Novartis reports positive Arzerra leukaemia trial data

Novartis has announced top-line results from a clinical trial showing the survival benefits its drug Arzerra can offer to chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) patients.

Data from the phase III COMPLEMENT 2 study showed that treatment with Arzerra plus fludarabine and cyclophosphamide met the primary endpoint of delivering improved progression-free survival in patients with relapsed CLL.

Arzerra is not currently approved for this indication, but Novartis will be analysing this trial data further with the intention of sharing the results with regulatory agencies to evaluate the potential for future regulatory filings.

This could be an important discovery, given that most CLL patients experience disease progression despite initial response to therapy and may require additional treatment.

Dr Alessandro Riva, global head of Novartis' oncology development and medical affairs division, said: "We're encouraged by these positive topline results from COMPLEMENT 2, which demonstrate continued momentum for our expanding oncology portfolio and we look forward to sharing the full results of this study at an upcoming medical meeting."

Arzerra was developed in partnership between Genmab and GlaxoSmithKline, but Novartis has now taken over GlaxoSmithKline's stake in the project following the acquisition of its oncology division.