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Colorectal drug fails to boost survival
Source: (cancerfacts.com)
Monday, March 08, 2010
LONDON – Mar. 8, 2010 – Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca reported on Monday that its lead colorectal cancer drug, Recentin® (cediranib), failed to show that it is as effective in slowing the progression of metastatic colorectal cancer as a competitor's drug. The news dropped the company's stock by 1.4% on the London exchange.
The objective of the Horizon III trial was to show that the company's oral pill formula was at least as effective as Roche pharmaceutical's Avastin®, which is administered intravenously. The large study evaluated the progression-free survival of patients with colorectal cancer that has spread to other organs and were treated initially with Recentin combined with chemotherapy compared to a group initially treated with Avastin combined with chemotherapy.
AstraZeneca has reported that there was no statistically significant difference between treatment arms on the endpoints measuring effectiveness, and significantly, Recentin was less effective than Avastin in producing progression-free survival.
The Horizon III trial is continuing with ongoing collection of overall survival data. This is the first of two pivotal studies of cediranib given as initial treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer. The other study, Horizon II, is assessing the effectiveness of cediranib combined with chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone. Data are expected in the coming months, AstraZeneca said.
According to the company, the results from both studies will determine the clinical utility, if any, for cediranib in colorectal cancer and decisions regarding regulatory filing.
Additionally, the results of a Phase III study with cediranib in treating recurrent glioblastoma are anticipated in the first half of 2010 and exploratory evaluations of cediranib in other tumors are also being conducted.
SOURCE: adapted from press materials provided AstraZeneca
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