Faslodex demonstrates superiority to Arimidex in Phase III study

AstraZeneca has announced positive results from the Phase III FALCON trial comparing Faslodex (fulvestrant) to Arimidex (anastrozole) for the treatment of locally-advanced or metastatic breast cancer, in post-menopausal women who have not had prior hormonal treatment for hormone-receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer.

Faslodex demonstrated superiority compared with Arimidex in the study, and met its primary endpoint of extended progression-free survival. The trial showed an adverse event profile generally consistent with current knowledge of the safety profile of the medicines.

Commenting on the results, Sean Bohen, Executive Vice President, Global Medicines Development and Chief Medical Officer at AstraZeneca, said: “The FALCON results bring us closer to offering more and earlier treatment options to postmenopausal women with HR+ locally-advanced or metastatic breast cancer; the potential to delay disease progression is important for these patients as there is currently no cure. Faslodex has over 10 years of clinical evidence and we are committed to exploring its potential along with the rest of our outstanding oncology portfolio.”

A full evaluation of the data is ongoing and the results are expected to be presented at a medical meeting in 2016.

Aromatase inhibitors (such as Arimidex) are the current standard of care in first-line treatment for postmenopausal women with advanced HR+ breast cancer1.

Faslodex 500mg is approved for the treatment of postmenopausal women with oestrogen-receptor (ER)-positive locally-advanced or metastatic breast cancer whose cancer has progressed following anti-oestrogen therapy. Most recently, on 2 March 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration approved Faslodex 500mg, in combination with palbociclib, for the treatment of women with hormone-receptor-positive, human-epidermal-growth-factor-receptor 2-negative (HER2-) advanced or metastatic breast cancer (MBC), whose cancer has progressed after endocrine therapy.