Vectibix misses SCCHN endpoint

Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) said first-line Vectibix panitumumab plus standard platinum-based chemotherapy missed the primary endpoint of significantly improving overall survival vs. chemotherapy alone in the Phase III SPECTRUM trial to treat refractory and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) (11.1 vs. 9 months). On secondary endpoints, Vectibix plus chemotherapy improved progression-free survival (5.8 vs. 4.6 months) and overall response rate (36% vs. 25%) vs. chemotherapy alone, but Amgen said the endpoints were not tested for statistical significance. The open-label, international trial enrolled 658 patients. ...