Study of Capmatinib Efficacy in Comparison With Docetaxel in Previously Treated Participants With Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Harboring MET Exon 14 Skipping Mutation

The purpose of the study was to learn whether the study drug (capmatinib) helps to control lung cancer better compared to a single agent chemotherapy (docetaxel) and whether it is safe when given to patients suffering from a particular type of lung cancer. This type of cancer is called non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with certain specific genetic alterations (called mutations) of a gene called MET, within a specific part of the gene called exon 14.

Twenty-two patients with advanced or metastatic lung cancer, with these specific mutations in the MET gene but without changes in their epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) genes, were enrolled in this study. Participants were randomly assigned to get either capmatinib or docetaxel in a 2 to 1 ratio. The randomization was stratified by prior lines of systemic therapy received for advanced/metastatic disease (one line vs. two lines).

During treatment, visits were scheduled every 21 days.

For all participants, the respective treatment (either with capmatinib or docetaxel) could be continued beyond initial disease progression as per RECIST 1.1 (as assessed by the investigator and confirmed by BIRC) if, in the judgment of the investigator, there was evidence of clinical benefit, and the participant wished to continue on the study treatment. After treatment discontinuation, all participants were followed for safety evaluations during the safety follow-up period, and the participant's status was collected every 12 weeks as part of the survival follow-up.

Participants randomized to docetaxel treatment were eligible to cross over to receive capmatinib treatment after BIRC-confirmed, RECIST 1.1-defined progressive disease and after meeting the eligibility criteria prior to crossover. This was the extension treatment phase.

Eligibility Criteria:
Key Inclusion Criteria:

* Stage IIIB/IIIC (not amenable to surgery, radiation or multi modality therapy) or IV NSCLC (according to Version 8 of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Staging Manual) at the time of study entry.
* Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of NSCLC that was:

  1. EGFR wt. Assessed as part of participant's standard of care by a validated test for EGFR mutations as per local guidelines. The EGFR wt status (for EGFR mutations that predict sensitivity to EGFR therapy, including, but not limited to exon 19 deletions and exon 21 L858R substitution mutations.
  2. AND ALK rearrangement negative. Assessed as part of participant's standard of care by a validated test.
  3. AND had METΔex14 mutation as determined by Novartis-designated central laboratory or by locally performed, tissue-based test, validated according to local regulation, from a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified US laboratory or an accredited local laboratory outside of the US. The positive METΔex14 mutation result as determined per local test must have been documented in the participant's source documents and in the CRF prior to entering main screening.
* Mandatory provision of a formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tumor tissue sample (archival tumor block or slides, or a newly obtained tumor sample) with quality and quantity sufficient to allow assessment of METΔex14 mutation status (as defined in the study \[laboratory manual\]). This pertained to all participants, including those who had a METΔex14 mutation result from a local test. Tumor samples must have contained at least 10% tumor content.

  6. Participants must have progressed on one or two prior lines of systemic therapy for advanced/metastatic disease (stage IIIB/IIIC \[not candidates for surgery, radiation or multi modality therapy\] or IV NSCLC) and must have been docetaxel naïve and candidates for single agent chemotherapy (docetaxel). Treatment failure was defined as documented disease progression or intolerance to treatment, however, participants must have progressed on or after the last therapy before study entry.
* At least one measurable lesion as defined by RECIST 1.1
* Adequate organ function
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of 0 or 1.
* Life expectancy of at least 3 months.

Key Exclusion Criteria:

* Prior treatment with any MET inhibitor or HGF-targeting therapy.
* Participants with symptomatic central nervous system (CNS) metastases who were neurologically unstable or had required increasing doses of steroids within the 2 weeks prior to study entry to manage CNS symptoms.
* Participants with known druggable molecular alterations (such as ROS1 and RET rearrangement, BRAF mutation, KRAS mutation, NTRK fusion, etc.) which might have been a candidate for alternative targeted therapies.
* Presence or history of interstitial lung disease or interstitial pneumonitis, including clinically significant radiation pneumonitis (i.e., affecting activities of daily living or requiring therapeutic intervention).
* Substance abuse, active infection or other severe, acute, or chronic medical or psychotic conditions or laboratory abnormalities that in the opinion of the investigator may have increased the risk associated with study participation.