AstraZeneca pulls plans for colon cancer drug

AstraZeneca has dropped plans to file its experimental drug Recentin as a first-line treatment for colon cancer after disappointing results from a second clinical trial.

The latest Phase III clinical trial, known as Horizon II, showed that Recentin improved progression-free survival but there was no improvement in overall survival.

The drug, also known as cediranib, failed in another study comparing it head-to-head with Roche's blockbuster Avastin in March.

"Based on the results of these two trials, AstraZeneca does not intend to file regulatory submissions in first-line mCRC (metastatic colorectal cancer)," the company said.

The drug may still have a role in different cancer types. Results of a Phase III study on treatment for recurrent glioblastoma, a brain cancer, are expected soon and AstraZeneca is also examining whether it may have applications in other tumour types.