Merck KGaA, Threshold Cancer Drug Fails to Extend Survival

After 10 years of development, Merck KGaA and Threshold Pharmaceutical’s cancer drug evofosfamide failed to extend survival in two pivotal phase 3 studies, the drugmakers said Monday.

It had been studied alongside standard-of-care chemotherapies gemcitabine and doxorubicin in patients with advanced forms of pancreatic and soft-tissue cancer, but both trials fell short.

Threshold said evofosfamide research in the two diseases will be called off based on the findings, with final results presented at upcoming scientific meetings.