Pfizer says drug shows promise vs pancretic cancer

NEW YORK, June 4 (Reuters) Pfizer Inc today said its experimental drug axitinib showed promise in a mid-stage trial as a treatment for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.

The company said the oral drug, when combined with the standard treatment Gemzar, ''showed a trend towards prolonged overall survival,'' compared with treatment with Gemzar alone.

A trend towards prolonged survival typically means activity was seen with the drug, but results were not statistically significant.

A Pfizer statement describing the Phase II trial results did not specify whether the results were statistically significant.

''These findings suggest that axitinib has anti-tumor activity in advanced pancreatic cancer and provide the basis for a Phase III program to further evaluate the potential benefits'' of the medicine, said Jean-Philippe Spano, the study's lead investigator, of Hospital La Piti-Salpetriere.

The results were presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago.

REUTERS AE ND1955