Synta Pharmaceuticals stops lung cancer treatment study

The study was intended to see if a combination of ganetespib and docetaxel would work better than docetaxel alone for advanced non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma.

Synta halted the trials on the recommendation of an independent data-monitoring committee (IDMC), which said the combination of the two drugs was unlikely to show significant improvement in the primary endpoint of overall survival compared to docetaxel alone.

Synta Pharmaceuticals president and CEO Chen Schor said: "This disappointing outcome underscores the challenges of treating lung cancer in the second-line setting and determining the precise population for whom ganetespib may be most effective.

"Despite the outcome of this trial, and pending discussions with the relevant investigators, we will continue to support ongoing investigator-sponsored studies while we determine the appropriate path forward for ganetespib. We also look forward to advancing candidates from our HDC platform into the clinic."

Synta said after formal acceptance of the IDMC’s recommendation, it will communicate with regulatory authorities and notify study investigators that treatment with ganetespib should be discontinued in the trial.

The company’s lead oncology drug candidate, ganetespib, is currently being evaluated in various investigator sponsored clinical trials including clinical trials in acute myeloid leukemia, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and other tumor types.