AstraZeneca Pulls Plug On MCL-1 Cancer Drug Trial

AstraZeneca Plc AZN has paused an active Phase 1 trial of AZD5991, a direct inhibitor of MCL-1, citing a potential safety issue.
Two years ago, the FDA hit Amgen Inc AMGN with a clinical hold on its MCL-1 inhibitor AMG 397 following signs of cardiac toxicity.
AstraZeneca's AZD5991 belongs to the same class therapy.
The trial suspension, noted on ClinicalTrials.gov, came on October 19: "The study has been put on hold to allow further evaluation of safety-related information," the update said.
AstraZeneca planned to recruit 144 patients for the study, slated to complete in March 2023.
The trial was assessing AZD5991, either alone or combined with AbbVie Inc ABBV / Roche Holding AG's RHHBY Venetoclax in relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
The drug works by targeting apoptosis, the process of programmed cell death, specifically in blood cancer.
Price Action: AZN shares are up 0.71% at $60.6 during the market session on the last check Wednesday.