Boehringer Ingelheim commences colorectal cancer drug trial

Boehringer Ingelheim has announced the commencement of a new phase III study assessing a promising new therapy for advanced colorectal cancer.

The first patient has now been enrolled in LUME-COLON 1, which aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the drug nintedanib, plus best supportive care, among patients with colorectal cancer whose disease has progressed despite previous treatment.

In total, the study will enrol more than 750 patients at 150 sites worldwide, with locations in the US, Europe and Asia. Key endpoint goals include improved survival, objective tumour response rate and disease control levels.

Nintedanib is currently being evaluated by European regulators as a potential therapy for non-small cell lung cancer and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Professor Klaus Dugi, chief medical officer at Boehringer Ingelheim, said: "There is a significant need to improve treatment options for patients with advanced colorectal cancer and Boehringer Ingelheim is proud to conduct further research into this disease area."

If approved as a lung cancer therapy, the drug will be sold under the brand name Vargatef.