Forschung: Astra-Zeneca stoppt Studie zu Krebsmittel
Der britische Pharmakonzern beendet eine wichtige Lungenkrebsstudie mit dem experimentellen Wirkstoff Volrustomig. Zugleich meldet der Konzern Fortschritte mit anderen Krebsmedikamenten.
München – Pharmaceutical company Astra-Zeneca has halted a clinical trial examining its experimental cancer drug Volrustomig. The drugmaker stated on Monday that the active ingredient showed no significant advantage over existing therapies in treating lung cancer. The advanced study evaluated Volrustomig in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, whose tumors produced only low levels of the protein PD-L1.
The medication performed no better than the widely-used drug Keytruda, both being administered alongside chemotherapy. An independent panel of experts recommended terminating the trial. Bloomberg interviewed analysts who had projected Volrustomig sales of approximately $1.3 billion by 2032, but Jefferies analyst Michael Leuchten had already deemed the drug's success "unlikely."
Despite this setback, Astra-Zeneca intends to continue investigating Volrustomig for other cancer types, including mesothelioma and cervical cancer. The company, led by CEO Pascal Soriot, is a leading provider of cancer drugs, having launched blockbuster products like Tagrisso and Imfinzi in recent years. Soriot is under pressure following negative reactions from investors to reports of Astra-Zeneca and Bristol-Myers Squibb discussing potential mergers.
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