Bayer HealthCare announces positive Nexavar thyroid cancer data

Bayer HealthCare and partner Onyx Pharmaceuticals have unveiled new clinical trial data showing the potential of Nexavar tablets to treat a certain form of cancer.

Results from the phase III Decision study demonstrated that Nexavar delivered progression-free survival benefits among patients with locally advanced or metastatic radioactive iodine (RAI)-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer.

The safety and tolerability profiles of the drug were also shown to be positive, suggesting Nexavar could be an effective therapy for a condition for which there are currently limited options available.

Bayer plans to submit the Decision data to support marketing authorisation applications for Nexavar in the treatment of RAI-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer.

Dr Dimitris Voliotis, vice-president for global clinical oncology development at Bayer HealthCare, said: "We are pleased that the results of this study demonstrate that Nexavar may provide a treatment option for these patients."

This comes after the firm submitted radium-223 dichloride for European approval in the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer last month.