AstraZeneca publishes positive trial data for thyroid cancer drug

AstraZeneca has reported data from a new phase III clinical trial demonstrating the potential benefits of its investigational thyroid cancer drug vandetanib.

The Zeta study was conducted among 331 patients with advanced medullary thyroid cancer and measurable tumours, with the effects of vandetanib compared to a placebo control group.

It was found that AstraZeneca’s drug demonstrated a 54 per cent reduction in the rate of disease progression, meeting the primary endpoint of extending progression-free survival.

Dr Peter Langmuir, executive director of medical science at AstraZeneca, stated that the drug could provide a new option for patients with advanced thyroid cancer, a condition for which few treatments are currently available.

He added: “Given the results of this trial, we are moving quickly to file regulatory submissions for approval with the Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency.”

Earlier this month, AstraZeneca submitted a European marketing application for Axanum, its new treatment for preventing cardio- and cerebrovascular events.