Bayer and Onyx report disappointing Phase III results of Nexavar in breast cancer

German drug major Bayer (BAYN: DE) and Onyx Pharmaceuticals, an Amgen subsidiary (Nasdaq: AMGN), have said that an investigational Phase III trial of Nexavar (sorafenib) tablets in patients with advanced breast cancer did not meet its primary endpoint of improving progression-free survival.

The safety and efficacy of sorafenib in combination with capecitabine, an oral chemotherapeutic agent, compared to placebo plus capecitabine, in patients with HER2-negative breast cancer who are resistant to or have failed prior taxane therapy, and are resistant to or failed anthracycline, or for whom further anthracycline therapy is not indicated.

The types of adverse events observed were generally comparable with those known for either sorafenib or capecitabine.