Pharmaprojects R&D Pipeline News Feed
Bayer discontinues late-stage candidates after Major R&D streamline
26 Jun 2007
Bayer has ceased development of 20 products during a major streamlining of its R&D pipeline, including its antiangiogenic oral VEGF KDR receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor PTK/ZK (vatalanib).
Vatalanib was under co-development by Novartis and Schering AG, prior to Bayer's acquisition of Schering to form Bayer Schering Pharma. Schering had suggested blockbuster potential for vatalanib; however, Phase III results in colorectal cancer patients demonstrated only non-significant improvements when compared with FOLFOX chemotherapy.
Amongst other compounds terminated, was asoprisnil which was in development for uterine fibroids (halted at Phase III due to adverse events). Development of the marketed drug Leukine (sargramostim) for the additional indication of Crohn's disease was also halted. Bayer will now focus primarily on oncology, cardiology, women's health and diagnostic imaging, although it said it would continue clinical programmes in other areas.
