PhIII fail in overall survival measure clouds Ipsen's expansion plans for cancer drug Onivyde
Ipsen’s grand plan to open up new markets for the cancer drug Onivyde has hit a snag. Its Phase III trial testing the therapy in small cell lung cancer failed the primary endpoint on overall survival, casting a shadow on its regulatory prospects.
Onivyde, a liposomal injection of the chemotherapy irinotecan, was originally developed by Merrimack and struggled to gain traction. But in 2017 Ipsen’s then-CEO, David Meek, saw potential in the drug and wagered $575 million in cash — plus $450 million in milestones — to grab US rights to the drug in hopes of building a whole franchise around it.
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