Sanofi-Aventis reports Ph III data on cabazitaxel, improving survival 30%, making it a strong contender in prostate cancer market

French drug major Sanofi-Aventis has reported results from a Phase III trial which demonstrated that its cabazitaxel, an investigational compound, plus prednisone/prednisolone significantly improved overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer whose disease progressed following treatment with docetaxel-based chemotherapy. The TROPIC trial compared the combination of cabazitaxel plus prednisone/prednisolone to the active agent mitoxantrone plus prednisone/prednisolone.

For many patients with metastatic hormone-refractory prostate cancer, their disease continues to progress despite prior chemotherapy. Currently, there are no approved therapies to treat these patients.

'These are significant results in the development of this investigational drug,' said Oliver Sartor, North American principal investigator, Piltz Professor for Cancer Research at Tulane Medical School, New Orleans, USA. 'Improved overall survival was demonstrated in this trial - and these are the first data to show a statistical improvement in overall survival in patients with this difficult-to-treat and aggressive form of prostate cancer,' he noted.