Amgen's Vectibix fails to meet main goal in trial

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. An investigational biotech drug didn’t significantly improve patients’ survival, according to results of a late-stage clinical trial announced by Amgen Wednesday.

The biotech company said data from a phase 3 trial of Vectibix (panitumumab) as a first-line treatment for a form of head and neck cancer added to platinum-based chemotherapy didn’t achieve the main goal of producing greater rates of survival than chemotherapy alone. The drug did produce a greater rate of survival without progression of the disease, but the results were not tested for statistical significance.

“The outcome of this study is disappointing,” Amgen EVP research and development Roger Perlmutter said. “However, Vectibix remains an important monotherapy treatment option for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer whose disease has progressed on other therapies.”