Pfizer Inc. (PFE) recently announced that it has decided to discontinue the late-stage study of its lung cancer candidate figitumumab (CP-751,871). The decision followed an analysis, which revealed that the candidate was unlikely to meet the main goal of improving overall survival. The study was designed to evaluate the candidate as a first-line treatment in patients suffering from advanced non-adenocarcinoma non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
 
The late-stage study was initiated based on encouraging results from a mid-stage trial. The phase II study identified patients suffering from squamous cell histology- a disease with a high unmet medical need and the most common form of non-adenocarcinoma – as the ones who would benefit the most on being treated with figitumumab.
 
An independent data monitoring committee (DSMC) found by analyzing data from the late-stage study that the addition of figitumumab to a combination of older medications – paclitaxel and carboplatin – was unlikely to meet the primary endpoint of improving overall survival compared to the combination of paclitaxel and carboplatin alone.
 
The current decision follows the halt in new patient enrollment for the late-stage trial three months ago, when the DSMC found that patients treated with figitumumab were suffering from a greater number of adverse events, including death.
 
Pfizer is also evaluating figitumumab for treating other cancers including prostate and breast cancers and Ewing’s sarcoma. The oncology division of Pfizer has more than 25 biologics and small molecules undergoing development coupled with more than 200 ongoing studies.
 
The discontinuation of the lung cancer study resulted in Pfizer’s shares losing 4 cents at 18.52 in after-hours trading on Dec 29. The company had closed the day at $18.56 on the New York Stock Exchange down 7 cents.
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