Canakinumab reduces lung cancer mortality, headed for Phase III

Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS; SIX:NOVN) said canakinumab (ACZ885) significantly reduced lung cancer incidence and associated mortality vs. placebo in the Phase III CANTOS cardiovascular outcomes trial in patients with a prior heart attack and inflammatory atherosclerosis. Spokesperson Eric Althoff told BioCentury that Novartis plans to start Phase III trials of the mAb against IL-1 beta to treat lung cancer in 1Q18.

Data from the additional pre-planned analysis of CANTOS were presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting in Barcelona and published in The Lancet and The New England Journal of Medicine. CANTOS tested quarterly doses of 50, 150 and 300 mg subcutaneous canakinumab in 10,061 patients with a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) level of at least 2 mg/L and an MI at least one month prior to study entry...