• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Drug Delivery Business

  • Clinical Trials
  • Research & Development
  • Drug-Device Combinations
  • FDA
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Policy

Study: Sirtex’s microspheres improve quality of life, but don’t extend survival

April 24, 2017 By Sarah Faulkner

Sirtex MedicalSirtex Medical (ASX:SRX) said today that it’s yttrium-90 resin microspheres did not extend survival significantly compared to Bayer’s sorafenib in a study of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Although the 459-patient trial did not meet its primary endpoint, the company reported that patients treated with its microspheres experienced less than half the number of severe, treatment-related adverse effects than those who received the standard, twice-daily systemic treatment with sorafenib.

“Neither sorafenib nor SIR-Spheres Y-90 resin microspheres produced a statistically significant difference in overall survival of the patients we studied,” Dr. Valerie Vilgrain said in prepared remarks. Patients in both arms had a median survival length of 9.9 months following treatment.

“In terms of what matters for patients, the findings from this first large head-to-head comparison of liver-directed Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) and systemic chemotherapy with sorafenib also show clearly that liver-directed procedures with SIR-Spheres result in a significantly better tolerance of treatment and quality of life,” Vilgrain added.  “I believe this consideration should be a critical factor in selecting first-line treatment for this patient population in the future.”

The company’s Y-90 resin microspheres are approved in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Switzerland, Turkey and the EU for the treatment of inoperable liver tumors. The minimally-invasive therapy delivers high-energy beta radiation directly to tumors, according to Sirtex. Interventional radiologists infuse millions of resin microspheres using a catheter into liver arteries that supply blood to cancerous tumors.

Sirtex argued that because its technology uses the tumors’ blood supply, the micropsheres can selectively target tumors and leave healthy tissue alone.

In its most recent study, patients treated with SIR-Spheres experienced a median of 5 treatment-related adverse events compared to a median of 10 events for patients who received sorafenib. The company also said that side effects such as fatigue and abdominal pain were less frequent and less severe for patients receiving SIR-Spheres compared to their counterparts.

Study participants also filled out quality of life surveys at 3 month intervals after their initial treatment and Sirtex reported that patients treated with SIR-Spheres maintained their health status throughout the study, while patients treated with sorafenib had a significant decline in quality of life.

Although the company’s microspheres missed the study’s primary endpoint, management seemed optimistic in a call with analysts.

“We are truly excited by this opportunity to go out and market SIR-Spheres with this new data in this important indication,” interim chief executive Nigel Lange said, according to the Financial Review.

SRX shares were trading at $14.80 apiece following news of the trial, down nearly -13%.

Filed Under: Clinical Trials, Featured, Oncology, Wall Street Beat Tagged With: Sirtex Medical

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

  • FDA approves first targeted infusion therapy for HER2-low breast cancer
  • Abbott, WeightWatchers partner on diabetes care
  • Insulet up on Q2 sales beat, raised full-year guidance
  • Aptar acquires Orbital dry powder inhaler license
  • Tandem sinks on Q2 misses, slashed sales guidance

Primary Sidebar

MEDTECH 100 INDEX

Medtech 100 logo
Market Summary > Current Price
The MedTech 100 is a financial index calculated using the BIG100 companies covered in Medical Design and Outsourcing.
Need Drug Delivery Business News in a minute? We Deliver!
Drug Delivery Enewsletters get you caught up on all the mission critical news you need in med tech. Sign up today.

Signup for the newsletter

Footer

Drug Delivery Business News Logo

MassDevice Medical NETWORK

MassDevice
DeviceTalks
Medical Tubing & Extrusion
Medical Design & Outsourcing
MedTech100 Index
Drug Discovery & Development
Pharmaceutical Processing World
Medical Design Sourcing
R&D World

DRUG DELIVERY BUSINESS NEWS

Subscribe to Drug Delivery’s E-Newsletter
Advertise with us
About
Contact us
Privacy
Listen to our Weekly Podcasts
Add us on FacebookFollow us on TwitterConnect with us on LinkedIn

Copyright © 2022 · WTWH Media LLC and its licensors. All rights reserved.
The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media.

Advertise | Privacy Policy | RSS