Astra Zeneca halts Recentin trial

Source: Healthcare Exec

Date :28/02/2008 11:56:45

The Anglo-Swedish pharmaceuticals group stops the clinical trial of the lung cancer treatment after a mid-stage trial failed to meet objectives.

In a statement Wednesday, AstraZeneca said that Recentin had demonstrated some effectiveness in beating non-small-cell lung cancer, the most common form of the disease, but a phase II/III trial would not progress into phase III because of concerns about toxicity.

AstraZeneca Plc said that phase III trials of the drug in colorectal cancer would proceed as planned.

Phase III

John Patterson, AstraZeneca’s Executive Director for Development, said: As evidence of clinical activity was seen in BR24 [the Phase 2 study in lung cancer], AstraZenenca remains committed to investigating the potential of Recentin in lung cancer and reducing the incidence of serious adverse events.”

The company has previously seen four of its Phase 3 drugs fail at the last moment - AGI-1067 for heart disease, NXY-059 for stroke, Galida for diabetes and Exanta for blood-clot prevention.

Recentin is still being tested for lung cancer in smaller Phase 2 trials in the US and Japan, and the company said it would have to review the data in Canada before making any decisions on the future of the treatment, AstraZeneca said.

February 28, 2008