Onco360^®, the nation’s leading independent Specialty Pharmacy, has been selected as a pharmacy partner by Takeda for Fruzaqla™ (fruquintinib). Fruzaqla™, is an oral targeted therapy for adults with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) who have been previously treated with fluoropyrimidine-, oxaliplatin-, and irinotecan-based chemotherapy, an anti-VEGF therapy, and, if RAS wild-type (WT) and medically appropriate, an anti-EGFR therapy. Fruzaqla™ is the first and only selective inhibitor of all three VEGF receptor kinases approved in the U.S. for previously treated mCRC regardless of biomarker status. Fruzaqla™ is a selective oral inhibitor of VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3, which play a pivotal role in blocking tumor angiogenesis.

“Onco360 is excited to partner on another opportunity with the team at Takeda and become a specialty pharmacy provider for Fruzaqla™,” said Benito Fernandez, Chief Commercial Officer. “We are pleased to add this unique treatment option for adult patients with metastatic colorectal cancer to our portfolio of oncology products; we remain committed to our mission of improving the lives of patients and their caregivers battling cancer, rare and orphan disease.”

The National Cancer Institute estimates 153,020 new cases of CRC will be diagnosed in 2023, representing 7.8% of all new cancer cases, in the U.S.¹ Approximately 70% of patients with CRC will experience metastatic disease, whether at diagnosis or after treatment. Metastases are the main cause of CRC-related mortality. Colorectal cancer is the fourth most frequent diagnosed cancer and second leading cause of death in the U.S.

The approval of Fruzaqla™ is based on data from two large Phase 3 trials: the multi-regional FRESCO-2 trial, data from which were published in the Lancet², along with the FRESCO trial conducted in China, data from which were published in JAMA.³ The trials investigated Fruzaqla™ plus best supportive care versus placebo plus best supportive care in patients with previously treated mCRC. Both FRESCO and FRESCO-2 met their primary and key secondary efficacy endpoints and showed consistent benefit among a total of 734 patients treated with Fruzaqla™. The safety profile for Fruzaqla™ was consistent across the trials. Fruzaqla™ is the first novel chemotherapy free agent approved in more than a decade.

Please see the full Prescribing Information for FRUZAQLA™ or visit www.fruzaqla.com.

About Onco360 Oncology Pharmacy:

Onco360 is the nation’s largest independent Oncology Pharmacy and clinical support services company. Onco360 was founded in 2003 to bring together the stakeholders involved in the cancer treatment process and serve the specialized needs of oncologists, patients, hospitals, cancer centers of excellence, manufacturers, health plans, and payers. It dispenses nationally through its network of URAC-, and ACHC-accredited Oncology Pharmacies. Onco360 is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, and is a flagship specialty pharmacy brand of PharMerica Corporation, a leading institutional pharmacy, specialty infusion, and hospital services company servicing healthcare facilities in the United States. For more information about Onco360, please visit Onco360.com.

References:

1. National Cancer Institute. Cancer Stat Facts: Colorectal cancer. Accessed November 2023. https://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/colorect.html
   
   
2. Dasari, A, et al. Fruquintinib vs Placebo in patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer (FRESCO-2): an international, multicenter, randomized double blind, phase 3 study. Lancet. 2023; 402, 41-53
   
   
3. 3. Li, J, et al. Effect of fruquintinib vs Placebo on overall survival in patients with previously treated metastatic colorectal cancer. FRESCO trial. JAMA. 2018; 319(24):2486-2496.

Trademarks:

FRUZAQLA^™ is a treadmark of HUTCHMED Group Enterprises Limited, used under license. TAKEDA^® and the TAKEDA Logo are registered trademarks of TAKEDA Pharmaceutical Company Limited. Copyright 2023 Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., inc. All rights reserved.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231121097472/en/