AbbVie's Elahere (mirvetuximab soravtansine) has secured marketing authorization from the European Commission for the treatment of adult patients with folate receptor-alpha (FRα) positive, platinum-resistant, high-grade serous epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancer who have undergone one to three prior systemic treatments. This approval marks Elahere as the first and only FRα-directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) available for this patient population in the European Union.
The approval is based on data from the Phase III MIRASOL study, a pivotal trial that compared Elahere to investigator's choice of single-agent chemotherapy in patients with FRα-positive, platinum-resistant ovarian cancer. The study's primary endpoint was progression-free survival, and a key secondary endpoint was overall survival.
Clinical Efficacy
The MIRASOL study demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival for patients treated with Elahere. Specifically, Elahere reduced the risk of tumor progression or death by 35% compared to chemotherapy. Furthermore, the study showed a 33% reduction in the risk of death in the Elahere arm compared to the chemotherapy arm, highlighting a significant overall survival benefit.
Mechanism of Action and Prior Approvals
Elahere is a first-in-class ADC that targets cancer cells by delivering a potent cytotoxic agent directly to FRα-expressing cells. This targeted approach aims to minimize off-target effects and maximize efficacy in FRα-positive tumors. The drug received full approval from the FDA for a similar indication in March 2024, following an initial accelerated approval in 2022.
Strategic Acquisition and Future Potential
AbbVie added Elahere to its portfolio through the acquisition of ImmunoGen for $10.1 billion earlier this year. The drug generated $331 million in sales during the first nine months of 2024, and is currently being investigated for use in earlier lines of therapy for ovarian cancer. Positive results from the Phase II PICCOLO study, which evaluated Elahere in heavily pre-treated patients with FRα-positive platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer and achieved an objective response rate of 51.9%, further support its potential in treating ovarian cancer.
