AstraZeneca’s Investigational Cancer Drug Fails in Eye Cancer Trial

AstraZeneca’s investigational drug selumetinib has failed to meet its primary endpoint of progression free survival during a Phase 3 trial for a rare eye cancer.

Selumetinib, studied in combination with dacarbazine in patients with metastatic uveal melanoma, showed an adverse event profile, the company said this week.

The failure of the Phase 3 trial was surprising, after promising Phase 2 data on the indication, Berenberg analyst Alistair Campbell says in a note.

The findings of the trial won’t affect other studies of the drug, says Antoine Yver, head of oncology development at AZ. Selumetinib is being investigated primarily to treat advanced non-small cell lung cancer, but its usefulness in treating thyroid cancer and neurofibromatosis Type 1 also is being assessed. — Jonathon Shacat