Amgen Terminates Gastric Cancer Treatment Studies

Amgen has discontinued its studies on rilotumumab in advanced gastric cancer after an increased number of deaths were reported among patients receiving rilotumumab and chemotherapy, compared with those only undergoing chemotherapy.

The manufacturer is working with investigators to terminate the study and provide guidance for participant follow-up, Amgen stated in a press release.

“While we are disappointed with these results, we will work with lead investigators to further analyze the data in order to help inform future research and therapies in this area," said Sean E. Harper, MD, executive vice president of research and development at Amgen, in a press release. "There is a high unmet need for new treatments to address advanced gastric cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide."

Amgen stopped the clinical studies, including phase 3 RILOMET-1 and RILOMET-2, after hearing from an independent data monitoring committee.