Astellas and Aveo report positive cancer drug data

Astellas and Aveo Pharmaceuticals have reported positive new clinical trial data from a study of tivozanib, their new therapy for advanced renal cell cancer.

The companies have conducted a phase III study of the drug called TIVO-1, in which it was compared to a leading alternative treatment among 517 patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.

It was found that tivozanib was able to deliver statistically significant improvements in terms of progression-free survival to the control drug, which was an approved VEGF therapy.

Based on this data, Astellas and Aveo plan to submit the drug for regulatory approval in both the US and Europe at some point this year.

Dr Steven Ryder, president of Astellas Pharma global development, said: "We are delighted with the outcome of TIVO-1 and to be collaborating with Aveo on tivozanib at this critical juncture."

This comes after Astellas agreed to grant AstraZeneca an option for a pair of developmental diabetes therapies last month.