Genzyme Cancer Treatment Doubles Remission Rate

Cambridge, MA-based Genzyme (NASDAQ:[[ticker:GENZ]]) reported data today  from its late-stage clinical trial that compared its drug clofarabine (Clolar) in combination with chemotherpy with chemotherapy and placebo. The firm said that patients in clofarabine-chemotherapy treatment combo arm of the study did not live longer than those in the chemotherapy and placebo arm, but the clofarabine group did show an overall remission rate of 47 percent. Genzyme plans to continue development of clofarabine for adult myeloid leukemia. “Of importance, the Clolar combination doubled the overall remission rate to 47 percent,” said Hagop Kantarjian of MD Anderson Cancer Center, in a statement. The clofarabine-chemotherapy combo treatment was initially developed by Stefan Faderl and others at MD Anderson, according to Genzyme.

Author: Ryan McBride

Ryan is an award-winning business journalist who contributes to our life sciences and technology coverage. He was previously a staff writer for Mass High Tech, a Boston business and technology newspaper, where he and his colleagues won a national business journalism award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers in 2008. In recent years, he has made regular TV appearances on New England Cable News. Prior to MHT, Ryan covered the life sciences, technology, and energy sectors for Providence Business News. He graduated with honors from the University of Rhode Island in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in communications. When he’s not chasing down news, Ryan enjoys mountain biking and skiing in his home state of Vermont.