Bayer HealthCare reports positive regorafenib trial data

Bayer HealthCare has published positive new clinical trial data supporting the efficacy of its new drug regorafenib for the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST).

Results from the phase III Grid trial showed that Bayer's treatment was able to significantly improve progression-free survival rates among patients with metastatic or unresectable GIST who have been unable to benefit from prior therapy.

It was able to meet its primary efficacy endpoint in the study while also demonstrating safety and tolerability performance in line with expectations.

Data from this study will be used to support regulatory applications for regorafenib in this specification, while the drug is also in development as a metastatic colorectal cancer therapy.

Dr Kemal Malik, head of global development and Bayer HealthCare executive committee member, said: "These findings may represent important progress in this difficult-to-treat disease with high unmet patient need."

Last week, the company also published clinical data from a new phase III study of Xarelto, showing its efficacy among pulmonary embolism patients.