Astra-Zeneca says Zactima shrinks tumors for patients with rare thyroid cancer

New York, Nov. 16 - Astra-Zeneca plc reported preliminary results from a phase 2 study of its Zactima (ZD6474) drug showed benefits for patients with a rare form of thyroid cancer, hereditary medullary thyroid cancer.

Of the first 11 patients in the study, initial results show two experienced a partial response, where their measurable tumor shrank by 30% or more, and nine patients experienced stable disease.

Side effects included rash, nausea, diarrhea, hypertension and asymptomatic QT prolongation.

The patients received once daily treatment with Zactima 300mg for at least three months.

"These preliminary data with Zactima are encouraging for patients with hereditary medullary thyroid cancer," lead trial investigator Professor Samuel Wells, of Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C., said in a news release.

Zactima was recently given orphan drug designation by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of patients with follicular, medullary, anaplastic, and locally advanced and metastatic papillary thyroid cancer.

It is estimated that 2% to 3% of the estimated 25,000 new cases of thyroid cancer diagnosed in the United States in 2005 are medullary thyroid cancer. Of these, around a quarter are hereditary.

Astra-Zeneca is a London-based pharmaceutical company.

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