Bayer voices disappointment with Nexavar trial

Bayer is disappointed that a phase III clinical trial of Nexavar did not meet primary endpoints.

As part of the investigation, which was carried out with Onyx Pharmaceuticals, the tablets were tested in patients with unresectable stage III or stage IV melanoma.

Compared to those receiving chemotherapeutic agents and a placebo, the Data Monitoring Committee decided Nexavar when taken in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel did not improve survival in sufferers.

Dimitris Voliotis, vice-president in global clinical oncology at Bayer, voiced dissatisfaction with the results but added both companies would continue to investigate the potential of the medication in other cancers.

“We intend to build upon the success of Nexavar in our approved indications in hepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer) and advanced renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer),” he said.

Last week, Bayer stressed how self-monitoring of blood glucose levels was important to diabetes sufferers.

A number of nurses, physicians, scientists and patients met at the third European Media Workshop on Diabetes to share ideas about how to manage the condition.