Another pancreatic cancer drug hits the dust - Clavis/Clovis' CP-4126

In yet another disappointment for pancreatic cancer patients, Norwegian cancer drug developer Clavis Pharma (OSE: CLAVIS), has suspended development of CP-4126 following failure in pancreatic cancer trial.

The news was viewed as a significant setback for Clavis, whose shares plummeted 87% to 8.54 Norwegian kroner in mid-moring trading, slashing the company's market capitalization to just around $50 million.

The Norwegian firm this morning announced results of the LEAP (Low hENT1 and Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas) study of CP-4126 (also known as CO-101), versus gemcitabine in metastatic pancreatic cancer. The trial, which was conducted by partner USA-based Clovis Oncology, showed that there was no difference in overall survival between the two arms in either the primary analysis of the hENT1-low patient population, or in the overall intent-to-treat population. Median survival in each arm was approximately six months with a hazard ratio of 0.99, and is consistent with the survival results from other gemcitabine studies in metastatic pancreatic cancer. Adverse events were comparable between the two arms, and no differences were observed in any subgroup analyses.

Contrary to the results of numerous published retrospective studies, the study demonstrated that hENT1 status had no impact on survival for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer treated with gemcitabine. All development work with CP-4126 across all indications is now suspended by both Clavis Pharma and Clovis Oncology. The investigational compound was the subject of 2009 deal between the two companies, worth a potential $380 million to the US firm (TPL November 26, 2009).