Ergomed Plc (LON:ERGO) expects to receive the first results from the phase III trial of Zoptrex, a treatment for advanced endometrial cancer in April.
Partner and drug developer Aeterna Zentaris has informed it that it had now completed the trial, Ergomed said.
Ergomed’s clinical services arm carried out the trial, which took place in more than 100 centres globally.
Its model is to charge a reduced fee in return for a share in any revenues generated from Zoptrex’s commmercialisation.
Ergomed has already received some payments for license agreements for Zoptrex.
Miroslav Reljanovic, Ergomed’s chief executive, said the trial was “a tremendous achievement by all involved and we are proud to have conducted it.”
Richard Sachse, Aeterna Zentaris 's chief scientific officer, added the trial was conducted conducted under a Special Protocol Assessment with the US Food and Drug Administration.
"Reaching this important milestone took longer than we anticipated because the rate of events slowed significantly during the past year.
"As previously reported, the study was fully enrolled in June 2015 and the final dosing occurred in January 2016. Therefore, a significant number of patients survived more than 18 months since enrolment in the study.
"We are thankful that these patients continued to survive a devastating disease and are hopeful that their lives are continuing successfully.
"We are close to locking the clinical database and are focused on producing the top-line results of the study. Currently, we expect to release top-line results in April 2017."
Andrew Mackie, Ergomed’s chief business officer, added that as well as any benefit if Zoptrex proves commercial, the trial has shown it can carry out large cancer study and that will benefit the company in winning future work.
“One of the first questions we are asked is have you worked with the disease before?” he told Proactive.
Shares rose 1.7%.
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