hb). In a pilot study, we sought to assess the feasibility of a peri-transfusion QOL assessment (PTQA;QOL assessed before and after transfusion) to determine if it could help inform future transfusion decisions for patients with MDS. METHODS: Starting in 2019, patients with MDS at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Yale School of Medicine, and Wake Forest University were screened for eligibility using clinic schedule reports in Epic;those 18 or older with biopsy-proven MDS presenting to clinic for RBC transfusions with no evidence of known CHF or unstable angina were eligible to participate. A Hb threshold of 7.5 g/dL or greater was required for participation (Tanasijevic, Leuk Lymph 2020). The QUALMS, a validated PRO for patients with MDS (Abel, Haematologica, 2016), was used to assess patients' QOL before and after RBC transfusion. At consent, patients were given a study packet including a copy of the QUALMS and were instructed to fill out the survey the day before their upcoming transfusion. One week after RBC transfusion, the patient completed the QUALMS again. Surveys were scored, compared, and compiled into a report that was sent to patients and providers (Figure). Based on the QUALMS validation study, we considered a change by 5 or more points to be potentially clinically significant. After descriptive statistics, two-sided Fisher's Exact tests assessed for associations between patient characteristics (ECOG PS and Hb) and post-transfusion increase in QOL. RESULTS: As of July 2020, a total of 57 patients had been enrolled. Of these, 28 (49%) have completed PTQA with both a pre-transfusion and post-transfusion QUALMS. Mean age was 72 years (standard deviation (SD)=11.6), 19% were female, and 89% had had one or more RBC transfusions within 8 weeks prior to enrollment. For the 29 patients who did not undergo PTQA, 11 are still awaiting their index transfusion;4 passed away before the index transfusion;4 were transplanted before the index transfusion;2 developed AML;7 later became ineligible or were lost to follow up;and 1 withdrew consent. Of the 28 who underwent PTQA, about half had an ECOG performance status of 1, and median Hb at transfusion was 8.05 g/dL (Table). The mean pre-transfusion QUALMS score was 56.1 (SD=15.3) and post-transfusion score was 59.3 (SD=18.0);overall, 35.7% experienced an increase in QOL. Patients with ECOG PS of 1 or 2 were no more likely to have an increase in QOL after RBC transfusion compared to those with PS of 0 (p=1.00). In contrast, 50% of patients with pre-transfusion Hb < 8.0 g/dL had an increase in QOL compared to 25% of patients with Hb >= 8.0 g/dL, although this difference also did not reach significance (p=0.24). CONCLUSIONS: Although PTQA was feasible for about half of patients enrolled, there were many barriers when working with this high-risk MDS population. Moreover, only about one-third of patients experienced an increase in QOL one week after RBC transfusion, arguing that, for some patients, a more limited transfusion schedule may be possible. [Formula presented] Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.