Bristol-Myers Squibb publishes ‘positive’ CML drug data

Bristol-Myers Squibb has announced the results of a phase II study investigating the administration of Sprycel to patients with chronic-phase chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) that have exhibited resistance to Glivec.

The study showed that these patients showed cytogenic and haemotologic responses to the drug after three months of treatment and that these results were maintained for one year of treatment.

As part of the study, patient groups were treated with 70mg of Sprycel twice daily or 800mg of Glivec a day. Patients receiving Sprycel exhibited an increase from 36 per cent to 53 per cent in cytogenetic response, while those receiving Glivec showed an increase from 29 per cent to 33 per cent.

Neil Shah, assistant professor, division of haematology/oncology at the University of California, said: “This study may help answer important questions about treating resistant chronic-phase CML patients and suggests that physicians should consider treatment with Sprycel in patients resistant to lower doses of Glivec.”

Also this week, Bristol-Myers Squibb announced the results of a phase III clinical trial of a once-daily, 100mg dose of Sprycel.

The company reported that patients administered with the drug once a day, rather than the US-approved twice daily dose of 70mg, exhibited similar responses at six months with fewer adverse events.