Boehringer Ingelheim reports ‘promising’ Vargatef data

Boehringer Ingelheim has announced the publication of results for Vargatef (BIBF 1120), with recent phase II data showing the compound to be well tolerated with promising efficacy in patients with advanced, relapsed, non-small cell lung cancer.

The firm drew attention to results from 57 patients in the trial with an ECOG performance status of zero or one, with these patients experiencing a higher stable disease rate of 59 per cent, longer overall survival and longer progression-free survival than the rest of the study population.

Vargatef is an orally-administered capsule taken twice a day that the company describes as one of its most advanced molecules in its oncology portfolio.

The drug is a novel-triple angiokinase inihibtor that inhibits platelet-derived growth factor receptors and fibroblast growth factor receptors in addition to vascular endothelial growth factor receptors.

Dr Andreas Barner, vice-chairman of the board of managing directors at Boehringer Ingelheim, said: “These new BIBF 1120 phase II data, coupled with evidence from previous studies that show BIBF 1120 is well tolerated in combination with standard lung cancer treatments, gives us great confidence in moving forward with further investigations of BIBF 1120 in lung cancer.”

He added that the company is making great progress in its research programmes in this area and anticipates the presentation of further information in oncology during the year.

In February 2008, Boehringer Ingelheim expressed its confidence regarding the future success of its non-small cell lung cancer compound BIBW 2992.