|
 Hopes for the medicine had already been reduced after it failed in
another study for treating a rare cancer of the eye in July 2015,
although it may still have a role in a type of thyroid cancer and in
cancers growing along nerve tissue.
Selumetinib is viewed as less important than AstraZeneca's recently
launched cancer drugs Tagrisso and Lynparza, and its closely watched
experimental product durvalumab.
Hopes for immunotherapy medicine durvalumab have been fuelled in
recent days by the failure of Bristol-Myers Squibb's Opdivo in
previously untreated lung cancer patients. Analysts believe this
could open up the market opportunity for AstraZeneca.
Selumetinib belongs to a class of cancer drugs known as MEK
inhibitors.
The British drugmaker said that when selumetinib was given with
chemotherapy it did not slow lung cancer progression as hoped or
have a significant effect on overall survival.
Sean Bohen, head of medicines development, described the Phase III
trial result as "disappointing", since the drug had shown promise in
earlier Phase II results in non-small cell lung cancer.
[to top of second column] |
AstraZeneca is relying on oncology treatments to revive its fortunes
following a wave of patent expiries.
(Reporting by Ben Hirschler, editing by Louise Heavens)
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