Erdafitinib for Bladder Cancer

Not currently recruiting at 151 trial locations

Overseen By Study Contact

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase 2

Sponsor: Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Must not be taking: Chemotherapy, Targeted therapies

Disqualifiers: Uncontrolled cardiovascular disease, Pregnancy, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Prior Safety Data This treatment has passed at least one previous human trial

Breakthrough Therapy This drug has been fast-tracked for approval by the FDA given its high promise

Approved in 2 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: Variable (until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity)

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests erdafitinib (Balversa), a medication for bladder cancer that has spread or cannot be surgically removed. Researchers aim to evaluate its effectiveness in patients whose cancer cells have specific FGFR gene changes. The trial targets individuals whose bladder cancer did not respond to previous chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Participants must have measurable cancer and good overall health. As a Phase 2 trial, the research focuses on assessing the treatment's effectiveness in an initial, smaller group of people.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that you stop taking certain treatments like chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and some radiotherapy at least 2 weeks before starting the study drug. However, ongoing bisphosphonates and denosumab are allowed.

Is there any evidence suggesting that erdafitinib is likely to be safe for humans?

Research shows that erdafitinib is usually well-tolerated by patients. Previous studies found that it can help people with metastatic urothelial carcinoma, a type of bladder cancer, live longer. Most patients can take the treatment without serious problems. However, like all medications, it may cause some side effects, such as vision changes or mouth sores, which are manageable but should be checked by a doctor. Erdafitinib is also approved for certain cancers in other areas, indicating it has undergone safety testing. Always consult a healthcare provider about the potential risks and benefits before joining a trial. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why do researchers think this study treatment might be promising for bladder cancer?

Erdafitinib is unique because it specifically targets the fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) pathway, which is often altered in bladder cancer. Unlike traditional chemotherapy that kills rapidly dividing cells indiscriminately, erdafitinib precisely inhibits FGFR, potentially leading to fewer side effects and more effective treatment for tumors with these genetic changes. Researchers are excited about this treatment because it represents a shift toward personalized medicine, offering hope for improved outcomes in patients with FGFR-driven bladder cancer.

What evidence suggests that erdafitinib might be an effective treatment for bladder cancer?

Research has shown that erdafitinib, which participants in this trial will receive, can effectively treat advanced bladder cancer, particularly in patients with specific FGFR genetic changes. In earlier studies, individuals treated with erdafitinib lived longer overall than those who received chemotherapy. On average, patients taking erdafitinib lived for 12.1 months, while those on chemotherapy lived for 7.8 months. Additionally, erdafitinib delayed cancer progression longer, with patients experiencing 5.6 months without progression, compared to 2.7 months for those on chemotherapy. These findings suggest that erdafitinib may improve outcomes for individuals with hard-to-treat bladder cancer. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Janssen Research & Development, LLC Clinical Trial

Principal Investigator

Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults with advanced bladder cancer that can't be removed by surgery or has spread, and who have already tried chemotherapy without success. They should be able to perform daily activities with minimal assistance (ECOG score 0-2) and have normal organ function. Women must not be pregnant and agree to contraception.

Inclusion Criteria

Must have histologic demonstration of metastatic or surgically unresectable urothelial cancer. Minor components of variant histology such as glandular or squamous differentiation, or evolution to more aggressive phenotypes such as sarcomatoid or micropapillary change are acceptable

Must have measurable disease according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST, version 1.1) at baseline

Must have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score 0, 1, or 2

Exclusion Criteria

Has persistent phosphate level greater than upper limit of normal (ULN) during screening (within 14 days of treatment and prior to Cycle 1 Day 1) and despite medical management

Has a history of or current uncontrolled cardiovascular disease

Females who are pregnant, breast-feeding, or planning to become pregnant within 3 months after the last dose of study drug and males ho plan to father a child while enrolled in this study or within 5 months after the last dose of study drug

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive erdafitinib in 28-day cycles until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity

Variable (until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

Until participant has died, withdraws consent, is lost to follow-up, or the end of the study

Long-term extension (LTE)

Participants continue to receive erdafitinib if they benefit from the treatment

Long-term

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Erdafitinib

Trial Overview

The study tests Erdafitinib's effectiveness in shrinking or eliminating tumors in patients with specific genetic changes in their cancer cells. It also looks at how the body processes the drug when taken with Midazolam or Metformin.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Erdafitinib (8 milligram) Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Prior to interim analysis 1 (IA1), there were 2 treatment regimens: Regimen 1 (10 milligram \[mg\] once daily, 7 days on/7 days off); and Regimen 2 (6 mg once daily for 28 days). Following IA1, Regimen 1 is closed for further enrollment and starting dose of Regimen 2 is increased to 8 mg once daily for 28 days on a 28-day cycle (referred to as Regimen 3). Participants who enrolled in DDI substudy will receive pretreatment with single doses of midazolam (Day -2) and metformin (Day -1). Participants enrolled in DDI substudy will receive 8 mg erdafitinib treatment from Day 1 to Day 15, single doses of midazolam 2.5 mg (Day 13) and metformin 1000 mg (Day 14) and erdafitinib treatment will continued until disease progression. Participants who completed the DDI substudy and continue to benefit from erdafitinib treatment, will continue to receive erdafitinib in long-term extension (LTE) phase.

Erdafitinib is already approved in United States, European Union for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Balversa for:

• Locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma with susceptible FGFR3 genetic alterations

Approved in European Union as Balversa for:

• Locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma with susceptible FGFR3 genetic alterations

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,022

Recruited

6,408,000+

Joaquin Duato

Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Chief Executive Officer since 2022

MBA from ESADE, Master of International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management

Dr. Jijo James, MD

Janssen Research & Development, LLC

Chief Medical Officer since 2014

MD from St. Johns Medical College, MPH from Columbia University

Published Research Related to This Trial

Erdafitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor for advanced urothelial carcinoma, was studied using a pharmacokinetic model in mice and rats to determine effective dosing for phase 1 trials, showing that doses above 4 mg/day resulted in significant tumor growth inhibition.

The modeling predicted that efficacious unbound concentrations of erdafitinib were identified, aligning with early clinical activity observed at a dose of 6 mg in the first-in-human trial, demonstrating the potential of translational modeling in optimizing drug dosing.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A translational model-based approach to inform the choice of the dose in phase 1 oncology trials: the case study of erdafitinib. Tosca, EM., Terranova, N., Stuyckens, K., et al.[2022]

Erdafitinib is a newly approved pan-FGFR inhibitor specifically for treating locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma associated with FGFR3 or FGFR2 mutations.

The drug is also being explored for its potential effectiveness against various other cancers, including cholangiocarcinoma and non-small cell lung cancer, indicating its broad therapeutic applications.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Erdafitinib: First Global Approval. Markham, A.[2020]

A 58-year-old man developed blurry vision and secondary maculopathy after 3 weeks of treatment with erdafitinib for bladder cancer, indicating potential ocular toxicity associated with this medication.

Discontinuation of erdafitinib led to improvements in both vision and eye health, highlighting the need for monitoring ocular side effects in patients receiving FGFR inhibitors like erdafitinib.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Erdafitinib-Induced Secondary Maculopathy. Becker, B., El Hamichi, S., Gold, AS., et al.[2023]

In a phase 3 trial involving 266 patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma and FGFR alterations, erdafitinib significantly improved overall survival compared to chemotherapy, with a median survival of 12.1 months versus 7.8 months.

Erdafitinib also demonstrated a longer median progression-free survival of 5.6 months compared to 2.7 months for chemotherapy, while having a similar incidence of severe treatment-related adverse events, indicating a favorable safety profile.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Erdafitinib or Chemotherapy in Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma. Loriot, Y., Matsubara, N., Park, SH., et al.[2023]

Erdafitinib is the first FDA-approved oral medication that targets multiple fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR-1 to -4), leading to reduced cell signaling and increased cancer cell death, making it a novel treatment for urothelial carcinoma.

This drug is specifically approved for adult patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma who have certain genetic alterations in FGFR3 or FGFR2 and have not responded to previous platinum-based chemotherapy, providing a new option for these patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Erdafitinib to treat urothelial carcinoma. Hanna, KS.[2019]

In a long-term follow-up of the BLC2001 study involving 101 patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma, erdafitinib demonstrated a 40% objective response rate, indicating its efficacy in this patient population with specific FGFR alterations.

The safety profile of erdafitinib remained consistent over time, with 71% of patients experiencing grade 3-4 adverse events, but no new safety concerns were identified, suggesting it is a manageable treatment option.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Efficacy and safety of erdafitinib in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma: long-term follow-up of a phase 2 study. Siefker-Radtke, AO., Necchi, A., Park, SH., et al.[2022]

In a phase III study involving 351 patients with metastatic urothelial carcinoma, erdafitinib and pembrolizumab showed similar overall survival rates, with median survival times of 10.9 months and 11.1 months, respectively.

Erdafitinib demonstrated a higher objective response rate (40.0% vs. 21.6%) compared to pembrolizumab, although the duration of response was shorter for erdafitinib (4.3 months vs. 14.4 months), indicating that while erdafitinib may lead to more immediate responses, pembrolizumab may provide longer-lasting effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Erdafitinib versus pembrolizumab in pretreated patients with advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer with select FGFR alterations: cohort 2 of the randomized phase III THOR trial. Siefker-Radtke, AO., Matsubara, N., Park, SH., et al.[2023]

Citations

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nejm.org

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Treatment with BALVERSA® also showed an improvement in median PFS compared to chemotherapy of 5.6 months versus 2.7 months (HR 0.58; [95 percent ...

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Erdafitinib Effective Against Advanced Bladder Cancer - NCI

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urotoday.com

urotoday.com/conference-highlights/eau-2024/eau-2024-bladder-cancer/151001-eau-2024-first-safety-and-efficacy-results-of-the-tar-210-erdafitinib-intravesical-delivery-system-in-patients-with-non-muscle-invasive-bladder-cancer-with-select-fgfr-alterations.html

First Safety and Efficacy Results of the TAR-210 Erdafitinib ...

TAR-210 shows promising clinical activity in patients with FGFR-altered high-risk and intermediate-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer with ...

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sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0302283825047025

Erdafitinib in Patients with High- and Intermediate-risk Non ...

This final analysis of the multicohort phase 2 THOR-2 trial shows that oral erdafitinib achieved superior recurrence-free survival compared with ...

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jnj.com

jnj.com/media-center/press-releases/european-commission-approves-balversa-erdafitinib-for-adult-patients-with-unresectable-or-metastatic-urothelial-carcinoma

European Commission approves BALVERSA ...

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ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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Erdafitinib (Balversa) - NCBI Bookshelf - NIH

Specifically, the primary analysis of the THOR trial showed that the median overall survival (OS) was 12.06 months in the erdafitinib arm compared with 7.79 ...