Synta Pharmaceuticals publishes updated Phase 2b/3 trial results

Synta Pharmaceuticals has published promising results from its trials of ganetespib as part of a combination therapy for non-small cell lung cancer patients.

Updated results from an interim analysis of the Phases 2b and 3 sections of the GALAXY trial highlight promising results in terms of the efficacy and safety of Synta Pharmaceuticals' new Hsp90 inhibitor ganetespib.

The drug, which is designed as a second-line treatment for advanced non-small cell lung cancer, was found to maintain high levels of tolerability among patients when combined with docetaxel.

The trials also revealed improved overall survivability rates among patients with adenocarcinoma receiving both docetaxel and ganetespib, compared to those receiving the former treatment alone.

The GALAXY trial is based on a two-stage design whereby a randomized, open-label 240 patient trial identifies patients to be advanced into the third round of testing.

Principal investigator Dr Ramalingam explained: "The preliminary results from GALAXY indicate that the addition of ganetespib to docetaxel is well tolerated and may improve outcomes in patients compared to docetaxel alone

"This includes promising improvements in survival seen across the broad adenocarcinoma population as well as in key predefined patient populations."

He added that a well-tolerated combination that extends survival races will lead to a "much-awaited" improvement in current standards of care for non-small cell lung cancer.