Millennium Halts Trial of Velcade for Treating Advanced Colorectal Cancer

Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. confirmed published reports that it has stopped enrolling patients in a phase II trial of its drug Velcade after concluding that it was not meetings its hopes for treating patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

The trial was examining the use of Velcade -- currently used to treat multiple myeloma -- either alone or in combination with the chemotherapy drug Camptosar in advanced colorectal cancer patients who were no longer responding to Camptosar.

Additional trials examining the use of Velcade in combination with other drugs for the treatment of patients with nonrefractory colorectal cancer are ongoing or planned, a spokesperson for Millennium Pharmaceuticals added.

The company said that while it was no longer accepting patients for the trial, patients currently in the study who are experiencing clinical benefit from Velcade may continue to receive treatment.

It said a report on the complete findings of the phase II trial wouldl be provided at a medical meeting later in the year.

Other Sources: Millennium Pharmaceuticals