Pfizer's Drug Improves Survival in Kidney Cancer Trial

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Pfizer’s kidney cancer drug received mixed results over the weekend from two studies.

The company’s drug, Sutent, improved the median disease-free survival rates for patients who had localized kidney cancer that was removed via surgery, reported FiercePharma. These individuals tend to be high-risk for relapses.

Investigators running this trial, named S-TRAC, monitored patients who took a one year regimen of either Sutent or a placebo for a five-year period. The median disease-free survival rate in the Sutent group was 6.8 years while it stood at 5.6 years for the other set.

Also, this is the first positive adjuvant renal cell cancer (RCC) trial.

“For the past 10 years, Pfizer has been a leader in developing new treatments for patients with kidney cancer, and Sutent has been the most widely prescribed first-line treatment for thousands of patients with advanced RCC around the world,” said Mace Rothenberg, MD, Chief Development Officer, Oncology, Pfizer Global Product Development in a statement.

The results of S-TRAC suggest that SUTENT has the potential to extend this benefit by reducing the risk of recurrence in patients who have undergone complete surgical removal of their kidney cancer and are at high risk of cancer recurrence,” he continued.

However, Sutent didn’t fare as well in another study testing it against a rival drug called Cabometyx made by Elexlixis to treat metastatic kidney cancer, wrote Reuters.

Results from a Phase 2 study indicated Cabometyx caused a 31 percent reduction in disease progression or death when compared to Pfizer’s product. Volunteers taking Sutent experienced an increase of 5.6 months before the disease worsened while patients on a Cabometyx regimen experienced on average an 8.2 month period before their condition worsened.

Still, both companies are pleased with the results. Exelixis plans on filing a regulatory approval to sell their drug as a first-line advanced kidney cancer treatment whereas Pfizer is seeking to add another indication for Sutent to treat RCC.