Phase III Avastin trial in Colon Cancer to continue

Genentech have announced that its ongoing Phase III study of Avastin (bevacizumab) in patients with early-stage colon cancer will continue as planned.

Boehringer Ingelheim provide update on kinase programs

Boehringer have provided a pipeline update including information on kinase inhibitors, and announces forthcoming presentations:
BIBW 2992 (Tovok) – EGFR/HER2 – Phase III study in NSCLC has commenced
BIBF 1120 – VEGFR, PDGFR, FGFR – Phase III in NSCLC is planned “in the near future”.
PLK-1 inhibitors – data to be presented at the upcoming 20th EORTC – [...]

Avastin and Tarceva combo does not meet primary endpoint in Phase III NSCLC

Phase III trial results show treatment with Avastin/Tarceva in patients with advanced NSCLC did not meet its primary endpoint (overall survival compared to Tarceva). Secondary endpoints of progression-free survival (PFS) and response rate when Avastin was added to Tarceva were however met.

Roche to present at ESMO

Roche have announced that 100+ abstracts on Roche medicines will be presented at the upcoming European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) meeting.

Key presentations include:
* Data from AVAiL, confirming the use of Avastin as first line treatment in NSCLC
* Phase III data on continuation of Herceptin treatment
* Phase II data data on the use of [...]

Bayer/Onyx initiate new Phase III trial for Nexavar in liver cancer

Bayer and Onyx have announced the initiation of a Phase III study of Nexavar (sorafenib) as an adjuvant therapy for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

ImClone initiate Phase III for Anti-VEGFR2 MAb IMC-1121B in Breast Cancer

ImClone Systems have initiated a global Phase 3 clinical trial of VEGFR2 MAb IMC-1121B in women with metastatic breast cancer.

Exelixis MET/RET/VEGFR2 inhibitor XL184 achieves proof of concept in cancer

Exelixis have announced that its MET/RET/VEGFR2 inhibitor XL184 has achieved proof of concept in hematologic cancers. The company has submitted data to its partner GSK who has 90 days to review the data and decide whether to exercise its option to select the compound for further development and commercialization.

Sorafenib shows efficacy in Phase III hepatocellular carcinoma trial

Sorafenib has been shown to be effective in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. The median survival and time to radiologic progression were nearly 3 months longer for patients treated with sorafenib than for those given placebo.

Exelixis initiate Phase III trial of MET/RET/VEGFR2 inhibitor XL184 in Thyroid cancer

Exelixis have initiated a phase III trial of MET/RET/VEGFR2 inhibitor XL184 for the treatment of medullary thyroid cancer.

Axelar initiate Phase I/II trial with IGF-1R drug AXL1717

Axelar has initiated a Phase I/II clinical trial in cancer patients with its insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor inhibitor AXL1717