AstraZeneca moves 3 cancer compounds to Phase III development

AstraZeneca has enrolled its first patient into a Phase II clinical trial for moxetumomab pasudotox, which is a treatment for unresponsive or relapsed hairy cell leukaemia patients.

Three of its cancer compounds are being moved forward to Phase III clinical development, with oncology now one of the business’ core therapy areas, accelerating the development of new molecular entities.

The trial is sponsored by the Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program, which is within the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diganosis at the US National Cancer Institute.

It will lead to moxetumob passudotox being evaluated as a potential treatment in adult patients with hairy cell leukaemia who have not responded to standard therapy or relapsed after it.

Dr Bahija Jallal, executive vice president of MedImmune, AstraZeneca’s global biologics research and development arm,  said: “This is further evidence of AstraZeneca’s commitment to invest in distinctive science in our core therapy areas and to accelerate our Phase III pipeline.

“We believe that targeted therapies which address the underlying mechanisms of disease are the future of personalised healthcare, to help meet the unmet needs in treating cancer patients.”

Dr Jallal went on to say that Medlmmune’s partnership with the National Cancer Institute is an example of how innovative technologies will target cancer cells in more effective ways.

As well as this, the business will present Phase II data for olaparib, its investigational oral poldy ADP ribose polymerase inhibitor at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Congress in Chicago on May 31st to June 4th.

AstraZeneca is aiming to move olaparib forward to Phase III clinical trials for the patient population in the second half of 2013.

Menelas Pangalos, executive vice president of innovative medicines and early development at AstraZeneca, also commented on the news, noting that the company is committed to investing in innovative science in oncology.

“The progress we are making with olaparib and selumetinib, combined with our broader early phase portfolio across small molecules and biologics, puts us in a strong position to deliver our pipeline of targeted cancer medicines,” Mr Pangalos added.

Posted by Neil Clark