AstraZeneca cancer drug disappoints in lung cancer study

Britain-based AstraZeneca's experimental drug selumetinib failed to show positive results in a late-stage clinical trial for lung cancer, according to Reuters.

When combined with a chemotherapy treatment, the drug failed to slow lung cancer progression or significantly impact survival time.

The drug was previously shown promise to do so in a Phase II trial for non-small cell lung cancer, said Sean Bohen, AstraZeneca's head of medicines development.

This is not the first time selumetinib has disappointed. In July, the drug failed to treat a rare eye cancer. Researchers believe the drug may still play a role in treating one type of thyroid cancer and cancers growing on nerve tissue.

On Friday, New York City-based Bristol-Myers Squibb's cancer drug Opdivo also failed in a study to treat lung cancer patients.

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