AstraZeneca PLC (LON:AZN) and Merck (NYSE:MRK) said their drug Lynparza has successfully achieved a second key goal when deployed to treat men with advanced prostate cancer.
The results of a phase III study revealed it increased the overall survival rate among patients with the metastatic castration-resistant form of the disease compared to those receiving the current standard treatment.
The PROfound trial had already met what is called its primary end-point: significantly improving radiographic progression-free survival in men with mutations in BRCA1/2 or ATM genes.
"Overall survival in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer has remained extremely challenging to achieve,” said AstraZeneca’s head of oncology research and development, José Baselga in a statement.
“We are thrilled by these results for Lynparza and we are working with regulatory authorities to bring this medicine to patients as soon as possible," he added.