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news.Pfizer's phase III study of SU11248, a cancer medicine being developed to treat Gleevec-resistant stomach cancer, has demonstrated efficacy and safety seven months ahead of schedule. Pfizer's shares have risen around 3% on the results, which have prompted a recommendation to stop the trial early.
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Patients who have received placebo are now being given the option of switching to SU11248, which is a novel, oral multi-targeted cancer therapy combining anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor activity to simultaneously stop the blood supply to and directly attack tumor cells.
“We are encouraged by this interim data analysis and believe this is a positive step towards establishing SU11248 as an option for patients with Gleevec-resistant Gleevec-resistant gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST),” said Dr Joseph Feczko, Pfizer’s president of worldwide development.
“Pfizer and study investigators are working together to provide SU11248 to those enrolled in the study as quickly as possible and hope this unique therapy will continue to provide meaningful clinical benefit for cancer patients.”
SU11248 is also being studied in phase III trials as a potential treatment for renal cell carcinoma.
In other news, several industry analysts have forecast that Pfizer could be set to cut up to 10% of its 120,000 workforce due to slowing sales and patent expirations on a number of key drugs. The company is expected to confirm or deny this speculation and give further details at a meeting in April.