Takeda, Amgen to suspend trials of cancer drug

http://www.reuters.com/

Takeda, Amgen to suspend trials of cancer drug
Wed Nov 19, 2008 8:38pm EST
TOKYO, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical Co (4502.T:
Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and U.S. biotech firm Amgen Inc
(AMGN.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said they would suspend
enrolment in the last-stage trials of a key cancer drug candidate
following negative study results.

Takeda, Japan's largest drugmaker, and Amgen will decide whether to resume
or terminate the development of the drug, montesanib, after they complete
reviewing data by an unspecified time, a Takeda spokeswoman said on
Thursday.

The suspension was recommended by an independent study panel because of
higher early mortality rates in patients using montesanib compared to
those on the placebo in the tests, Takeda said in a joint statement with
Amgen.

Montesanib is in Phase III trials as a first-line treatment of advanced
non-small cell lung cancer.

Takeda, whose mainstay diabetes and ulcer drugs will lose their patent
protection soon, has been moving to beef up its cancer drug business
operations.

Shares of Takeda fell

J, no> wrote:

> http://www.reuters.com/
>
> Takeda, Amgen to suspend trials of cancer drug
> Wed Nov 19, 2008 8:38pm EST
> TOKYO, Nov 20 (Reuters) - Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical Co (4502.T:
> Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and U.S. biotech firm Amgen Inc
> (AMGN.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said they would suspend
> enrolment in the last-stage trials of a key cancer drug candidate
> following negative study results.
>
> Takeda, Japan's largest drugmaker, and Amgen will decide whether to resume
> or terminate the development of the drug, montesanib, after they complete
> reviewing data by an unspecified time, a Takeda spokeswoman said on
> Thursday.
>
> The suspension was recommended by an independent study panel because of
> higher early mortality rates in patients using montesanib compared to
> those on the placebo in the tests, Takeda said in a joint statement with
> Amgen.
>
> Montesanib is in Phase III trials as a first-line treatment of advanced
> non-small cell lung cancer.
>
> Takeda, whose mainstay diabetes and ulcer drugs will lose their patent
> protection soon, has been moving to beef up its cancer drug business
> operations.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...fk&refer=japan
Amgen Drug for Lung Cancer Suspended After Deaths (Update3)
Nov. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Amgen Inc.'s decision to suspend a clinical trial of
its experimental cancer drug motesanib because of higher deaths among patients
sets back the company's efforts to expand in the market for oncology
treatments.

The suspended trial had reached the last of three rounds of human tests
generally required for regulatory approval.

Motesanib and the bone treatment denosumab are at the forefront of Amgen's
efforts to become a major provider of cancer medicines.

as a treatment for preventing fractures in older patients with osteoporosis.
Amgen is also conducting studies to see if denosumab can help prevent cancer
from spreading from some parts of the body into the bones.

``We will analyze the data, talk to the committee and make a decision on
whether to continue or halt development,''

Amgen said the suspension applied only to patients with the squamous non-small
cell form of cancer. This type of cancer begins in the lung's flat, thin
squamous cells, which look like fish scales. The committee didn't recommend
suspension of the study for patients with the non-squamous form of the cancer,
the company said.


J