Astra Zeneca has positive results of pancreatic cancer drug

Astra Zeneca who have a joint venture with US pharma company Merck, has said the phase three trials of Lynparza which is a new drug for pancreatic cancer said patients trialling the drug went for 7.4 months without their illness worsening.

Jose Baselga, of AstraZeneca’s oncology research department said, “These unprecedented results raise new hope for patients that have seen little progress over a long period of time.

“From as early as six months after initiation, more than twice as many patients taking Lynparza lived without progression of their disease compared to those on placebo and we are now working with regulatory authorities to bring Lynparza to patients as quickly as possible.”

Hedy L Kindler MD, co-principal investigator of the trial and Professor of Medicine at University of Chicago Medicine said, “Despite efforts to identify therapies, targeted or combination treatments to improve patient outcomes, pancreatic cancer remains an area of high unmet need.”

Less than 3% of pancreatic cancer patients survive more than five years, the pharma giant hopes Lynparza could mark a change.