Amgen's Denosumab Aids Bones In Breast-Cancer Patients

   DOW JONES NEWSWIRES 
 

Amgen Inc. (AMGN) said its denosumab delayed skeletal deterioration in people with advanced breast cancer showed better effectiveness in a late-stage trial compared to Novartis AG's (NVS) Zometa in the latest positive test results for the treatment.

The pharmaceutical company Monday said denosumab delayed skeletal-related events such as fractures, radiation to bone, surgery to bone, or spiral-cord compression longer than Zometa in advanced cancer patients. The 1,776 patients in that study suffered from solid tumors, but the study didn't including those with breast cancer and prostate cancer, or from multiple myeloma.

Results of the 34-month study of 2,046 with advanced breast cancer released Tuesday also showed denosumab delayed the worsening of bone pain. Both sets of data were released at conference in Germany.

The company has been building up a primary care sales force in anticipation of expected Food and Drug Administration approval of denosumab to treat osteoporosis in mid-October. The launch is likely to be the most important yet for the biotechnology company as the drug focuses on primary care physicians in the U.S., a much wider target than its traditional specialty focuses of anemia and arthritis.

After getting a positive recommendation from an FDA panel in August, Amgen is widely expected to get marketing approval for denosumab. The company has proposed the brand name Prolia for the drug.

Shares closed at $62.31 on Monday and didn't trade premarket.

-By Tess Stynes, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2481; [e-mail]