Celgene presents lung cancer trial data for Abraxane

Celgene has published new data from a phase III study evaluating its drug Abraxane as a therapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

During the study, the drug was combined with carboplatin and compared to a leading alternative, with patients in the Abraxane arm of the study demonstrating significantly improved response rates.

The positive results were particularly pronounced among patients aged over 70 or those with squamous cell histology, while Abraxane's safety profile also compared favourably to the control treatment.

Celgene's drug is not currently approved in this indication, having been initially marketed as a chemotherapy option for metastatic breast cancer patients.

The manufacturer will now be discussing the new data with international regulatory authorities with an eye to achieving market approval for this specification.

Last week, Celgene allied with Acceleron Pharma to commence a new clinical study of ACE-011, another new treatment for NSCLC that was initially created by Acceleron.