AstraZeneca cancer programme moves to phase III

AstraZeneca has confirmed that its Horizon metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) programme is to move to phase III.

The programme involves a head-to-head study of Recentin with chemotherapy versus Avastin (bevacizumab) with chemotherapy in patients with first-line metastatic CRC, with the new phase III study moving to a 20mg Recentin dose.

AstraZeneca has also announced that the National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group (NCIC-CTG) has brought the BR24 phase II/III study of Recentin in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to an end.

The body confirmed that the study would not move to phase III following an efficacy and tolerability analysis by the study’s Data Safety Monitoring Committee.

Despite finding evidence of clinical activity, the committee observed an imbalance of toxicity and so the study was considered to not have met the pre-defined criteria for automatic continuation into phase III.

John Patterson, AstraZeneca’s director of development, expressed the company’s delight in seeing the successful transition to phase III in the Horizon programme.

He went on to indicate that AstraZeneca would be working with the NCIC-CTG to more fully understand the data regarding Recentin’s use in the treatment of NSCLC.

“As evidence of clinical activity was seen in BR24, AstraZeneca remains committed to investigating the potential of Recentin in lung cancer and reducing the incidence of serious adverse events.”

Earlier this month, AstraZeneca announced the appointment of Jean-Philipe Courtois to the board of directors.