Gastric Cancer: Update Bulletin # 3 [March 2019]

This edition presents the views and insights from three key opinion leaders (KOLs) from North America and Europe on a variety of recent events in the gastric cancer (GC) market, including: initiation of BeiGene's two Phase III trials with tislelizumab (BGB-A317) in locally advanced unresectable or metastatic gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma, and unresectable, locally advanced recurrent or metastatic oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC); initiation of Deciphera Pharmaceuticals' second Phase III study with ripretinib (DCC-2618), which is being compared against sunitinib (Sutent; Pfizer) in the second-line treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST); and US Food and Drug Administration approval of Taiho Oncology's Lonsurf (trifluridine + tipiracil) in patients with metastatic gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma previously treated with at least two prior lines of chemotherapy.

Business Questions:

• Are experts optimistic that BeiGene's tislelizumab will show benefit in the front-line setting?
• Does tislelizumab have significant market potential?
• Do KOLs see tislelizumab as sufficiently differentiated from other members of the anti-PD1 class?
• What challenges will BeiGene/Celgene face to effectively market tislelizumab in Western markets?
• Do KOLs see potential for Deciphera Pharmaceuticals' ripretinib in GIST?
• Are the experts convinced that ripretinib compares favourably to sunitinib?
• If ripretinib is approved, can Deciphera expect a rapid uptake in Western markets?
• Is approval of Taiho Oncology's Lonsurf welcomed by KOLs?
• Is safety a concern with Lonsurf?
• What patient subgroups do experts see as Lonsurf's key markets?