Ten years ago, a small Norwegian biotech by the name of Algeta showed up at ESMO — then the European Multidisciplinary Cancer Conference 2011 — and declared that its Bayer-partnered targeted radionuclide therapy, radium-223 chloride, boosted the overall survival of castration-resistant prostate cancer patients with symptomatic bone metastases.
Bayer AG's Xofigo (radium Ra223 dichloride) Receives Approval in Europe
Medicine to be used only after two previous treatments or when other treatments cannot be taken
While support from drug companies can be helpful for patients, sometimes support from others struggling with a disease can be even more helpful. So Bayer is offering both.
Bayer blamed a strong euro for some obvious weak spots in its first-quarter numbers, but that explanation just doesn't fly for its consumer health stall—or for the low turnout from cancer meds Xofigo and Stivarga.
Back in the spring of 2016, researchers reported that a combination of Bayer’s Xofigo (radium-223) with Zytiga (abiraterone) came through with evidence of significantly reduced bone pain for men suffering from prostate cancer. But scientists were forced to unblind the Phase III pivotal trial prematurely after an independent monitoring group spotted a higher rate of deaths in the treatment arm.
Group sales increase by 1.5 percent (Fx & portfolio adj. 3.5 percent) to EUR 46,769 million / Substantial sales and earnings increases at Pharmaceuticals / Consumer Health grows with competition / Crop Science successful in a difficult market environment / EBITDA before special items improves by 10.2 percent to EUR 11,302 million / Net income raised by 10.2 percent to EUR 4,531 million / Core earnings per share increase by 7.3 percent to EUR 7.32 / Operating cash flow climbs by 20.8 percent to EUR 8,259 million / Forecast for 2017: further growth in sales and earnings
Bayer has pegged cancer drug Stivarga as one of 5 that’ll drive its future growth. And now, it has some new data in hand that could help it do just that.
The approval of AstraZeneca's ($AZN) Tagrisso (osimertinib) first-in-class drug used to treat for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of several oncology therapies that will change treatment options in the country and Asia.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has issued final recommendations endorsing National Health Service use of new therapies for ovarian cancer, multiple myeloma and prostate cancer, but rejecting one for gastric cancer.