Roche had mixed results for a phase 3 trial of an experimental drug for prostate cancer, missing its goal in the overall population but cutting risk of disease worsening in patients with mutated tumors.
The drugmaker is testing ipatasertib against metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Ipatasertib is an oral, highly specific, investigational medicine designed to target and bind to all three isoforms of AKT (protein kinase B), which blocks the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway – a key driver of cancer cell growth and proliferation in prostate cancer.
For the overall group of patients in the study, Roche said ipatasertib did not meet its goal of boosting radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS), a key goal in mCRPC. However, for those patients whose tumors had PTEN losses, the drug provided a statistically significant reduction in the risk of disease worsening or death, compared to patients who got the standard of care, plus a placebo.
According to the Roche press release, "While initial data are encouraging, overall survival benefit and additional secondary endpoints are not yet mature. The trial will continue until the next planned analysis and data will be shared with health authorities."
Read the Roche press release
