BioCentury
ARTICLE | Clinical News

Sanofi drops two Phase III compounds

June 4, 2013 2:56 AM UTC

Sanofi (Euronext:SAN; NYSE:SNY) said on Monday it discontinued development of two Phase III compounds: iniparib ( BSI-201), which was in development to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and ovarian cancer; and otamixaban ( XRP0673), which was in development to treat acute coronary syndrome (ACS). In the Phase III ECLIPSE trial to treat platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer, iniparib plus gemcitabine and carboplatin missed the primary endpoint of improving overall survival vs. carboplatin and gemcitabine alone. The trial enrolled 780 patients with previously untreated metastatic stage IV squamous NSCLC. Additionally, the pharma said that top-line data from a Phase II trial in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer "do not support further development of iniparib in this patient population."

Sanofi initially designated iniparib as a poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) inhibitor based on its benzamide structure. However, the pharma said recent research has shown the small molecule cannot inhibit PARP-1 at pharmacologic concentrations. The pharma gained the compound through its 2009 acquisition of BiPar Sciences Inc. for up to $500 million in cash, depending on iniparib milestones. Sanofi said it will record a $285 million charge for the discontinuation (see BioCentury, April 20, 2009). ...