Positive results for AstraZeneca's lung cancer drug

According to Phase II results published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, AstraZeneca's drug vandetanib (Zactima) improved progression free survival in patients with advanced lung cancer. AstraZeneca is already recruiting 1,400 patients for a Phase III trial of the drug as a second-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer.

"Given the poor prognosis in advanced non-small cell lung cancer, an increase in time to disease progression can be meaningful to patients," said John Heymach, the study's lead researcher. "The results of Study 6 provide encouraging support, and reinforce further investigation with ZACTIMA in combination with chemotherapy in Phase III trials." Zactima was fast-tracked by the FDA in early 2006.

- see AstraZeneca's release

Related Articles:
AstraZeneca to outsource manufacturing. Report
AstraZeneca cuts 7,600 jobs. Report
AstraZeneca announces restructuring and buyout. Report