Ipsen receives positive CHMP opinion for Cabometyx® in previously treated advanced neuroendocrine tumors
- If approved, Cabometyx® would be the first and only systemic therapy approved in the European Union for previously treated neuroendocrine tumors, regardless of tumor site, grade or previous non-somatostatin analogue-based systemic therapy1,2
- Recommendation based on CABINET Phase III trial results, which demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful reductions in risk of disease progression or death with Cabometyx versus placebo3,4
- European Commission decision expected Q3 2025
PARIS, FRANCE, 20 June 2025 - Ipsen (Euronext: IPN; ADR: IPSEY) announced today that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has issued a positive opinion for Cabometyx® (cabozantinib) for adult patients with unresectable or metastatic, well differentiated extra-pancreatic (epNET) and pancreatic (pNET) neuroendocrine tumors who have progressed following at least one prior systemic therapy other than somatostatin analogues. This recommendation is based on results from the CABINET Phase III trial presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2024 and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.3,4 A final decision on the approval in the European Union is expected in the coming months.
The number of people newly diagnosed with neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) is believed to be increasing, with a higher estimated prevalence than pancreatic or bladder cancer.5,6,7 Most forms of NETs develop slowly and can originate in various parts of the body,8 often requiring multiple lines of therapy as the disease progresses.1,2 Treatment options upon progression are often limited depending on primary tumor site and other factors, making it challenging to define optimal sequencing of treatments specific to individual patient needs.1,2,9 In particular, for the 27% of people diagnosed with lung NETs,10 there are no approved treatment options available upon progression on a non-somatostatin analogue-based systemic therapy.1,2
“The significant efficacy data demonstrated in the CABINET Phase III trial have provided the opportunity to reframe conversations on care approaches for people living with advanced pancreatic and extra-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors,” said Christelle Huguet, PhD, EVP and Head of Research and Development, Ipsen. “Today's positive CHMP opinion confirms the potential to translate these data into meaningful benefits for patients and we look forward to receiving the final decision from the European Commission.”
The five-year survival rate is highly dependent on the primary site of disease. For advanced gastrointestinal and lung NETs, where the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, the five-year survival rates are 68% and 55%, respectively.11,12 For people diagnosed with advanced pNET, however, the prognosis is poor, with a five-year survival rate of 23%.13
The positive CHMP opinion is based on data from the CABINET Phase III trial, which investigated Cabometyx versus placebo in people living with advanced pNETs or epNETs, whose disease had progressed after prior systemic therapy other than somatostatin analogues.3,4
- In the pNET cohort, at a median follow-up of 13.8 months, median PFS was 13.8 months for Cabometyx versus 4.4 months for placebo (hazard ratio (HR) 0.23 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.12-0.42] p<0.001).3,4
- In the epNET cohort, at a median follow-up of 10.2 months, median PFS based on local radiology review was 8.4 months for Cabometyx versus 3.9 months for placebo (HR 0.38 [95% CI 0.25-0.59] p<0.001).3,4
- Overall survival data were not mature at the time of the analyses and potentially confounded by the crossover design of the CABINET trial.3,4
- The safety profile of Cabometyx observed in each cohort was consistent with its known safety profile; no new safety signals were identified.3,4
- Per presentation at the Annual Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting 2025, health-related quality of life was also found to be maintained or improved.14
About Cabometyx
Cabometyx is a small molecule that inhibits multiple receptor tyrosine kinases, including VEGFRs, MET, RET and the TAM family (TYRO3, MER, AXL).15 These receptor tyrosine kinases are involved in both normal cellular function and pathological processes such as oncogenesis, metastasis, tumor angiogenesis (the growth of new blood vessels that tumors need to grow), drug resistance, immune modulation, and maintenance of the tumor microenvironment.15,16,17,18
Exelixis granted Ipsen exclusive rights for the commercialization and further clinical development of Cabometyx outside of the U.S. and Japan. Exelixis granted exclusive rights to Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (Takeda) for the commercialization and further clinical development of Cabometyx for all future indications in Japan. Exelixis holds the exclusive rights to develop and commercialize Cabometyx in the U.S.
In over 65 countries outside of the United States and Japan, including in the European Union, Cabometyx is currently indicated as:16
- Monotherapy for advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC).
- as first-line treatment of adults with intermediate- or poor-risk disease.
- in adults following prior VEGFR-targeted therapy.
- A combination with nivolumab for the first-line treatment of aRCC in adults.
- Monotherapy for the treatment of adults living with locally advanced or metastatic differentiated thyroid carcinoma, refractory or not eligible to radioactive iodine who have progressed during or after prior systemic therapy.
- Monotherapy for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma in adults who have previously been treated with sorafenib.
About CABINET (Alliance A021602)
CABINET (randomized, double-blinded Phase III trial of CABozantinib versus placebo In patients with advanced NEuroendocrine Tumors after progression on prior therapy) is sponsored by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health in the U.S., and is being led and conducted by the NCI-funded Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology with participation from the NCI-funded National Clinical Trials Network, as part of Exelixis’ collaboration through a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement with the NCI’s Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program.
The multicenter, Phase III CABINET pivotal trial enrolled a total of 298 patients in the U.S. at the time of the analysis. Patients were randomized 2:1 to Cabometyx or placebo in two separately powered cohorts. The epNET cohort included patients with the following primary tumor sites: gastrointestinal tract, lung, unknown primary and other organs. Each cohort was randomized separately and had its own statistical analysis plan. Patients must have had measurable disease per RECIST 1.1 criteria and must have experienced disease progression or intolerance after at least one U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved line of prior systemic therapy other than somatostatin analogues. The primary endpoint in each cohort was PFS per RECIST 1.1 by retrospective independent central review. Upon confirmation of disease progression, patients were unblinded, and those receiving placebo were permitted to cross over to open-label therapy with Cabometyx. Secondary endpoints included overall survival, objective response rate and safety. More information about this trial is available at ClinicalTrials.gov.
About Ipsen
We are a global biopharmaceutical company with a focus on bringing transformative medicines to patients in three therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Disease and Neuroscience.
Our pipeline is fueled by external innovation and supported by nearly 100 years of development experience and global hubs in the U.S., France and the U.K. Our teams in more than 40 countries and our partnerships around the world enable us to bring medicines to patients in more than 100 countries.
Ipsen is listed in Paris (Euronext: IPN) and in the U.S. through a Sponsored Level I American Depositary Receipt program (ADR: IPSEY). For more information, visit ipsen.com.
Ipsen Contacts
Investors
Khalid Deojee khalid.deojee@ipsen.com - +33 666019526
Media (Global)
Sally Bain sally.bain@ipsen.com - +1 8573200517
Media (France)
Anne Liontas anne.liontas.ext@ipsen.com - +33 0767347296
Disclaimers and/or forward-looking statements
The forward-looking statements, objectives and targets contained herein are based on Ipsen’s management strategy, current views and assumptions. Such statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those anticipated herein. All of the above risks could affect Ipsen’s future ability to achieve its financial targets, which were set assuming reasonable macroeconomic conditions based on the information available today. Use of the words ‘believes’, ‘anticipates’ and ‘expects’ and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, including Ipsen’s expectations regarding future events, including regulatory filings and determinations. Moreover, the targets described in this document were prepared without taking into account external-growth assumptions and potential future acquisitions, which may alter these parameters. These objectives are based on data and assumptions regarded as reasonable by Ipsen. These targets depend on conditions or facts likely to happen in the future, and not exclusively on historical data. Actual results may depart significantly from these targets given the occurrence of certain risks and uncertainties, notably the fact that a promising medicine in early development phase or clinical trial may end up never being launched on the market or reaching its commercial targets, notably for regulatory or competition reasons. Ipsen must face or might face competition from generic medicine that might translate into a loss of market share. Furthermore, the research and development process involves several stages each of which involves the substantial risk that Ipsen may fail to achieve its objectives and be forced to abandon its efforts with regards to a medicine in which it has invested significant sums. Therefore, Ipsen cannot be certain that favorable results obtained during preclinical trials will be confirmed subsequently during clinical trials, or that the results of clinical trials will be sufficient to demonstrate the safe and effective nature of the medicine concerned. There can be no guarantees a medicine will receive the necessary regulatory approvals or that the medicine will prove to be commercially successful. If underlying assumptions prove inaccurate or risks or uncertainties materialize, actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. Other risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to, general industry conditions and competition; general economic factors, including interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of pharmaceutical industry regulation and healthcare legislation; global trends toward healthcare cost containment; technological advances, new medicine and patents attained by competitors; challenges inherent in new-medicine development, including obtaining regulatory approval; Ipsen’s ability to accurately predict future market conditions; manufacturing difficulties or delays; financial instability of international economies and sovereign risk; dependence on the effectiveness of Ipsen’s patents and other protections for innovative medicines; and the exposure to litigation, including patent litigation, and/or regulatory actions. Ipsen also depends on third parties to develop and market some of its medicines which could potentially generate substantial royalties; these partners could behave in such ways which could cause damage to Ipsen’s activities and financial results. Ipsen cannot be certain that its partners will fulfil their obligations. It might be unable to obtain any benefit from those agreements. A default by any of Ipsen’s partners could generate lower revenues than expected. Such situations could have a negative impact on Ipsen’s business, financial position or performance. Ipsen expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to update or revise any forwardlooking statements, targets or estimates contained in this press release to reflect any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which any such statements are based, unless so required by applicable law. Ipsen’s business is subject to the risk factors outlined in its registration documents filed with the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers. The risks and uncertainties set out are not exhaustive and the reader is advised to refer to Ipsen’s latest Universal Registration Document, available on ipsen.com.
References
1Baudin E, et al. Lung and thymic carcinoids: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2021 Nov;32(11):1453-1455.
2Pavel M, et al. Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2020;31(7):844-860.
3Chan et al. Phase 3 Trial of Cabozantinib in Previously Treated Advanced Neuroendocrine Tumors. 2024 New England Journal of Medicine. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2403991
4Chan et al. Cabozantinib Versus Placebo for Advanced Neuroendocrine Tumors (NET) after Progression on Prior Therapy (CABINET Trial/Alliance A021602): Updated Results Including Progression Free-Survival (PFS) by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR) and Subgroup Analyses. As presented at ESMO Congress 2024 during the ‘Proffered Paper: NETs and Endocrine Tumors at 2:45 p.m. CEST Barcelona, Spain.
5Durma et al. Epidemiology of Neuroendocrine Neoplasms and Results of Their Treatment with [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE or [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE and [90Y]Y-DOTA-TATE—A Six-Year Experience in High-Reference Polish Neuroendocrine Neoplasm Center. Cancers 2023, 15(22), 5466; https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15225466
6 Singh et al. Patient-Reported Burden of a Neuroendocrine Tumor (NET) Diagnosis: Results From the First Global Survey of Patients With NETs. J Glob Oncol. 2017 Feb; 3(1): 43–53.
7Globocan: International Agency for Research on Cancer – Cancer Today. https://gco.iarc.fr/today/en/dataviz/bars?mode=cancer&group_populations=1. Accessed June 2025
8Neuroendocrine tumor (NET). https://www.cancer.gov/pediatric-adult-rare-tumor/rare-tumors/rare-endocrine-tumor/carcinoid-tumor. Accessed June 2025.
9 McClellan, K., Chen. E.Y, Kardosh A., et al. Therapy Resistant Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors. Cancers. 2022, 14(19), 4769.
10 Frilling et al. Neuroendocrine tumor disease: an evolving landscape. 2012. 19:R163-R185
11Survival Rates for Gastrointestinal Carcinoid Tumors. ACS website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/gastrointestinal-carcinoid-tumor/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html. Accessed June 2025.
12 Survival Rates for Lung Carcinoid Tumors. ACS website. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/lung-carcinoid-tumor/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html. Accessed June 2025
13Survival Rates for Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumor. American Cancer Society Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/pancreatic-neuroendocrine-tumor/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html. Accessed June 2025.
14Duech et al. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in the phase 3 trial of cabozantinib vs placebo for advanced neuroendocrine tumors (NET) after progression on prior therapy (CABINET, Alliance A021602). As presented at ASCO Congress 2025.
15El-Khoueiry A. et al., Cabozantinib: An evolving therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Treatment Reviews. 2021 Jul;98:102221. DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2021.102221.
16European Medicines Agency. Cabometyx® (cabozantinib) EU Summary of Product Characteristics. Available from: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/cabometyx-epar-product-information_en.pdf. Accessed June 2025.
17Yakes M. et al., Cabozantinib (XL184), a novel MET and VEGFR2 inhibitor, simultaneously suppresses metastasis, angiogenesis, and tumor growth. Mol Cancer Ther. 2011;10:2298–2308. DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-11-0264
18Hsu et al., AXL and MET in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Systematic Literature Review. Liver Cancer 2021 DOI: 10.1159/000520501
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