Bayer and Orion announced a major trial win this week, after a study showed that a drug the companies are developing can delay the spread of prostate cancer.
The study focused on men with non-metastatic prostate cancer who had not responded to hormonal therapy. Ultimately the trial met its primary goal of demonstrating that the drug, darolutamide, delayed the spread of the cancer to other parts of the body.
The drug has already been given the “fast track” designation by the FDA. The companies now plan to apply for marketing approval of darolutamide.
Both companies are looking for a positive boost from their drug pipelines after dismal news in recent weeks. Finland-based Orion has been hit hard by generics competition in recent years, and reported quarterly profit this week that was below market expectations.
Bayer is also dealing with slumping shares related to its recent acquisition of Monsanto. On Tuesday, a judge in the U.S. issued a verdict that Monsanto’s contentious weed-killer, glyphosate, is linked to terminal cancer in men. The verdict is one of many decisions over the years from different agencies and legal authorities arguing that the chemical causes cancer.
Read the full Reuters report.
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