Pharmaceutical companies face clinical trial setbacks

Major pharmaceutical companies are facing setbacks in clinical trials. Hangzhou-based Betta Pharma saw its shares drop by 20% to approximately 55.72 yuan after its American partner reported disappointing Phase III trial results for a medication targeting wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The trial for the drug, previously known as EYP-1901, failed to demonstrate efficacy comparable to aflibercept, a treatment developed by Bayer and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals. Despite the setback, the company noted the drug reduced the need for additional treatments by 42% and is proceeding with a second parallel Phase III trial.

Separately, AstraZeneca has halted a Phase III trial for its drug Volrustomig. The company determined that combining the drug with chemotherapy was unlikely to improve survival rates for lung cancer patients compared to existing treatments. This follows a previous decision in July to stop a trial for a heart disease drug. While the lung cancer trial was discontinued, AstraZeneca reported positive results for its Enhertu treatment, which showed significant improvement in progression-free survival for non-small cell lung cancer patients and will proceed to Phase III testing.