The trial is expected to be the largest ever to be conducted in small cell lung cancer and will assess the potential clinical benefit of Alimta in combination with carboplatin, a commonly-used chemotherapeutic agent. This treatment will be compared directly to the current leading treatment option of etoposide in combination with carboplatin.
The phase III study’s primary objective is to compare the overall survival after treatment in previously untreated patients.
The study will also use pharmacogenomic analysis of patient tissue and blood samples to determine if there are any biological characteristics that would indicate a potentially higher clinical benefit from the Alimta therapy for any patient sub-population groups. Pharmacogenomics may one day help researchers find ways to “tailor” chemotherapy to patients based on their biological indication to benefit from specific treatments.
Small cell lung cancer accounts for between 15 and 20% of all lung cancers and is a devastating and rapidly spreading form of lung cancer.