FDA advisors vote against Taltorvic (Merck/Ariad) for Sarcoma patients

The FDA's ODAC voted 13-1 against the use of Taltorvic (ridaforolimus), from Merck / Ariad, as maintenance therapy for patients with metastatic soft-tissue Sarcoma or Bone Sarcoma whose disease has not progressed after at least four cycles of chemotherapy. This was based on data showing patients on Taltorvic had a median progression-free survival of 17.7 weeks compared with 14.6 weeks for those on placebo. The panel believes that no significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of overall survival.