Bayer, Onyx: Nexavar fails in lung cancer study

WAYNE, N.J. A drug made by Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals and Onyx Pharmaceuticals failed to extend overall survival of a group of lung cancer patients, according to results of a late-stage clinical trial announced Monday.

The two companies said the tablet drug Nexavar (sorafenib) did not improve overall survival as a first-line treatment for patients with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer in a phase 3 trial comparing Nexavar with placebo combined with chemotherapy. The drug already is approved to treat kidney cancer.

“Bayer and Onyx are disappointed with these results, in particular, for patients who are suffering from this deadly disease,” Bayer HealthCare VP global clinical development for oncology Dimitris Voliotis said. “We are confident in our clinical trial program exploring Nexavar’s potential in a variety of tumor types, including lung cancer.”