PARIS (Reuters) - Private French drugmaker Ipsen said on Tuesday it would participate with U.S drugmaker Pfizer Inc in three advanced clinical trials to treat early stage breast cancer, using one of Ipsen’s cancer drugs.
Ipsen said the phase III trials would look into the extended use of its Decapetyl drug, which accounted for a quarter of Ipsen’s 2002 drug sales, combined with Pfizer’s breast cancer treatment exemestane.
Clinical trials showed that Pfizer’s breast-cancer drug was more effective than standard therapy tamoxifen, researchers said last week, strengthening the case to administer exemestane as a first option.
The studies would involve about 7,000 patients in 37 countries and would last for five years, Ipsen said in a statement, adding the trials commenced in August last year.
Ipsen has confirmed it is considering an initial public offering as the market for new issues in the European health care sector is starting to open up. But it has declined to give details.
MeSH Headings:Clinical Trials: Environment and Public Health: Epidemiologic Methods: Evaluation Studies: Health: Health Occupations: Health Services Administration: Medicine: Investigative Techniques: Population Characteristics: Preventive Medicine: Public Health: Quality of Health Care: Specialties, Medical: Epidemiologic Study Characteristics: Health Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation: Health Care Evaluation Mechanisms: Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment: Biological Sciences: Health CareCopyright © 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
