GSK starts phase III trial for Tykerb

International pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has confirmed it is shortly to begin testing on a new treatment for cancer of the head and neck.

The firm is preparing to start phase III trials of its investigational therapy Tykerb (lapatinib) to assess its effectiveness on patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

According to GSK, the latest stage in testing on the new drug follows the analysis of results from two significant studies which concluded chemotherapy should be used in addition to radiation treatment in the post-operative care of people with SCCHN.

“Having already shown promise as a breast cancer treatment, we are very excited to continue investigating lapatinib in SCCHN,” commented Dr Paolo Paoletti, senior vice president of the oncology medicine development centre at GSK.

The spokesman added that GSK realises the importance of providing other treatment options to people with tumours such as head and neck cancer.

Also this week, the company announced that its new antigen vaccine could protect people against certain strains of the H5N1 virus, commonly known as bird flu.

GSK stated that clinical testing results suggest that the pre-pandemic split product could help prevent a pandemic of the illness as it provides a significant level of cross-immunity against a diverse strain of H5N1.