Galena initiates Phase III PRESENT trial for NeuVax

Galena Biopharma has initiated Phase III trial for NeuVax (E75 peptide plus GM-CSF) vaccine in HER2 1+ and 2+ breast cancer patients in the adjuvant setting to prevent recurrence.

The Prevention of Recurrence in Early-Stage, Node-Positive Breast Cancer with Low to Intermediate HER2 Expression with NeuVax Treatment (PRESENT) study will enroll approximately 700 breast cancer patients.

The randomized, multicenter, multinational trial will be conducted in adjuvant breast cancer patients who are node positive, have an HLA status of A2/A3+, and have low or intermediate HER2 expression.

These patients are not eligible to receive Herceptin (trastuzumab, marketed by Roche-Genentech) therapy that is currently approved only for patients with high HER2, or 3+ expression, the company said.

The primary endpoint is disease-free survival at three years or 139 events (recurrence of cancer). A data safety monitoring board will conduct an interim analysis for safety and futility after 70 events. Galena chief medical officer Rosemary Mazanet said that NeuVax addresses a critical unmet medical need, well-recognized by investigators and the interest from potential patients is very high.