Companies close failed prostate cancer trials

Pfizer has discontinued late-stage trials into Sutent (sunitinib malate) for prostate cancer, after no improvement in survival was shown.

This is the second time in a few weeks that Pfizer has halted trials of the drug, which was proven to be ineffective in treating lung cancer in August.

The indication under investigation was in men with advanced castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) that had progressed despite treatment with chemotherapy, in combination with prednisone.

An independent Data Monitoring Committee (DMC) found that the addition of Sutent was unlikely to improve overall survival when compared to prednisone alone.

AZ has also been forced to abandon trials into a potential treatment for metastatic CRPC, zibotentan, due to an unsuccessful study. However, trials into the drug in other CRPC settings will continue.

Dr. Mace Rothenberg, Senior Vice President of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs, Pfizer Oncology Business Unit, said: “There is a great need for better therapies for prostate cancer and we are committed to working with basic scientists and clinical researchers to identify more effective treatments for this disease.”

Sutent is currently used in various indications in gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and advanced/metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Pfizer is also investigating the drug for the adjuvant treatment of renal cell carcinoma in a Phase 3 trial.