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Research Paper

Efficacy and safety of tanezumab in the treatment of


pain from bone metastases
Maciej Sopataa, Nathaniel Katzb,c, William Careyd,*, Michael D. Smithd, David Kellerd, Kenneth M. Verburgd,
Christine R. Westd, Gernot Wolframd, Mark T. Brownd

Abstract
Patients with metastatic bone cancer report life-altering pain. Nerve growth factor is involved in pain signaling. Tanezumab, a nerve
growth factor monoclonal antibody, has demonstrated efficacy in chronic pain. Placebo-controlled parent (NCT00545129; study
1003) and noncontrolled open-label extension (NCT00830180; study 1029) studies evaluated efficacy and safety of tanezumab in
patients with painful bone metastases taking daily opioids. Patients in study 1003 received a single intravenous injection of 10 mg
tanezumab or placebo and were followed up to 16 weeks. Efficacy analyses included change from baseline in daily average and
worst pain at week 6 on an 11-point numeric rating scale. At week 8, patients could enroll in study 1029 and receive 4 infusions of
10 mg tanezumab at 8-week intervals with follow-up to 40 weeks. Safety assessments included adverse events and physical and
neurologic examinations. Overall, 59 patients were randomized and treated (placebo, n 5 30; tanezumab, n 5 29). At the primary
endpoint of study 1003, least squares mean (SE) difference in change from baseline in daily average pain vs placebo was 20.26
(0.45; P 5 0.569). Post hoc analyses suggested that tanezumab had greater efficacy in patients with lower baseline opioid use
and/or higher baseline pain. Mean (SE) pain scores in study 1029 were reduced through week 40 compared with study 1029 or 1003
baselines (20.21 [0.76] and 21.27 [0.68], respectively). Adverse event incidence of study 1003 was similar between groups.
Although the primary endpoint was not achieved, tanezumab may provide additional sustained analgesia in patients with metastatic
bone pain taking daily opioids. Additional larger studies are warranted.
Keywords: Bone metastases, Cancer pain, Efficacy, Nerve growth factor, Safety, Tanezumab

1. Introduction cancers express or are stimulated by NGF.4,10,11,18,28,38,41,43


An estimated 30% to 50% of patients with cancer experience Anti-NGF therapy reduces pain-related behavior in a mouse
moderate to severe cancer-related pain, and in advanced or model of bone cancer pain and was more effective or equivalent
metastatic cancer, 75% to 95% report life-altering cancer- to acute morphine therapy in reducing prostate/bone cancer
induced pain.31 Although pain arises from numerous causes, pain-related behavior in mice.19,37
bone metastasis is the most common cause of cancer pain, Nerve growth factor stimulates sensory neurons by binding to 2
occurring in 60% to 84% of patients.25,27 Therapeutics such as receptors (tropomyosin receptor kinase A [TrkA] and p75 [low-
opioids, which are commonly used in these patients, are not fully affinity receptor]).1 Tanezumab, a humanized monoclonal anti-
effective in many patients and often have significant side body with high selectivity and specificity for NGF, inhibits NGF
effects.26 Thus, a significant unmet need remains for develop- binding to both TrkA and p75.1 In clinical studies, tanezumab
ment of novel agents for cancer pain treatment. administered once every 8 weeks significantly reduced pain and
The neurotrophin nerve growth factor (NGF) plays an important improved physical function and global status in patients with
role in pain signaling. In animal studies, elevated NGF levels are osteoarthritis and chronic low back pain.5–8,14,15,22–24,29,30,35,36
observed with increased pain behavior.2,17,20,32,42 In human To assess tanezumab as a potential treatment for cancer pain,
clinical trials, NGF administration has resulted in hyperalgesia, a phase 2 randomized, placebo-controlled, initial proof-of-concept
pressure allodynia, and generalized muscle pain.3,13 A number of parent study (NCT00545129; study 1003) was conducted. The
primary objective was to evaluate analgesic efficacy of a single
dose of intravenous (i.v.) tanezumab 10 mg in patients with cancer
Sponsorships or competing interests that may be relevant to content are disclosed
and chronic pain due to bone metastases treated with opioids. A
at the end of this article. phase 2 open-label safety extension study (NCT00830180; study
a
Department of Palliative Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 1029) was conducted to evaluate the long-term safety and
Poznan, Poland, b Analgesic Solutions, Natick, MA, USA, c Department of effectiveness of tanezumab 10 mg i.v. every 8 weeks.
Anesthesiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA, d Pfizer Inc,
Groton, CT, USA
*Corresponding author. Address: Clinical Sciences, Global Innovative Pharma- 2. Methods
ceuticals Business, Pfizer Limited (F5-2), Walton Oaks, Dorking Rd, Tadworth,
Surrey, KT20 7NS, United Kingdom. Tel.: 144 (0) 1304 640 777; fax: 144 (0) 1737 Study 1003 was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled,
332 214. E-mail address: william.carey@pfizer.com (W. Carey). parallel-group, phase 2 study in patients with cancer with chronic
PAIN 156 (2015) 1703–1713 pain due to bone metastases who were being treated with opioids
© 2015 International Association for the Study of Pain (Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT00545129). Study 1029 was
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000000211 a phase 2 open-label extension study (Clinicaltrials.gov identifier:

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NCT00830180). Both studies were conducted in compliance with (1) Total daily dose (fixed component plus rescue doses) of the opioid
the Declaration of Helsinki and the International Conference on regimen had not changed by more than 120% from day 1 to day
Harmonisation Good Clinical Practice guidelines. The study 2 and from day 1 to day 3 of the baseline assessment period.
protocols and informed consent documentation were reviewed (2) There had been #3 IR rescue episodes per day from day 1 to
and approved by an institutional review board at all sites. Written day 3 of the baseline assessment period for breakthrough pain.
informed consent was obtained from patients before initiation of (3) The mean value of the “average pain intensity over the last 24
any protocol-specified procedures. hours” scores from day 1 to day 3 of the baseline assessment
period must have been $4 on an 11-point NRS (scores range
from 0 to 10).
2.1. Study 1003 (4) There were no intolerable side effects in the judgment of the
2.1.1. Study population patient from day 1 to day 3 of the baseline assessment period.
The treatment phase lasted up to 113 days. Patients were
The key inclusion criteria were patients with prostate cancer, randomized to receive a single dose of 10 mg tanezumab or
breast cancer, renal cell carcinoma, or multiple myeloma matching placebo (tanezumab vehicle) in a 1:1 ratio (Fig. 1). After
diagnosed as having metastasized to bone, with moderate to week 8 but no later than week 16, patients had the option of
severe bone metastasis pain (“average pain intensity over the last enrolling in the extension study; patients who did not were
24 hours” scores from days 1-3 of the baseline assessment followed through week 16 in study 1003.
period $4 on an 11-point numeric rating scale [NRS]);
radiographic or bone scan confirmation of bone metastasis
within 30 days before the screening visit; and Karnofsky 2.1.3. Efficacy
Performance Status score $50% at the screening visit.21 The primary efficacy endpoint was change from baseline to week 6
Patients requiring regimens of oral codeine, hydrocodone, in daily average pain as measured by an 11-point NRS recorded
oxycodone, morphine, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, levor- daily through an e-diary (0 5 no pain, 10 5 pain as bad as you can
phanol, or transdermal fentanyl were eligible. Patients requiring imagine). Secondary endpoints included change from baseline to
regimens of methadone, tramadol, propoxyphene, meperidine, weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 16 in daily worst pain score; change
or a mixed opioid agonist/antagonist compound were excluded. from baseline to the same time points (excluding week 6) in daily
Consistent with standard clinical practice, opioid regimens were average pain; and percentage of patients with a response (defined
to consist of single fixed-dose opioid (around-the-clock) and by $30%, $50%, $70%, or $90% reduction from baseline in
single immediate-release (IR) opioid for breakthrough pain. The daily average pain NRS). Additional secondary assessments
regimen was tailored for each patient during an opioid adjustment included the Brief Pain Inventory Short Form (BPI-sf), consisting
period before randomization by following accepted clinical of questions designed to measure pain intensity and interference of
guidelines.40 In most cases, the regimen consisted of a fixed as pain with daily activities; responses were provided on an 11-point
well as a rescue component. Patients on stable regimens of IR NRS ranging from 0 to 10.9 Although the landmark analysis was
opioids only (taken #3 times daily) were also eligible, as were prespecified as week 6 after dosing, week 8 was deemed a high-
patients whose stable opioid regimen consisted of only a fixed interest time point because of intended 8-week dosing intervals for
component, provided they had access to an IR opioid for tanezumab in the treatment of chronic pain conditions.
breakthrough pain. Between study visits, change in total daily
opioid dose was not to exceed baseline total daily dose by more
than 10%. 2.2. Study 1029
Patients were excluded if their pain was related to an oncologic 2.2.1. Study population
emergency such as bowel obstruction/perforation; brain metas-
tases, epidural metastases, leptomeningeal metastases; fracture Inclusion criteria required patients to have been treated in study
or impending fracture of weight-bearing bone; infection-related; 1003 with enrollment in study 1029 after 8 weeks but no later
primarily classified as neuropathic or nature unknown; a result of
previous cancer therapy; or not related to bone metastasis.
Because of reports of joint destruction in tanezumab osteoar-
thritis studies and a subsequent clinical hold placed on all studies
of tanezumab in chronic pain (excluding cancer pain), protocol
amendments excluded patients with comorbid osteoarthritis,
osteonecrosis, or recent joint trauma.

2.1.2. Study design


This study included a pretreatment phase (3-30 days) consisting
of screening; an opioid dose adjustment phase for determining
the stabilized opioid regimen per clinical guidelines40; and a 3-day
baseline assessment period for assessment of pain intensity,
opioid use, and adverse event occurrence. The purpose of the
opioid dose adjustment phase (days 230 to 24) was to
determine optimal total daily opioid dose using a stable around-
the-clock regimen of opioids and IR opioids as needed for
breakthrough pain. Strict criteria needed to be met during the Figure 1. Study design. BL, baseline; IV, intravenous. a Opioid adjustment
period (day 230 to 23) and baseline assessment period (day 23 to 21).
3-day baseline assessment period to be eligible for randomiza- b
Transition between studies #8 weeks.
tion. These criteria included:

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than 16 weeks after the dose of study medication in study 1003. total daily opioid use (morphine equivalent dose [MED] #60.5 or
Patients who discontinued study 1003 before week 8 because .60.5 mg/d). In a further analysis of change from baseline to
of lack of efficacy were eligible to enter the open-label study after weeks 6 and 8 for average pain, the study site was used as a fixed
8 weeks had elapsed since the study drug infusion in study term in the ANCOVA model. All statistical tests in study 1003 used
1003. Patients were excluded if they withdrew from study 1003 2-sided 5% significance. Because study 1029 was noncompar-
for an adverse event; discontinued before week 8 because of ative, no statistical testing was performed. Efficacy results are
lack of compliance, protocol violation, not meeting entrance presented through extension study week 40; safety was
criteria, consent withdrawal, disease progression; or were lost evaluated over the entire study.
to follow-up. Because of the protocol amendment described, A minimum of 58 patients were to be randomized equally to
patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, primary osteo- tanezumab or placebo in study 1003 based on a sample size
necrosis, or recent joint trauma were subsequently excluded calculated for the primary endpoint with 80% power to detect
from the study. a treatment difference, assuming within-group SD of 2.0, with
a target mean difference of 1.5 and using 2-sided significance
level of 5%.24 There was no required number of patients for any
2.2.2. Study design analyses in study 1029.
Study 1029 was a 40-week open-label safety extension of the
double-blind randomized study 1003. Patients received 4
3. Results
infusions of 10 mg tanezumab at 8-week intervals under open-
label conditions, with final visit at week 40. For compassionate Studies 1003 and 1029 were conducted in 32 and 27 centers,
reasons, 1 patient was granted extended treatment of 619 days respectively, in Europe, North America, South America, Latin
(8 infusions). America, and Asia. Demographics and baseline characteristics of
study 1003 were comparable across treatments (Table 1). In
study 1003, 7 of 29 (24.1%) patients randomized to the
2.2.3. Effectiveness tanezumab 10-mg treatment group received concomitant
Effectiveness in study 1029 was assessed as change from study chemotherapy and 5 of 30 (16.7%) patients randomized to
1003 baseline to weeks 4, 8, 16, 24, and 40 in the BPI-sf placebo received concomitant chemotherapy. In this study, 7 of
endpoints of study 1029 for daily average pain and daily worst 29 (24.1%) patients randomized to the tanezumab 10-mg
pain. The BPI-sf was assessed at each study visit before dosing. treatment group and 3 of 30 (10%) patients randomized to
placebo received a concomitant bisphosphonate.
Excluding the single renal cell carcinoma patient, the mean
2.2.4. Safety (both studies)
duration of cancer was generally 3 to 6 years, and the duration
Safety was evaluated throughout both studies, and assessments since bone metastasis diagnosis was generally 0.5 to 1.9 years
included adverse event documentation (including severity and (Table 2). All patients were on an opioid regimen upon
investigator’s opinion of relationship to study drug), vital signs, study 1003 entry. The average daily total opioids dosage at
physical and neurologic examinations, 12-lead electrocardio- baseline was similar between groups; small reductions in the
grams (ECGs), and laboratory tests. average daily total dosage occurred through week 8 for both
Study investigators performed neurologic examinations at groups, but differences were not statistically significant (P 5
each clinic visit using the Neuropathy Impairment Score, 0.744; Table 1). The mean tanezumab treatment duration in
a standardized testing instrument for both healthy patients and the parent and extension studies combined was 225 days;
for patients with neuropathy, and for evaluation of patients with most patients received at least 4 doses of tanezumab
signs of peripheral neuropathy.3,12 If a neurologic adverse event (Table 3).
was reported or a clinically significant change was noted on
neurologic examination, the patient was referred to a neurologist
3.1. Study 1003
for further evaluation. Adverse events in study 1029 were defined
as any that began in study 1029, or in study 1003 and worsened Overall, 101 patients were screened; 59 were randomized and
during study 1029. treated (placebo, n 5 30; tanezumab 10 mg, n 5 29; Fig. 2).

2.2.5. Statistical analysis (both studies) 3.1.1. Efficacy


Efficacy and safety were assessed in the intent-to-treat (ITT) In the primary analysis, least squares (LS) mean (SE; 95%
population in study 1003 (because all randomized patients confidence interval [CI]) changes from baseline to week 6 for daily
received study medication, ITT is equivalent to all randomized average pain were 20.76 (0.64; 22.06 to 0.54) for tanezumab
patients). For study 1029, the ITT population was defined as all treatment and 20.50 (0.55; 21.62 to 0.61) for placebo, resulting
patients who received at least 1 dose of study medication. The in LS mean differences vs placebo of 20.26 (0.45; 21.18 to 0.66)
primary analysis was an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) with (P 5 0.569).
terms for cancer type, baseline average pain score, and study In secondary analyses, LS mean (SE; 95% CI) changes from
site, with missing data imputed using baseline observation baseline to week 8 for daily average pain were 21.02 (0.60; 22.24
carried forward. Additional analyses explored sensitivity of the to 0.20) for tanezumab treatment and 20.56 (0.52; 21.61 to
effect of missing data using last-observation-carried-forward 0.49) for placebo treatment, resulting in LS mean difference vs
imputation and a mixed model for repeated measurements. placebo of 20.46 (0.43; 21.34 to 0.42) (P 5 0.292; baseline
Additional post hoc exploratory analyses of ANCOVA for daily observation carried forward; Fig. 3). For daily worst pain, LS
average pain at weeks 6 and 8 in study 1003 evaluated mean (SE; 95% CI) changes from baseline to week 6 were
a combination of 2 patient subgroups dichotomized at the 20.65 (0.64; 21.96 to 0.67) with tanezumab treatment
median for baseline daily average pain (#5 or .5) and average and 20.63 (0.55; 21.76 to 0.5) for placebo, resulting in LS

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Table 1
Patient baseline and demographic characteristics.
Study 1003 Study 1029
Placebo, n 5 30 Tanezumab 10 mg, n 5 29 Tanezumab 10 mg, n 5 41
Sex, n (%)
Female 16 (53.3) 16 (55.2) 21 (51.2)
Age, y
Mean 6 SD 55.8 6 11.9 62.1 6 11.9 58.7 6 12.4
Range 32-77 40-90 32-91
Race, n (%)
White 21 (70.0) 23 (79.3) 32 (78.0)
Asian 9 (30.0) 4 (13.8) 9 (22.0)
Other 0 (0.0) 2 (6.9) 0 (0.0)
Baseline daily average pain score*
Mean 6 SD 5.3 6 0.98 5.4 6 1.02 4.21 6 2.21†
Baseline daily worst pain score*
Mean 6 SD 6.4 6 1.06 6.3 6 1.30 5.34 6 2.63
Total daily opioid use (at baseline, mg/d MED)
Mean 6 SD 102.0 6 112.78 111.8 6 134.59 —
Total daily opioid use (through wk 8, mg/d MED)
Mean (SE)‡ 101.59 (6.05) 103.20 (7.02) —
Cancer type, n (%)
Prostate 12 (40.0) 13 (44.8) 18 (43.9)
Breast 15 (50.0) 16 (55.2) 20 (48.8)
Multiple myeloma 2 (6.7) 0 (0.0) 2 (4.9)
Renal cell carcinoma 1 (3.3) 0 (0.0) 1 (2.4)
Screening Karnofsky score, n (%)
100 1 (3.3) 0 (0.0) 1 (2.4)
90 6 (20.0) 6 (20.7) 10 (24.4)
80 13 (43.3) 9 (31.0) 14 (34.1)
70 5 (16.7) 9 (31.0) 7 (17.1)
60 5 (16.7) 5 (17.2) 7 (17.1)
50 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 2 (4.9)
Mean 6 SD 78.0 6 10.9 75.5 6 10.2 76.3 6 12.4
* Daily average and daily worst pain scores rated on an 11-point numeric rating scale (0-10), ranging from 0 5 no pain to 10 5 pain as bad as you can imagine.
† Baseline of study 1029 (includes tanezumab- and placebo-treated patients from study 1003).
‡ Least squares means were estimated from the corresponding ANCOVA model.
ANCOVA, analysis of covariance; MED, morphine equivalent dose.

mean difference vs placebo of 20.01 (0.45; 20.93 to 0.91) (P 5 differences between treatments did not reach statistical signif-
0.978). At week 8, LS mean changes from baseline in daily worst icance (Fig. 4). Changes from baseline suggested modestly
pain were 20.98 (0.63; 22.27 to 0.31) for tanezumab-treated greater efficacy with tanezumab-treated vs placebo-treated
patients and 20.79 (0.55; 21.91 to 0.32) for placebo-treated patients toward the end of the 8-week postdose period. The
patients, resulting in LS mean difference vs placebo of 20.18 (0.45; observed treatment differences were below that assumed in the
21.10 to 0.73) (P 5 0.689). The mean observed change sample size estimation.
(improvement) from baseline in daily average pain and daily worst Post hoc dichotomization of baseline pain yielded consistently
pain scores over the course of the study declined slightly more in greater improvements in daily average pain scores in patients with
the tanezumab group than in the placebo-treated group, although baseline pain scores .5 in the tanezumab group vs placebo. At

Table 2
Study 1003 patient duration of disease characteristics.
Placebo, n 5 30 Tanezumab 10 mg, n 5 29
Prostate cancer, n 12 13
Duration since histopathological diagnosis, mean (range), y 4.02 (0.50-11.91) 3.44 (1.54-8.01)
Duration since diagnosis of bone metastases, mean (range), y 1.92 (0.03-6.12) 1.69 (0.08-4.87)
Breast cancer, n 15 16
Duration since histopathologic diagnosis, mean (range), y 3.82 (0.52-8.58) 6.8 (0.09-16.01)
Duration since diagnosis of bone metastases, mean (range), y 1.59 (0.06-6.22) 1.74 (0.09-5.92)
Multiple myeloma, n 2 0
Duration since histopathologic diagnosis, mean (range), y 6.64 (2.69-10.60) 0
Duration since diagnosis of bone metastases, mean, y* 0.59 0
Renal cell carcinoma, n 1 0
Duration since histopathologic diagnosis, mean, y 0.37 0
Duration since diagnosis of bone metastases, mean, y 0.37 0
* n 5 1.

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Table 3
Number of doses of study drug administered and duration in the study.
Study 1003 Studies 1003 and 1029 combined,* N 5 41
Placebo, n 5 30 Tanezumab 10 mg, n 5 29
No. i.v. doses, n (%)
1 30 29 9 (22.0)
2 — — 7 (17.1)
3 — — 3 (7.3)
4 — — 10 (24.4)
5 — — 11 (26.8)
6 — — 0 (0.0)
7 — — 0 (0.0)
8 — — 1 (2.4)
Patients remaining in study
At wk 6 27 25 —
At wk 8 25 25 —
Duration in study, d
Mean 68.9 83.1 225
Range 15-125 20-127 15-619
* Tanezumab-treated only.

week 6, change from baseline vs placebo was 21.11 (95% CI, 22.81 placebo (P 5 0.027, n 5 7), although in this subgroup, the
to 0.59) and at week 8 was estimated at 21.67 (95% CI, 23.41 to difference at week 6 was not statistically significant (tanezu-
0.08) and approached significance (P 5 0.061). mab, 23.39 [1.23], n 5 6; placebo, 21.72 [1.06], n 5 7; P 5
In post hoc analyses of patients with high baseline pain 0.121; Table 4).
scores (.5) and low baseline opioid use (#60.5 mg/d MED), At week 6, 41.4% of tanezumab-treated and 33.3% of
the LS mean (SE) change from baseline at week 8 was 23.55 placebo-treated patients reported a $30% reduction in daily
(1.36) with tanezumab treatment (n 5 6) and 20.83 (1.18) with average pain (P 5 0.596; Fig. 5A). By week 8, 48.3% of

Figure 2. Patient disposition. a Does not include death of a single patient during extended-use period or 4 patients who died after extended-use period.

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Figure 3. Least squares (LS) mean change (SE) from baseline at weeks 6 and 8
in (A) daily average pain and (B) daily worst pain scores in study 1003.

tanezumab-treated patients but only 20% of placebo-treated


patients reported $30% reduction (P 5 0.029; Fig. 5B). No
significant differences between treatments in responses at
$50%, $70%, or $90% for reduction in daily average pain were
noted.

3.2. Study 1029


A total of 42 patients were screened for study 1029, and 41 Figure 4. (A) Daily average pain scores or (B) daily worst pain scores in study
1003 (intent to treat, observed data). BL, baseline.
patients were treated with tanezumab 10 mg i.v. study
medication. Overall, 15 patients completed the study (ITT analysis
set; Fig. 2).
3.2.2. Safety (both studies)
3.2.1. Effectiveness
In study 1003, adverse event incidence was similar between
Repeated doses of tanezumab in study 1029 resulted in treatments (tanezumab, 62.1%; placebo, 60.0%; Table 5). The
consistent improvements from study 1003 baseline in daily types of adverse events in study 1029 were comparable to those
average pain and daily worst pain scores. For the overall observed during study 1003 for tanezumab-treated patients.
analysis, the observed mean (SE) change remained below Nausea was the most common adverse event in both studies.
baseline for study 1003 through week 40 of study 1029, Treatment-emergent serious adverse events were reported by 5
indicating improvements of 21.27 (0.68) and 21.40 (0.65) for (17.2%) patients in the tanezumab group and by 2 (6.7%)
daily average pain and daily worst pain, respectively (Fig. 6). patients in the placebo group during study 1003. Serious
Percentages of patients reporting clinically meaningful improve- adverse events in the 5 tanezumab-treated patients consisted
ments were generally similar throughout study 1029, with 13 of of embolic stroke caused by atrial fibrillation and lung disorder
30 (43.3%) and 11 of 30 (36.7%) patients reporting $30% and caused by hospitalization (2 events reported in the same
$50% improvement in daily average pain, respectively, at week patient), femur fracture due to bone metastasis, malaise due
8 of study 1029. to dehydration, urinary tract infection, and hemorrhagic

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Table 4
Subgroup analyses for daily average pain score, change from baseline to weeks 6 and 8 in study 1003 (intent-to-treat population;
baseline observation carried forward).
Week 6 Week 8
Placebo, n 5 30 Tanezumab 10 mg, n 5 29 Placebo, n 5 30 Tanezumab 10 mg, n 5 29
Low baseline pain* and low opioid use†
N 9 7 9 7
Change from baseline, LS mean (SE)‡ 22.77 (0.93) 23.15 (0.96) 22.24 (1.03) 22.99 (1.06)
Change from baseline vs placebo, LS mean 20.38 (22.09 to 1.33) 20.75 (22.65 to 1.15)
(95% CI)‡
P§ 0.647 0.420
Low baseline pain* and high opioid use‖
N 7 8 7 8
Change from baseline, LS mean (SE)‡ 0.45 (0.78) 0.75 (1.09) 20.01 (0.87) 0.11 (1.21)
Change from baseline vs placebo, LS mean 0.31 (21.80 to 2.41) 0.11 (22.23 to 2.46)
(95% CI)‡
P§ 0.765 0.921
High baseline pain{ and low opioid use†
N 7 6 7 6
Change from baseline, LS mean (SE)‡ 21.72 (1.06) 23.39 (1.23) 20.83 (1.18) 23.55 (1.36)
Change from baseline vs placebo, LS mean 21.67 (23.82 to 0.48) 22.72 (25.11 to 20.33)
(95% CI)‡
P§ 0.121 0.027
High baseline pain{ and high opioid use‖
N 7 8 7 8
Change from baseline, LS mean (SE)‡ 21.56 (1.46) 21.70 (1.22) 21.36 (1.62) 21.57 (1.35)
Change from baseline vs placebo, LS mean 20.14 (22.47 to 2.18) 20.21 (22.79 to 2.38)
(95% CI)‡
P§ 0.899 0.870
* Baseline daily average pain score #5.
† #60.5 mg/d morphine equivalent dose.
‡ Least squares means were estimated from the corresponding ANCOVA models.
§ P value is based on ANCOVA from pairwise comparisons.
‖ .60.5 mg/d morphine equivalent dose.
{ Baseline daily average pain score .5.
ANCOVA, analysis of covariance; CI, confidence interval; LS mean, least squares mean.

prostatitis (single events reported in 4 other patients). Serious events of abnormal peripheral sensation (hypoesthesia, which
adverse events in the 2 placebo-treated patients consisted of the investigator determined was related to the disease under
a urinary tract infection and metastatic disease progression study, and oral hypoesthesia, determined as being related to
(1 patient each). In study 1029, 23 (56.1%) patients reported mental nerve mononeuropathy, or result of metastatic cancer
serious adverse events, including anemia in 4 (9.8%) patients, progression); 1 patient reported hypoesthesia and 1 patient
disease progression and prostate cancer in 3 (7.3%) patients reported peripheral neuropathy, both of which the investigator
each, and metastatic neoplasm, pathologic fracture, and determined to be related to tanezumab treatment.
metastatic prostate cancer in 2 (4.9%) each. No serious adverse Similar numbers of patients in both groups in study 1003
event in either study was considered to be related to tanezumab had a new or worsened abnormality on final neurologic
by study investigators. Incidence of discontinuations due to assessment (Table 6). Two patients in study 1003 from the
adverse events was greater in study 1029 (14.6%) than in study tanezumab group underwent neurologic consultation. One
1003 (tanezumab, 3.4%; placebo, 3.3%). patient had neurologic symptoms or signs not suggestive of
Three patients died while participating in study 1003 (1, neuropathy (diagnosed as myelopathy), deemed by the
placebo; 2, tanezumab). Four additional deaths (placebo, n 5 3; investigator to be cancer related. The other patient was
tanezumab, n 5 1) occurred after patients permanently diagnosed with a new or worsened peripheral neuropathy with
discontinued study participation for other reasons; no death clinically significant signs but without a confirmatory di-
was attributed to treatment. Sixteen deaths occurred during agnostic test. Two patients in study 1029 were referred for
study 1029. Twelve of these were reported as adverse events neurologic consultation. One had lip and chin numbness
leading to a fatal outcome, with the adverse event being the categorized as neurologic symptoms or signs suggestive of
patient’s cancer at study entry or progression of the same; a preexisting neuropathy. The other had lumbar sacral region
therefore, none of the deaths were deemed by the investigators to pain categorized as neurologic symptoms or signs not
be related to tanezumab but were instead related to the suggestive of a neuropathy.
underlying cancer or cancer-related treatment such as In study 1003, 1 clinically significant ECG (moderate, non-
chemotherapy. serious tachycardia, placebo group) was captured as an adverse
In study 1003, 2 events of abnormal peripheral sensation event and attributed to the disease under study. In study 1029, no
were reported (moderate hyperesthesia and mild peripheral clinically relevant changes in ECGs were observed. In both
neuropathy), both in the same patient (tanezumab). The studies, there was no clear evidence of a tanezumab effect on
investigator determined these events were related to tanezu- vital signs or laboratory safety data and no reported events of
mab treatment. In study 1029, 1 patient reported 2 adverse osteonecrosis or total joint replacements.

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Figure 5. Percentage of patients rated as responders in daily average pain


reduction at (A) week 6 and (B) week 8 of study 1003 (intent to treat, baseline
observation carried forward). *P 5 0.029 vs placebo.

4. Discussion
Two studies examined tanezumab 10 mg i.v. in the treatment of
patients with cancer-taking background opioids for chronic pain
caused by bone metastases. Study 1003 was an initial proof-of-
concept study, designed without previous clinical data on the
use of an anti-NGF agent in this patient population. Although no
statistically significant changes were noted, numeric improve-
ment in analgesic efficacy after a single tanezumab 10-mg dose
compared with placebo was demonstrated based on the
Figure 6. Change from study 1003 baseline in Brief Pain Inventory short form
prespecified primary comparison of change in daily average score for (A) daily average pain and (B) daily worst pain for patients who rolled
pain from baseline to week 6 and on additional comparison at over to study 1029 by parent and extension study treatment (intent to treat,
week 8; also, the data suggest that tanezumab treatment observed data). BL, baseline. a Transition between studies #8 weeks.
resulted in sustained analgesic improvements throughout both
studies.
Subgroup analysis indicated statistically significant improve-
ment with tanezumab 10 mg at week 8 in patients with higher endpoints, evidence of statistically significant efficacy at week 8
baseline daily average pain scores (.5) and lower total opioid was observed in patients who had at least 30% reduction in daily
usage (,60.5 mg/d MED). Those results suggest demonstrating average pain because 48.3% of tanezumab-treated patients
overall tanezumab efficacy was challenging, because having experienced $30% reduction in daily average pain vs only 20.0%
patients on a stabilized background analgesic regimen with the of placebo-treated patients (P 5 0.029).
option of IR opioids as rescue medication leads to lower baseline In study 1003, reported adverse events with 10 mg tanezumab
values for daily average pain (;5). Baseline pain scores in study were comparable to those in the placebo group, indicating that
1003 were lower than those typically reported in tanezumab tanezumab addition to a stable opioid regimen was not
osteoarthritis studies,5,6,8,24,29,35,36,39 making it difficult to associated with an appreciable increase in adverse events in
achieve substantial improvements because there was less room patients with cancer pain caused by metastatic bone disease;
for improvement.16 more serious adverse events were noted in the tanezumab group,
Clinically meaningful pain relief is often described as a reduction but no serious event was deemed caused by tanezumab, and the
in pain intensity of $30% from baseline.33,34 Among secondary small numbers of subjects in each group prevented statistical

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September 2015
· Volume 156
· Number 9 www.painjournalonline.com 1711

Table 5
Incidence of adverse events, n (%).
Study 1003 Study 1029 Studies 1003 and 1029 combined
Placebo, n 5 30 Tanezumab 10 mg, n 5 29 Tanezumab 10 mg, n 5 41 Tanezumab and/or placebo, n 5 41
Patients with adverse events* 18 (60.0) 18 (62.1) 35 (85.4) 36 (87.8)
Patients with serious adverse events 4 (13.3) 7 (24.1) 23 (56.1) 23 (56.1)
Patients discontinued because of adverse 1 (3.3) 1 (3.4) 8 (19.5) 8 (19.5)
events†
Adverse events occurring in $3 patients in any
group‡
Nausea 2 (6.7) 5 (17.2) 8 (19.5) 9 (21.6)
Anemia 0 (0.0) 2 (6.9) 6 (14.6) 7 (17.1)
Asthenia 2 (6.7) 0 (0.0) 6 (14.6) 6 (14.6)
Dyspnea 1 (3.3) 0 (0.0) 6 (14.6) 6 (14.6)
Peripheral edema 2 (6.7) 2 (6.9) 5 (12.2) 5 (12.2)
Pyrexia 0 (0.0) 2 (6.9) 5 (12.2) 7 (17.1)
Prostate cancer 0 (0.0) 0 (0.0) 4 (9.8) 4 (9.8)
Vomiting 2 (6.7) 2 (6.9) 4 (9.8) 5 (12.2)
Arthralgia 1 (3.3) 0 (0.0) 3 (7.3) 3 (7.3)
Constipation 2 (6.7) 3 (10.3) 3 (7.3) 5 (12.2)
Cough 1 (3.3) 0 (0.0) 3 (7.3) 3 (7.3)
Decreased appetite 2 (6.7) 0 (0.0) 3 (7.3) 3 (7.3)
Disease progression 2 (6.7) 0 (0.0) 3 (7.3) 3 (7.3)
Weight decreased 1 (3.3) 0 (0.0) 3 (7.3) 3 (7.3)
Fatigue 3 (10.0) 1 (3.4) 1 (2.4) 1 (2.4)
* An adverse event in study 1029 was defined as one that started during study 1029 (even if a separate event of the same adverse event term occurred in study 1003) or started during study 1003 and worsened in study 1029.
An adverse event for studies 1003 and 1029 combined was defined as one that started or worsened while the patient was receiving tanezumab.
† Includes 2 patients discontinued from study 1029 classified in other discontinuation categories (progressive disease and death) in Fig. 2.
‡ Presentation order for adverse events based on incidence in study 1029.

comparisons. Some adverse events of abnormal peripheral include a small sample size and a patient population taking daily
sensation were reported. Nausea was the most common adverse analgesia for a progressive disease.
event in both studies and is a well-known side effect of opiates In conclusion, although tanezumab 10-mg treatment did not
taken as background analgesia.31 The adverse event profiles result in statistically significant efficacy improvement compared
were comparable to other tanezumab studies, with the exception with placebo in study 1003, the observed difference after the
that gastrointestinal-related events (such as nausea and con- 8-week period suggests that tanezumab had greater efficacy
stipation) were more commonly reported in these studies and are than placebo. Across both studies, numeric improvements were
attributed, at least in part, to concomitant opioid use. Gastroin- seen in daily average and daily worst pain scores from study
testinal adverse events are uncommon in other tanezumab 1003 baseline. Evidence suggests that a further study in
studies lacking opioid comparators.5,6,8,14,15,22–24,29,30,35,36 The patients with cancer pain is warranted. No new safety issues
increased incidence of serious adverse events (including death) were identified.
and discontinuations due to adverse events in study 1029
compared with study 1003 most likely reflect the progression of
Conflict of interest statement
underlying cancer and longer duration of study 1029.
Incidence of adverse events of abnormal peripheral sensation N. Katz is a consultant for Bayer, Biogen, Collegium, Concert,
reported in both studies was lower than in previous noncancer Covidien, Cubist, DePuy, GW Pharmaceuticals, Lilly, Pfizer,
tanezumab studies. Only 2 adverse events of abnormal peripheral Phosphagenics, Purdue Pharma LP, and Zogenix; is a consultant
sensation were reported in study 1003 and 4 (in 3 patients) in for and has received research grants from Astellas, AstraZeneca,
study 1029. Two patients in each study underwent neurologic Fidia, Forest, Grunenthal, Janssen, and Purdue Pharma; is
consultations. Only 1 of these events was considered suggestive a consultant for and participant on scientific advisory boards
of a new or worsened clinical neuropathy. Limitations of this study for Genentech, Mallinckrodt, and Novartis. W. Carey, D. Keller,

Table 6
Summary of final neurologic examinations.
Study 1003 Study 1029
Placebo, n 5 30 Tanezumab 10 mg, n 5 29 Tanezumab 10 mg, n 5 41
Final neurologic examination assessments,
n (%)*
Patients assessed 28 28 37
New or worsened abnormality 4 (14.3) 3 (10.7) 5 (13.5)
Clinically significant 0 (0.0) 2 (7.1) 0 (0.0)
Not clinically significant 4 (14.3) 1 (3.6) 5 (13.5)
No new or worsened abnormality 24 (85.7) 25 (89.3) 32 (86.5)
* Neurologic examinations were performed per protocol by study investigators.

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