Array BioPharma presents encouraging Ph II selumetinib results in ovarian cancer

Encouraging Phase II trial with selumetinib, a small-molecule MEK inhibitor developed by USA-based Array BioPharma (Nasdaq: ARRY), in women with recurrent low-grade serous ovarian or peritoneal cancer, were presented this week by the Gynecologic Oncology Group at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2012.

Selumetinib is licensed to Anglo-Swedish drug major AstraZeneca (LSE: AZN), which paid an upfront $10 million, along with agreeing research funding and milestone and royalty payments to Array (The Pharma Letter January 5, 2004). This trial was funded by the National Cancer Institute and run by the Gynecologic Oncology Group.

In the reported trial, 52 women each received 100mg doses of selumetinib orally twice daily in four-week cycles until disease progression or toxicity. The median number of cycles received was 4.5; 33% underwent 12 or more cycles. Prior to the trial, 58% of the patients in the trial had received three or more rounds of chemotherapy.