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LONDON (Alliance News) - GlaxoSmithKline PLC Wednesday said it had chosen to stop the Phase III trial of its MAGE-A3 cancer immunotherapeutic in non-small cell lung cancer patients, as it said it would not be possible to identify a sub-population of MAGE-A3 positive patients with a specific gene signature that might benefit from the treatment.
Patients who are MAGE-A3 positive have a tumour-specific antigen that is present in a variety of cancers but not in normal cells.
The trial of the immunotherapeutic missed its first and second co-primary endpoints, Glaxo said on March 20, as it did not significantly extend disease free survival compared to a placebo in either MAGE-A3 positive patients, or MAGE-A3 patients who did not receive chemotherapy.
However, Glaxo had continued the trial to investigate the third co-primary endpoint, assessing if there was a subset of MAGE-A3 positive patients that might benefit from the treatment.
Independent third-party analysis of a proportion of the data from the trial concluded that the assessment of this third endpoint is not feasible due to an "insufficient treatment effect."
As a result Glaxo has stopped the trial, and will now fully assess the findings of the trial.
Glaxo shares were off 0.02% at 1,590.36 pence at the open Wednesday.
By Hana Stewart-Smith; hanassmith@alliancenews.com; @HanaSSAllNews
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