Novartis Phase III trial examining EPO906 (patupilone) for patients with advanced ovarian cancer failed to meet primary endpoint.

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Novartis International AG / Novartis Phase III trial examining EPO906 (patupilone) for patients with advanced ovarian cancer failed to meet primary endpoint processed and transmitted by Hugin AS. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Basel, May 27, 2010 - Novartis announced today that patupilone (EPO906) did not show a significant overall survival advantage in a phase III trial of patients with advanced ovarian cancer, refractory or resistant to platinum-based therapy The comparator arm in the trial was Doxil/Caelyx (pegylated liposomal doxorubicin).

Investigators involved in the study and regulatory agencies have been notified of the trial outcome. No new or unexpected serious adverse events in the patupilone arm were identified in the trial. Novartis does not plan to proceed with regulatory filings based on these data.

Study details The Phase III study, conducted in approximately 168 sites in 22 …