AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN) has announced that an already approved treatment was not effective in patients with late-stage bladder cancer.
The FTSE 100-listed pharma company was in phase III of trials consisting of two uses: its immunotherapy Imfinzi alone or in combinations with tremelimumab, a fully human antibody that helps the immune system to fight cancer.
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“The results from this trial will inform our comprehensive Phase III development programme in bladder cancer,” said José Baselga, executive vice president at oncology research and development.
Imfinzi is now being tested for the same type of cancer in combination with chemotherapy or chemotherapy and tremelimubab.
"This is disappointing and makes this drug ever more reliant on the early-stage lung cancer indication where it has shown a very clear benefit," analysts at Liberum said.
"Nevertheless the broad base of growth drivers means Astra will deliver high single-digit sales growth to 2025, combined with margin leverage driving 17% compound earnings growth to 2025."
Imfinzi is expected to generate sales of US$2bn this year and grow to US$4bn by 2024.
Shares were flat at 7,550p on Friday morning.
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