Drug news
Sutent fails Phase II trial in NSCLC
Sutent(sunitinib) from Pfizer failed when used in combination with Tarceva (erlotinib) in the SUN 1087 trial compared to Tarceva alone in non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Overall survival as an endpoint was missed but progression free survival (PFS) was achieved. Pfizer considers PFS as important and plans further development for this indication. The drug was successful in renal cell carcinoma and with gastrointestinal stromal tumours but failed in breast cancer (3 trials), colorectal cancer (1 trial) and liver cancer (1 trial). Pfizer has recently filed the drug for neuroendocrine tumours (pancreatic islet cell tumours).
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