Pfizer's follow-up analysis of its lung cancer drug shows survival extended by more than two months compared to chemotherapy.

Despite a key clinical trial failing, Pfizer (PFE.US) still believes that its lung cancer drug under development may show progress when used in combination with other medications. On Sunday, Pfizer stated that in a group of patients who had received less prior treatment before using the drug, those treated with the experimental drug sigvotatug vedotin lived more than two months longer than patients in the control group who received chemotherapy. Pfizer acquired this drug through its $43 billion purchase of Seagen and had hoped it would become the first product in a new class of anti-cancer medicines. These drugs are designed to deliver potent anti-cancer compounds directly to tumors. However, the drug subsequently faced setbacks: in a clinical trial targeting advanced lung cancer patients who could not undergo surgery, it failed to improve overall survival. The newly released data on Sunday was presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology meeting and comes from a follow-up analysis of the trial that did not meet its primary endpoint.