Biotech, clinical trials, cancer

Oncothyreon Drug Enters Pivotal Trial

Luke Timmerman 6/22/09

Oncothyreon, the Seattle-based developer of cancer drugs, said today that its partner, Germany-based Merck KGaA, has started a pivotal clinical trial of the Stimuvax immunotherapy for breast cancer. The study will seek to enroll 900 patients in 30 countries, who are randomly assigned to get Stimuvax or a placebo. Oncothyreon (NASDAQ: ONTY) has shifted most of the responsibility for Stimuvax to Merck KGaA, although it still stands to receive a “double digit” percentage royalty on future sales if this ever becomes a marketed product. Stimuvax is also being tested in a pivotal trial for lung cancer.

Luke Timmerman is the National Biotechnology Editor for Xconomy. You can e-mail him at ltimmerman@xconomy.com, call 206-624-2374, or follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ldtimmerman.