Pfizer To Conduct NSCLC Drug Trial In Asia

Pfizer Inc. will conduct a clinical trial of its crizotinib drug, marketed under the trademark Xalkori®, in four Asian countries.

AsianScientist (Feb. 18, 2013) – Pfizer Inc. will conduct a clinical trial of its crizotinib drug, marketed under the trademark Xalkori®, in four Asian countries.

The trial will assess the use of crizotinib for the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring a ROS1 (c-ros) gene rearrangement (ROS1-positive). ROS1 is a receptor tyrosine kinase of the insulin receptor family.

The trial will be conducted by OxOnc Development LP at multiple sites in Japan, China, Taiwan, and South Korea to assess the safety and efficacy of crizotinib in patients with ROS1-positive advanced NSCLC.

Under the terms of the agreement, OxOnc will provide funding and supervision for the trial, with the goal of generating the clinical data necessary for Pfizer to submit crizotinib for review by regulatory authorities for the treatment of advanced ROS1-positive NSCLC in the Asian region. If approved for this indication, OxOnc will be eligible to receive milestone payments from Pfizer. Additional terms were not disclosed.

“Xalkori® is a breakthrough medicine in our oncology portfolio which may hold potential for patients with ROS1-positive advanced NSCLC,” said Garry Nicholson, president and general manager, Pfizer Oncology.

“Through our collaboration with OxOnc, we hope to explore the potential benefit that this important therapy may bring to this subset of lung cancer patients who are in need of additional treatment options,” he said.

The understanding of lung cancer is changing. What was previously believed to be an illness largely linked to smoking is now recognized by physicians as a complex disease with many subtypes. NSCLC comprises approximately 85 percent of lung cancer cases.

Crizotinib is approved for the treatment of patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive advanced NSCLC in the U.S., EU, Japan, and other countries.

——

Source: OxOnc Services Company.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.

Asian Scientist Magazine is an award-winning science and technology magazine that highlights R&D news stories from Asia to a global audience. The magazine is published by Singapore-headquartered Wildtype Media Group.

Related Stories from Asian Scientist