Lilly reports positive data from gastric cancer drug trial

Lilly has announced the publication of new clinical trial data that demonstrates the benefits its drug Cyramza can offer in the treatment of advanced gastric cancer or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

The new therapy, when used in combination with paclitaxel, was associated with a statistically significant improvement in median overall survival, as well as benefits in terms of progression-free survival and objective response rate.

This means that the trial, dubbed RAINBOW, was able to meet its primary and secondary targets. RAINBOW was the largest trial in second-line gastric cancer to date and the first phase III study to demonstrate a survival benefit with a biologic used in combination with chemotherapy in this setting.

It follows last year's publication of positive data from another study, REGARD, which examined the ramucirumab-based therapy as a single-agent treatment.

Dr Richard Gaynor, senior vice-president for product development and medical affairs for Lilly Oncology, said: "We are encouraged by the RAINBOW study results and are pleased that we now have a second phase III trial of ramucirumab which has demonstrated improved survival in advanced gastric cancer patients."

This comes after the firm announced data from a study earlier this month that demonstrated the benefits its basal insulin product can offer over established options.