Daiichi Sankyo and ArQule commence new HCC drug trial

Daiichi Sankyo and ArQule have announced the commencement of a new phase III clinical trial assessing the benefits of a new cancer therapy.

The companies have enrolled the first patient for the METIV-HCC study, which will evaluate the investigational compound tivantinib among patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who have received one or two prior systemic anti-cancer therapies.

Around 300 patients are planned to be enrolled at approximately 120 clinical centers worldwide, with the aim of demonstrating the overall and progression-free survival benefits of the new drug.

The US Food and Drug Administration signed off on this trial in October 2012, with future regulatory submissions resting on its successful outcome.

Dr Glenn Gormley, global head of research and development and senior executive officer at Daiichi Sankyo, said: "We are very pleased to begin this phase III trial to advance our understanding of the potential role of tivantinib in the treatment of HCC."

This comes after the companies reported positive data from an earlier phase II study of tivantinib last week.