ZymoGenetics, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZGEN) today announced positive survival data from a Phase 2a clinical trial in metastatic melanoma with recombinant Interleukin 21 (IL-21) as a single agent. Median overall survival was 12.4 months, and the percentage of patients surviving at 12 months was 53%.
“The median overall survival of 12.4 months in the Phase 2 study with IL-21 in advanced melanoma patients is very encouraging”
"The median overall survival of 12.4 months in the Phase 2 study with IL-21 in advanced melanoma patients is very encouraging," said Eleanor L. Ramos, M.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of ZymoGenetics. "We look forward to further results from an ongoing IL-21 Phase 2b randomized clinical trial in melanoma."
The open-label, single-arm, multi-center Phase 2 study was conducted by the NCIC Clinical Trials Group in Canada. A total of 40 patients with Stage 4 melanoma were enrolled and treated with IL-21 using 3 dosing regimens. Previous results for the clinical trial were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2010 meeting. Overall response rate was 23% in 39 evaluable patients, and median progression-free survival was 4.3 months. Common adverse events were fatigue, rash, fever, myalgia, anorexia, chills and nausea. Responses were not dependent on B-Raf status.
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