DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
Amgen Inc. (AMGN) said its denosumab delayed skeletal
deterioration in people with advanced breast cancer showed better
effectiveness in a late-stage trial compared to Novartis AG's (NVS)
Zometa in the latest positive test results for the treatment.
The pharmaceutical company Monday said denosumab delayed
skeletal-related events such as fractures, radiation to bone,
surgery to bone, or spiral-cord compression longer than Zometa in
advanced cancer patients. The 1,776 patients in that study suffered
from solid tumors, but the study didn't including those with breast
cancer and prostate cancer, or from multiple myeloma.
Results of the 34-month study of 2,046 with advanced breast
cancer released Tuesday also showed denosumab delayed the worsening
of bone pain. Both sets of data were released at conference in
Germany.
The company has been building up a primary care sales force in
anticipation of expected Food and Drug Administration approval of
denosumab to treat osteoporosis in mid-October. The launch is
likely to be the most important yet for the biotechnology company
as the drug focuses on primary care physicians in the U.S., a much
wider target than its traditional specialty focuses of anemia and
arthritis.
After getting a positive recommendation from an FDA panel in
August, Amgen is widely expected to get marketing approval for
denosumab. The company has proposed the brand name Prolia for the
drug.
Shares closed at $62.31 on Monday and didn't trade
premarket.
-By Tess Stynes, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2481;
tess.stynes@dowjones.com