On May 11, 2017 Astellas Pharma Inc. (TSE: 4503, President and CEO: Yoshihiko Hatanaka, "Astellas") reported the discontinuation of ASP8273 treatment arm in the the late-stage SOLAR trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of ASP8273 versus erlotinib/gefitinib for the 1st line treatment metastatic or advanced unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring sensitizing epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation (Press release, Astellas, MAY 11, 2017, View Source [SID1234519003]).

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Following a recommendation by the trial’s Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC), Astellas is voluntarily closing study randomization and is informing investigators that ASP8273 treatment must be discontinued. Astellas is also planning to terminate future development programs for ASP8273 in NSCLC following its governance process.

"We are disappointed to be discontinuing the ASP8273 program and want to thank the patients and physicians involved in the program for their commitment to seeking new treatments for patients with non-small cell lung cancer," said Steven Benner, M.D., senior vice president and global therapeutic area head, oncology development, Astellas.

No new patients are being enrolled in ASP8273 trials and all patients currently receiving ASP8273 are encouraged to speak with their physician about their treatment.