Pfizer reports positive data from new Xalkori lung cancer trial

Pfizer has announced new phase III clinical trial data that further underlines the benefits of its new lung cancer drug Xalkori.

Results from the Profile 1014 study have been published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showing how Xalkori performs among patients with ALK-positive advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

It was demonstrated that a 250 mg dose of the drug twice daily significantly prolonged progression-free survival in previously untreated patients with ALK-positive advanced NSCLC, when compared to standard platinum-based chemotherapy regimens.

This means that Xalkori – which is approved as an NSCLC therapy in 80 countries – was able to meet its primary endpoint in the trial.

Dr Mace Rothenberg, the company's senior vice-president of clinical development and medical affairs, and chief medical officer for the oncology division, said: "We are delighted that these results are being published just 18 months after publication of Profile 1007, which demonstrated superiority of Xalkori over standard chemotherapy when used in the second-line setting."

Cancer remains one of Pfizer's most strategically important areas for research. It announced last month that it will be allying with Merck KGaA to develop a new immuno-oncology agent for multiple cancer types.