Pharmaceutical Business review

Abraxis reaches agreement with FDA for Abraxane Phase III trial

The agreement has determined that the design and planned analysis of the study addresses the objectives necessary to support a regulatory submission.

The trial comparing weekly 100mg/m2 Abraxane (paclitaxel protein-bound particles for injectable suspension, albumin bound),days 1, 8 and 15 of each cycle, and 200mg/m2 of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s Taxol (paclitaxel) injection every three weeks.

Carboplatin will be administered at AUC=6 on day 1 of each cycle repeated every three weeks in both treatment arms. The study will enroll approximately 1,000 patients with stage IIIb and IV non-small cell lung cancer. The primary endpoint of the study is overall response rate and enrollment of this trial will begin immediately.

Patrick Soon-Shiong, chairman and CEO, said: “We are very excited about the initiation of this clinical trial and the potential of Abraxane to treat people diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer. The special protocol assessment agreement is an important step in the continued development of Abraxane and provides a clear pathway for an additional approved indication if the study endpoints are achieved.”