AstraZeneca’s MEK 1/2 inhibitor selumetinib has suffered another blow after failing to hit targets in a late-stage trial assessing its safety and effectiveness alongside docetaxel in patients with a certain form of lung cancer.
Data show that the Phase III SELECT-1 study did not meet its primary endpoint of extending progression free survival and that selumetinib did not have a significant effect on overall survival (OS) when used as a second-line treatment in patients with KRAS mutation-positive locally-advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
“A randomised Phase II trial showed promising activity of selumetinib in combination with docetaxel in patients with KRAS mutation-positive lung cancer. It is disappointing for patients that these results have not been confirmed in Phase III,” commented AZ’ chief medical officer Sean Bohen.
The firm did not release specific data at this time, but said it expects to present full results at an upcoming medical conference.
Last year selumetinib, which AZ acquired from Array BioPharma in 2003, also failed to show a significant progression-free survival benefit in a late-stage study involving patients with the rare eye cancer uveal melanoma, again after turning in a strong performance in mid-stage trials.
However, the drug is also currently being explored as a treatment option in registration-enabling studies in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer where it holds Orphan Drug Designation, and patients with neurofibromatosis type 1, a genetic disorder that causes tumours to grow along nerve tissue.
Fit2Me app extends to cardio
Meanwhile, AZ in the US announced that its diet and lifestyle app Fit2Me is expanding into cardio.
Fit2Me can now offer a customised plan tailored to user’s own health challenges across type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, heart attack, high blood pressure and high triglycerides.
The programme focuses on four key areas of diabetes and cardiovascular disease management – food, activity, support team and treatment support – and offers encouragement from ‘digital coaches’ to improve health and fitness.
