SERVIER
16.1.2021 22:17:39 CET | Business Wire | Press release
Servier announced today updated results from the exploratory phase II TASCO1 study evaluating LONSURF® (trifluridine/tipiracil) + bevacizumab and capecitabine + bevacizumab (C-B) in a first-line setting for patients with unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who are non-eligible for intensive therapy.1 The data were announced today during an oral presentation at the 2021 ASCO Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium (ASCO-GI). Patients with mCRC who are not eligible for chemotherapy face a large unmet need, with fewer treatment options available to them and lower survival rates.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) makes up 9.7% of total global cancer cases, with almost 1.4 million new cases of CRC each year.2 In Europe, CRC is the second most common cause of death due to cancer, and those with a metastatic disease have a 5-year survival rate of just 11%.3
“For patients with metastatic colorectal cancer, those non-eligible for standard combination therapy have few options left and we are continuously searching for new ways to give these patients more hope,” said Professor Eric Van Cutsem, Leuven, Belgium “The data from TASCO1 are very encouraging and provide evidence that trifluridine/tipiracil + bevacizumab is a beneficial treatment combination for these patients.”
In the exploratory phase II TASCO1 study, 153 patients were randomized and followed until September 1, 2020.1 The updated results showed that the median overall survival (OS) was 22.3 months with LONSURF + bevacizumab, whereas it was 17.6 months with C-B. This data translates into an improved median OS of 4.6 months with LONSURF + bevacizumab when compared with C-B (HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.55, 1.10). The survival probability at 18 months with LONSURF + bevacizumab was 0.62 (95% CI, 0.50, 0.72) and 0.47 (95% CI, 0.35, 0.57) with C-B.1 It should be noted that this was an exploratory, non-comparative study.
“We are very pleased with the updated results from the phase II TASCO1 study and we are continuing with our research into this promising combination in multiple mCRC settings. These data support all efforts that went into the confirmatory phase III SOLSTICE study. The results are expected in 2021,” said Patrick Therasse, M.D., Ph. D., Head of Servier Late Stage and Life Cycle Management Oncology, “Patients with mCRC who are not eligible for intensive chemotherapy have limited options and further clinical trials for additional treatments are highly anticipated by the clinical and patient communities alike.”
#ENDS#
About TASCO1
TASCO1 is an open-label, randomized, non-comparative Phase II study evaluating LONSURF® + bevacizumab and capecitabine plus bevacizumab in patients with previously untreated metastatic colorectal cancer who are non-eligible for intensive therapy. From April 2016 to March 2017, 153 patients were randomized and followed until end-of-study on September 1, 2020. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival, and the key secondary endpoint was overall survival.
For more information on TASCO1, please visit www.ClinicalTrials.gov (https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02743221 ). The ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier is NCT02743221.
About SOLSTICE
SOLSTICE is an open-label, randomized, multicentre Phase III trial in 854 unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer patients who are not candidates for, or do not require, intensive therapy. Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive first-line LONSURF® + bevacizumab versus capecitabine + bevacizumab. The primary objective is to demonstrate superior progression-free survival with LONSURF® + bevacizumab over capecitabine + bevacizumab. The first patient was enrolled in March 2019. Results are expected in 2021.
For more information on SOLSTICE, please visit www.ClinicalTrials.gov (https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03869892 ). The ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier is NCT03869892.
About Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (mCRC)
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide with approximately 1.8 million new diagnoses in 2018. Each year there are over 880,000 deaths, making it the second biggest cancer killer worldwide (after lung cancer).3
For those with metastatic disease (where the cancer has spread from the primary site), the average 5-year survival is approximately 11%.4 Standard chemotherapy regimens for advanced mCRC include fluoropyrimidines, oxaliplatin, irinotecan or targeted treatments, such as those that target vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) or endothelial growth factor receptors (EGFR).
Over the last decade, clinical outcomes for patients with mCRC have improved considerably due to the advent of novel treatment agents, predictive biomarkers, and a more strategic approach to the delivery of systemic therapies. Currently, the median overall survival for patients with mCRC being treated both in phase III trials and in large observational series or registries is 30 months – more than double that of 20 years ago.5,6,7
About LONSURF ®8
LONSURF® consists of a thymidine-based nucleoside analog, trifluridine, and the thymidine phosphorylase (TP) inhibitor, tipiracil, which increases trifluridine exposure by inhibiting its metabolism by TP. Trifluridine is incorporated into DNA, resulting in DNA dysfunction and inhibition of cell proliferation.
In the EU, LONSURF® is indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) who have been previously treated with, or are not considered candidates for, available therapies including fluoropyrimidine-, oxaliplatin-, and irinotecan-based chemotherapies, anti- VEGF agents, and anti-EGFR agents. LONSURF® is also indicated as monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic gastric cancer (mGC), including adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction (mGEJC), who have been previously treated with at least two prior systemic treatment regimens for advanced disease.
As of November 2020, LONSURF® has been approved in 91 countries for the treatment of advanced mCRC and in 56 countries for the treatment of advanced mGC/mGEJC.
LONSURF® was discovered and developed by Taiho Pharmaceutical. In June 2015, Taiho Pharmaceutical and Servier entered into an exclusive license agreement for the co-development and commercialization of LONSURF® in Europe and other countries outside of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Asia.
About Servier
Servier is an international pharmaceutical company governed by a non-profit foundation, with its headquarters in France (Suresnes). With a strong international presence in 150 countries and a total revenue of 4.6 billion euros in 2019, Servier employs 22,000 people worldwide. Entirely independent, the Group invests on average 25% of its total revenue (excluding generics) every year in research and development and uses all its profits for its development. Corporate growth is driven by Servier’s constant commitment in five areas of excellence: cardiovascular, immune-inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and diabetes, as well as by its activities in high-quality generic drugs. Servier also offers eHealth solutions beyond drug development. More information: www.servier.com
Follow us on Social Media:
1 Van Cutsem E, Danielewicz I, Saunders MP, et al. Phase II study evaluating trifluridine/tipiracil + bevacizumab and capecitabine + bevacizumab in first-line unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients who are non-eligible for intensive therapy (TASCO1): results of the final analysis on the overall survival. ASCO GI 2021.
2 Digestive Cancers Europe. Prevalence of Colorectal Cancer. https://digestivecancers.eu/colorectal-cancer/prevalence-of-colorectal-cancer-prevalence/?menu_id=13873 Last accessed December 2020.
3 World Health Organisation. GLOBOCAN. Cancer today. Estimated age-standardized incidence rates (World) in 2018, all cancers, both sexes, all ages. https://gco.iarc.fr/today/online-analysis-map?v=2018&mode=population&mode_population=continents&population=900&populations=900&key=asr&sex=0&cancer=39&type=0&statistic=5&prevalence=0&population_group=0&ages_group%5B%5D=0&ages_group%5B%5D=17&nb_items=10&group_cancer=1&include_nmsc=1&include_nmsc_other=1&projection=natural-earth&color_palette=default&map_scale=quantile&map_nb_colors=5&continent=0&rotate=%255B10%252C0%255D Last accessed May 2020.
4 American Cancer Society. Survival Rates for Colorectal Cancer, by Stage. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html Last accessed December 2020.
5 Brenner H, Kloor M, Pox CP. Colorectal cancer. Lancet (London, England). 2014;383(9927):1490-1502.
6 Price TJ, Segelov E, Burge M, et al. Current opinion on optimal systemic treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer: outcome of the ACTG/AGITG expert meeting ECCO 2013. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther . 2014;14(12):1477-1493.
7 Van Cutsem E, Cervantes A, Adam R, et al. ESMO consensus guidelines for the management of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Ann Oncol . 2016;27(8):1386-1422.
8 European Medicines Agency. LONSURF European Public assessment report. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/human/EPAR/LONSURF#authorisation-details-section Last accessed December 2020.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210116005002/en/
Link:
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
DCO Concludes LEAP 2026 with Partnerships and Digital Cooperation Milestones7.9.2026 21:48:00 CEST | Press release
The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) concluded its participation at LEAP 2026, during which the State of Palestine signed the DCO Charter, becoming a Signatory Member, and unveiled the Digital Prosperity Plan 2026–2028, co-developed with DCO to advance digital infrastructure and AI readiness, digital government, skills, startups, and SMEs. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260907201316/en/ DCO Concludes LEAP 2026 with Partnerships and Digital Cooperation Milestones (Photo: AETOSWire) The signing followed the DCO Council’s earlier approval of eight candidate countries. Upon completion of accession procedures, DCO will expand from 16 to 24 Member States, representing approximately 980 million people and paving the way for a billion-strong voice for digital cooperation. Tajikistan is also on track to join the organization as an Associate Member, opening new opportunities to strengthen digital cooperation, acc
LR Health & Beauty Strengthens Its Management Team With Martin Lipp as New Chief Financial Officer (CFO)7.9.2026 15:36:00 CEST | Press release
The LR Health & Beauty GmbH, Europe’s leading social commerce company for high-quality nutritional supplements and beauty products, is strengthening its management team: effective 7 September 2026, Martin Lipp takes over as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and joins the Executive Management Team. In his new role, Martin Lipp will be responsible for Global Controlling & Finance, Legal, IT and Operations. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260907262360/en/ Martin Lipp, new CFO of the LR Group “With Martin Lipp, we are gaining a highly experienced international finance executive with extensive expertise in managing and transforming businesses. During the current transition phase, he will enrich the senior management in particular with his strong transformation expertise and excellent know-how in the areas of finance, operations and IT. Together, we will consistently drive forward the implementation of our strategy with
Capcom’s Onimusha: Way of the Sword Sells Over 1 Million Units on Launch Day!7.9.2026 15:00:00 CEST | Press release
– Total series sales surpass 10 million units driven by this first new title in 20 years – Capcom Co., Ltd. (TOKYO:9697) today announced that worldwide sales of Onimusha: Way of the Sword, the latest title in the series, have surpassed 1 million units on the first day of its release. Driven by the performance of this title, cumulative sales of the Onimusha series have now surpassed 10 million units. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260907554827/en/ Onimusha: Way of the Sword key art Onimusha: Way of the Sword, which marks the first new title in the series in over 20 years, is a swordplay action game featuring protagonist Miyamoto Musashi that is set in Edo-era Kyoto. This title enhances the exhilarating sword-based action of the series with cutting-edge technology while also providing a compelling story and beautiful visual depictions. In addition, through several marketing initiatives prior to launch, such as
A2RL Sets New International Benchmark with Europe’s First Five-Car Autonomous Race7.9.2026 14:16:00 CEST | Press release
UAE team Kinetiz wins A2RL’s first race outside of Abu Dhabi during ACI Racing Weekend hosted on Imola’s iconic Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino FerrariWatch the race HERE. The Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League (A2RL) completed the first-ever multi-car autonomous race in Europe at the Imola Circuit in Italy on 5 September 2026, as part of ACI Racing Weekend. Kinetiz (UAE) won the League’s inaugural international race, across 12 laps of one of the most technically demanding circuits in world motorsport. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260907943650/en/ A2RL Sets New International Benchmark with Europe’s First Five-Car Autonomous Race (Photo: AETOSWire) Organised by ASPIRE, the grand challenges arm of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), A2RL brings together key players across Abu Dhabi’s autonomous mobility ecosystem, with strategic oversight from the Smart and Autonomous Systems Council
Dubai Chambers to Train 14,000 Private Sector Companies in Agentic AI7.9.2026 12:15:00 CEST | Press release
Dubai Chambers has launched specialised Agentic AI training for more than 14,000 private sector companies, helping businesses build the skills needed to adopt the technology across their operations. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260907193930/en/ H.E. Eng. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori speaking during the launch of the training programme (Photo: AETOSWire) The training forms part of Dubai’s wider programme to transition the private sector towards Agentic AI, launched under the directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai. Delivered through the new Dubai Chambers Academy, an integrated e-learning platform, the training provides practical guidance on applying Agentic AI in business. Participants will explore tools and solutions that can improve operations, effici
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom
