More new treatment
A remarkable new drug hailed as a “landmark moment” in the treatment of advanced breast cancer was discovered jointly by Cambridge-base Astex Pharmaceuticals in collaboration with the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), then licensed to AstraZeneca.
The new targeted drug, capivasertib, blocks activity of the cancer-driving protein molecule AKT and has shown “fantastic” results, shrinking tumours and doubling the amount of time people have before their disease progresses.
A phase III clinical trial of capivasertib alongside hormone therapy suggests the combination could become the new treatment for patients with advanced forms of the most common type of breast cancer.
The findings, presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium on Thursday last week, relate to oestrogen receptor (ER) positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) negative breast cancer, which accounts for around 70 per cent of all new breast cancer cases.
Capivasertib is a first-in-class inhibitor targeting AKT – important in a pathway that mediates cell division, apoptosis, and glucose and fatty acid metabolism. The new drug is being manufactured by pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca following a programme of drug discovery research at the Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London.
