Amgen's Myeloma Treatment Study Fails to Meet Primary Endpoint

   By Joshua Jamerson 
 

Amgen on Tuesday said a study testing the use of its multiple myeloma treatment Kyprolis in combination with other agents missed its primary endpoint after failing to show superiority in progression-free survival.

Shares of Amgen fell 1.5% to $171 in premarket trading.

The Phase-3 trial tested an investigational regimen of Kyprolis, melphalan and prednisone versus a combination of Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s cancer drug Velcade with melphalan and prednisone. Premature data for overall survival, a secondary endpoint, wasn't statistically significant, the company said.

Sean Harper, Amgen's executive vice president of research and development, said the results "are disappointing" but the company will continue to explore Kyprolis in combination with other agents.

Kyprolis is approved in the U.S., in combination with other agents, for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received one to three lines of therapy. It is also approved as a single agent for treating patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma who have received one or more lines of therapy.

A Phase-3 study evaluating Kyprolis in combination with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone versus Velcade and Velcade in combination with lenalidomide plus dexamethasone is currently underway.

Write to Joshua Jamerson at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

September 27, 2016 08:17 ET (12:17 GMT)

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