AstraZeneca announces phase III study of vandetanib

AstraZeneca has announced the start of a phase III clinical trial of Zactima (vandetanib) in patients with advanced lung cancer.

The international study involving a minimum of 508 patients, will assess the compound combined with Alimta (pemetrexed) as a second-line treatment for patients with metastatic or locally-advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Zactima is a compound being assessed as a multi-targeted treatment for the inhibition of cell signalling pathways that are vital to the growth and spread of tumour pathways.

Dr Peter Langmiur, medical science director for vandetanib at AstraZeneca, said: “After treatment failure with initial therapy, response rates to further treatment are low in patients with advanced [NSCLC].”

He added that the effect of combining chemotherapy with the likes of vandetanib and other targeted agents should be investigated in order to further the development of treatment options for affected patients.

Last September, AstraZeneca announced that it had formed a partnership with Schering AG for the development and commercialisation of Schering’s selective oestrogen receptor downregulator as a breast cancer treatment.

According to the collaboration agreement, both firms will co-develop the downregulator, with AstraZeneca responsible for clinical activities and Schering leading process development, manufacturing and non-clinical development.