AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN, NYSE:AZN) says its Lynparza cancer drug has failed a detailed test for fighting advanced gastric cancer.
Lynparza used in conjunction with paclitaxel chemotherapy did not meet the “primary endpoint” of overall survival in the phase three Gold trial, the group said.
AstraZeneca said that whilst there was a numerical survival trend from Lynparza plus paclitaxel, it did not meet "statistical significance".
Executive vice-president of global medicine development and chief medical officer at AstraZeneca, Sean Bohen, said: “While there was a numerical trend for survival benefit with Lynparza plus paclitaxel in the Gold trial, we are disappointed that this did not reach statistical significance.
“The particular regimen in the Gold study, at a low dose and in combination with chemotherapy, differs from other phase III trials in the Lynparza programme.
“We look forward to presenting the Gold data and remain confident in Lynparza’s clinical activity in a range of tumour types, including its approved use in BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer."
Shares in the group fell 25p to 3905.5p in lunchtime trading in London.