Yet another cautionary medical tale.
At the beginning of 2014 they said that "several new drugs have recently shown promise for the treatment of gastric cancer, including rilotumumab, ramucirumab, and anti-HER2 agents." And that they hoped "with these new treatments, we will move the needle forward on survival."
Phase 2 trial indeed showed that rilotumumab increased survival rates. So they went on with Phase 3. With the larger trial it didn't take too long (fortunately) for rilotumumab to show its true colors. The number of deaths in the experimental arm actually went up versus the control. And so the trial was promptly discontinued.
Never count your chickens until they've run the gauntlet and passed phase 3 testing.
Wonder what lies ahead for that vaunted new antibiotic Teixobactin.
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