Strong data from MDV3100 prostate cancer trial lead Medivation and Astellas to stop study early

4 November 2011

USA-based Medivation (Nasdaq: MDVN) saw its shares rocket 120% to $36.51 in early trading yesterday, after it announced, along with partner Japanese drug major Astellas Pharma (TYO: 4503), that the Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) has informed the companies of positive results from a planned interim analysis of the Phase III AFFIRM trial of MDV3100 in men with advanced prostate cancer previously treated with chemotherapy.

The MDV3100 results were so good that the IDMC recommended the study be stopped early and men receiving placebo will be offered the drug instead. MDV3100, the first androgen receptor signaling inhibitor, successfully met the study's pre-specified interim efficacy stopping criteria, demonstrating a clinically meaningful and statistically significant (p < 0.0001) improvement in overall survival compared to placebo.

Could compete in a $5-$9 billion market

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