A new phase 3 study presented at the American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting has shown that sasanlimab, a checkpoint inhibitor, added to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), significantly improves event-free survival in patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. The CREST study included 1055 patients and found that the combination of sasanlimab and BCG improved EFS by 32% compared to BCG alone.
In patients with carcinoma in situ (CIS), the probability of continued complete response at 36 months was 92%, significantly higher than the 67.7% seen with BCG alone. The study also found that the safety profile of sasanlimab and BCG was consistent with known safety profiles for each agent.
The results are particularly significant for patients with early-stage cancer who may benefit from innovative treatment regimens, including a subcutaneous immune checkpoint inhibitor that delay disease recurrence or progression. Pfizer’s interim chief development officer, Megan O’Meara, MD, stated that the findings offer a “much-needed therapeutic breakthrough” and highlight the potential of sasanlimab as a new treatment option for patients with high-risk NMIBC.
The study’s lead author, Neal D. Shore, MD, FACS, noted that adding sasanlimab to BCG induction and maintenance did not impact the ability to deliver BCG, suggesting that the combination may be beneficial for certain clinics. The results are expected to have a significant impact on the treatment of high-risk NMIBC and underscore Pfizer’s commitment to patients with bladder cancer across all stages of the disease.
Source: https://www.urologytimes.com/view/crest-significant-efs-boost-seen-with-sasanlimab-plus-bcg-in-nmibc