AstraZeneca begins phase III trials of new lung cancer drug

AstraZeneca has announced that it is commencing phase III clinical testing of an innovative and promising new therapy for certain forms of lung cancer.

The first patient has been randomised in the new clinical programme for selumetinib, which is being investigated as a second-line therapy in patients with advanced or metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer whose tumours are KRAS mutation-positive.

An oral selective MEK inhibitor, selumetinib will be evaluated in the Select-1 trial to assess the survival benefits it can provide to patients, with this being the largest prospective study ever conducted in this patient population.

The company acquired exclusive worldwide rights to develop this compound from Array BioPharma in 2003.

Antoine Yver, vice-president and head of oncology at AstraZeneca's global medicines development unit, said: "This is an area of pressing clinical need and our decision to progress selumetinib was based on phase II results, which showed promising clinical activity in this group of patients."

This comes after the firm announced earlier this month that its MedImmune business is acquiring Spirogen, an oncology-focused biotechnology company.