AEterna Zentaris to Discontinue Phase 3 Trial in Multiple Myeloma With Perifosine
QUEBEC CITY, March 11, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Aeterna Zentaris Inc. (NASDAQ: AEZS) (TSX: AEZ) (the "Company") today announced that an independent Data Safety Monitoring Board ("DSMB") has recommended discontinuing the ongoing Phase 3 study comparing the efficacy and safety of perifosine to placebo when combined with bortezomib (Velcade®) and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Based on the outcome of its pre-planned interim analysis of efficacy and safety, the DSMB recommended that patient enrollment be stopped and the study discontinued. The DSMB reported that it was highly unlikely the study would achieve a significant difference in its primary endpoint, progression free survival; no safety concerns were raised.
Juergen Engel, PhD, Aeterna Zentaris President and CEO stated, "We are obviously disappointed with the outcome of the interim analysis as reported to us by the DSMB, both from a patient and Company perspective. However, we remain focused on other significant opportunities such as our Phase 3 trial in endometrial cancer and Phase 2 trials in breast, prostate and bladder cancer with AEZS-108, our NDA filing for AEZS-130 as an oral diagnostic test for growth hormone deficiency in adults, as well as our earlier-stage oncology compound, AEZS-120."
About Aeterna Zentaris
Aeterna Zentaris is an oncology and endocrinology drug development company currently investigating treatments for various unmet medical needs. The Company's pipeline encompasses compounds at all stages of development, from drug discovery through to marketed products. For more information please visit www.aezsinc.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to
the safe harbour provisions of the U.S. Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks
and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual results to
differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such
risks and uncertainties include, among others, the availability of
funds and resources to pursue R&D projects, the successful and timely
completion of clinical studies, the risk that safety and efficacy data
from any of our Phase 3 trials may not coincide with the data analyses
from previously reported Phase 1 and/or Phase 2 clinical trials, the
ability of the Company to take advantage of business opportunities in
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SOURCE AETERNA ZENTARIS INC.