Amgen publishes positive phase III Xgeva trial data

Amgen has published positive new clinical trial data from a phase III study of its drug Xgeva for the prevention of bone complications among prostate cancer patients.

Results have been documented in the Lancet from a trial which compared Xgeva to a leading alternative among 1,901 men with advanced prostate cancer and bone metastases, in order to gauge its efficacy in combating skeletal-related events.

Researchers found that Amgen's drug delivered a superior performance to the control treatment and met both its primary and secondary efficacy endpoints in the study.

Xgeva has been approved in this specification in the US since November 2010, while a marketing application has already been submitted in Europe.

Dr Karim Fizazi, head of the department of medical oncology at the Institut Gustave-Roussy in Villejuif, said: "Xgeva represents an important new treatment option for advanced prostate cancer patients with bone metastases."

Earlier this month, Amgen and partner Pfizer published phase IV study data showing the efficacy of Enbrel in delivering improved scalp involvement among plaque psoriasis patients.