Bayer HealthCare and Onyx Pharmaceuticals Inc., an Amgen subsidiary, today announced that an investigational Phase 3 trial of NEXAVAR (sorafenib) tablets in patients with advanced breast cancer did not meet its primary endpoint of improving progression-free survival (PFS).

The study, called RESILIENCE, evaluated the efficacy and safety of  sorafenib in combination with capecitabine, an oral chemotherapeutic  agent, compared to placebo plus capecitabine, in patients with  HER2-negative breast cancer who are resistant to or have failed prior  taxane therapy, and resistant to or failed anthracycline or for whom  further anthracycline therapy is not indicated. Based on initial review of the data, the types of adverse events observed were generally comparable with those known for either sorafenib or capecitabine. Data from this study are expected to be presented at an upcoming scientific congress.

“We are disappointed that the trial did not show an improvement in progression-free survival in patients with advanced breast cancer,” said Dr. Joerg Moeller, Member of the Bayer HealthCare Executive Committee and Head of Global Development.  “While the primary endpoint of this trial was not met, the trial results do not affect the currently approved indications for NEXAVAR. We would like to thank the patients and the study investigators for their contributions and participation in this study.”