AstraZeneca scores hat trick in ovarian cancer and anaemia clinical trials

pharmafile | December 20, 2018 | News story | Research and Development |  AstraZeneca, anaemia, oncology, ovarian cancer, pharma 

Anglo-Swedish multinational AstraZeneca has revealed that its ovarian cancer drug (Lynparza) and anaemia treatment (Roxadustat) have met their goals in three separate late stage trials.  

The results give a much needed boost to the faltering pharma giant which has lost more than half its sales since patents expired in 2012.

AstraZeneca’s Lynparza, which is being jointly developed by US firm MSD, improved response rates in patients with a form of relapsed ovarian cancer after chemotherapy.

Meanwhile anaemia drug Roxadustat, met its primary goals in two separate trials evaluating its effectiveness in improving haemoglobin counts in both patients undergoing dialysis and those who are not.

Although shares in the Cambridge-based firm were down early Thursday morning, the company’s share price has seen a slight upturn in response to the news.

Louis Goss