Today Incyte Corporation (INCY) announced that it will discontinue a Phase 3 trial in patients with pancreatic cancer due to insufficient efficacy. This early look occurred when the company performed an interim analysis and concluded that Jakafi did not show substantial efficacy to warrant continuation of the trial. This setback caused the stock to drop by more than 9% today, and leave many investors disappointed with the data.
The failing of the pancreatic cancer solid tumor trial, wasn't the only trial where Jakafi failed to improve patient outcome. Another phase 2 solid tumor trial that dealt with colon cancer was stopped early when an interim look concluded that Jakafi didn't statistically improve clinical outcome in this patient population.
While the trial results are disappointing in nature, the company expects to have some of the trial data presented at an upcoming medical conference. In addition, Incyte is only stopping trial where it uses Jakafi in solid tumors. Other trials in hematological malignancies — blood cancer — are still in an ongoing clinical trial process. Jakafi has shown positive clinical efficacy in a few types of blood cancer.
Jakafi is approved by the FDA for use in patients with polycythemia Vera — rare bone marrow disorder — and myelofibrosis — a blood cancer.
This failure in solid tumor will not harm the company in the long run. Jakafi produced net product revenue of $601 million in 2015. This was a growth of 68% year over year, which means that as long as Jakafi continues to deliver in the blood cancer space the company is in good shape.