Ariad Starts Phase II Study for Breast Cancer

Ariad Pharmaceuticals has initiated a Phase II clinical trial to examine oral deforolimus, its investigational mTOR inhibitor, in patients with advanced breast cancer.

The multicenter, single-arm study will evaluate the drug in combination with IV trastuzumab (Herceptin) in 33 patients with metastatic, HER2-positive breast cancer who have developed resistance to trastuzumab therapy, and will take place at 15 medical centers in the U.S. and Europe. The trial’s primary endpoint is a clinical response.

Deforolimus is being studied, in collaboration with Merck, in multiple clinical trials for patients with various types of cancer. The trial is expected to be completed by the second half of next year, Ariad said.