BOSTON, Jan 5 (Reuters) - An ovarian cancer drug under development by Genentech Inc. (DNA.N: Quote, Profile , Research) and Roche Holding AG (ROG.VX: Quote, Profile , Research) failed to meet the main goal of a mid-stage trial, an analyst said, citing an interview with the company.
Jason Kantor, an analyst at RBC Capital Markets Corp., said data from a Phase II trial of the experimental drug pertuzumab did not stave off the disease by a statistically significant amount.
The drug, formerly known as Omnitarg, was tested in combination with Eli Lilly and Co.'s (LLY.N: Quote, Profile , Research) cancer drug Gemzar in patients with advanced ovarian cancer. Genentech said late on Thursday that results of the trial were "encouraging" but it did not provide data.
"I asked the company if the word 'encouraging' implied that they did not meet the primary endpoint and they confirmed it with me," Kantor said. "Typically, when results are 'positive' they hit all intended endpoints. If something is 'encouraging' it generally shows a positive trend."... |
