Partnering To Advance Next Generation Treatments For Breast Cancer
By Kelly Page, Arvinas and Christina Derleth, Pfizer
Approximately one in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. Nearly 30 percent of women who are diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer will eventually experience metastasis, where the cancer spreads to other organs — a condition known as advanced or metastatic breast cancer (mBC). Currently, it is estimated that around 200,000 women in the U.S. are living with mBC.
In recent decades, treatment advances have improved the overall survival rate for breast cancer patients, including for those with the most common subtype of mBC, estrogen receptor positive (ER+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-). However, patients often become resistant to existing endocrine therapies, a common form of treatment that is frequently combined with cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 (CDK4/6) and to other targeted inhibitors, which can lead to cancer spreading further throughout the body.
Many stakeholders across the scientific community are working to address the immense challenge of disease progression in mBC. But no single researcher, company, or medicine can tackle this complex issue alone. The breakthroughs needed for patients become more likely when formed through collaboration, and it is critical to leverage expertise, insights, and capabilities across institutions, academia, and the biopharmaceutical industry.
With a shared commitment to address the unmet needs of patients and families impacted by mBC, Arvinas and Pfizer are collaborating to explore the potential use of a novel technology that may offer a new type of treatment to slow or stop the progression of mBC.
An Alliance To Drive The Next Era Of Potential Treatments
For years, researchers and experts have been interested in treating breast cancer by tapping into the body’s cellular ‘protein disposal’ system. Arvinas began investigating protein degraders in clinical trials in 2019 with its proprietary proteolysis-targeting chimera (PROTAC) Discovery Engine platform, designed to engineer molecules that utilize the body’s own protein disposal system to selectively degrade and eliminate disease causing proteins that can stimulate cancer growth (e.g., estrogen receptors in ER+ breast cancer). In 2020, Arvinas released Phase 1 data for vepdegestrant, demonstrating its investigational treatment’s potential as a new therapy for mBC patients. To build on this potential, Arvinas began seeking a collaboration with a more established company in the breast cancer space to accelerate its progress. From there, the Arvinas-Pfizer collaboration was born.
With 175 years of experience in the discovery, development, and manufacturing of healthcare products, including over 20 years of experience in breast cancer, Pfizer is considered a leader in the development of small molecules and helped pioneer the CDK4/6 inhibitor space. Leveraging Pfizer’s expertise in breast cancer and Arvinas’ cutting-edge science, the companies are focused on advancing the PROTAC mechanism that has the potential to provide a next-generation endocrine treatment option for patients with ER+/HER2- mBC.
Arvinas and Pfizer have progressed this investigational PROTAC therapy into late-stage clinical trials, studying it both as monotherapy and in combination with an established therapy for ER+/HER2- mBC. A broad network of academic and clinical researchers is also contributing to its development. Partnerships like these allow integration of diverse perspectives and expertise, with the goal of addressing key unmet needs and driving meaningful advancements for patients with mBC.
The Road Ahead: What The Future May Hold
The development of new treatments for mBC comes with significant challenges, highlighting the need for a collective approach. By collaborating across the scientific community, we continue to drive innovation, with the intention of offering future hope for the millions of people impacted by mBC.
About The Authors:
Kelly Page, MBA, is currently Senior Vice President, Global Head of Oncology Strategy and Program Leadership at Arvinas, with more than 25 years of global pharmaceutical industry experience in the research setting through global commercialization. She joined Arvinas' Executive Board after serving as Vice President, Head of Global Commercial, Hematology at AstraZeneca, which followed various R&D and commercial positions at both Takeda Oncology and Pfizer. Kelly earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Rhode Island and bachelor's degrees in biology and chemistry from Providence College.
Christina Derleth, MD, MS, serves as Vice President, Breast Cancer Therapeutic Area Development Head at Pfizer Oncology. Christina began her career in academia at Vanderbilt University, initially focusing on breast cancer research, before taking over leadership of the genitourinary clinical trials group. She transitioned to industry, starting at Genentech before moving to Seagen and subsequently Pfizer following the Seagen acquisition. In industry, she has held various clinical development leadership roles in both early- and late-stage clinical development, overseeing development of immuno-oncology, antibody-drug conjugate, and small molecule programs in solid tumors. Christina is a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist. She holds an M.S. in Clinical Investigation from Vanderbilt University, an M.D., from the University of Washington School of Medicine, and a B.S. in Cell and Molecular Biology from the University of Washington.