Actimmune oncology program ends
This article was originally published in Pharmaceutical Approvals Monthly
Executive Summary
InterMune is discontinuing its oncology program for its biologic response modifier Actimmune (interferon gamma-1b) following negative results from a Phase III ovarian cancer trial, the firm says Feb. 2. The firm halted the GRACES trial in advanced ovarian cancer after Actimmune plus carboplatin and paclitaxel showed a significantly shorter overall survival than the two cytotoxic agents alone (39.7% vs. 30.4%, respectively; p=0.001). "The results from this study suggest that Actimmune…may exacerbate the dose-limiting toxicities of cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs. Consequently, we have no plans to initiate further studies of Actimmune in oncology or in combination with such chemotherapy regimens," InterMune said. Actimmune is indicated for chronic granulomatous disease and severe, malignant osteopetrosis...