Pfizer ends Sutent study for prostate cancer

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE) discontinued a Phase III trial of Sutent sunitinib to treat advanced castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and provided an update on its pipeline. The pharma ended the SUN 1120 study after an interim analysis by the trial's IDMC showed that Sutent plus prednisone was unlikely to meet the primary endpoint of significantly improving overall survival vs. placebo plus prednisone. No new or unexpected safety issues were identified. Sutent, a small molecule that inhibits multiple receptor tyrosine kinases, is approved in the EU and U.S. to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).

As part of its pipeline update, Pfizer said it will no longer pursue Sutent in prostate cancer. It also said it has discontinued Sutent for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), as well as for breast and lung cancers. All together, the pharma discontinued 31 projects since its last update in January, including 13 in Phase II and 7 in Phase III, all of which Pfizer said had been previously disclosed. The three other discontinued Phase III programs are figitumumab for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); Celebrex celecoxib for gouty arthritis; and Lyrica pregabalin for restless legs syndrome (RLS). ...