Wyeth RCC drug ‘extends median overall survival’

Wyeth Pharmaceuticals has announced the publication of results from a phase III clinical trial of Torisel (temsirolimus), the company’s recently-approved treatment for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients.

Presented in the most recent issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, these study results compared patients receiving a weekly intravenously-administered 25 mg dose of Torisel with those administered with interferon-alpha, a widely used treatment for the disease.

The trial results showed a notable 49 per cent increase in median overall survival in RCC patients receiving Torisel compared to those taking interferon alpha.

An innovative anticancer drug, Torisel operates by selectively inhibiting the mammalian target of rapamycin kinase protein responsible for cell proliferation, growth and survival.

Gary Hudes, director of the genitourinary malignancies programme at Fox Chase Cancer Centre, said: “Patients with advanced RCC and poor prognosis have tumours that are particularly difficult to treat, and few studies have examined therapeutic approaches specifically for these patients.”

He added that the study data showed the efficacy of Torisel in treating RCC patients who have been given a poor prognosis.

Wyeth submitted an application for EU marketing approval for Torisel as a treatment for RCC with the European Medicines Agency in October 2006.