Syndax says mid — stage trial of lung disease treatment fails main goal, ends development

Oct 12 (Reuters) — Syndax Pharmaceuticals said on Monday it will stop developing a treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung-scarring disease, after a mid-stage trial failed to meet its main goal. Shares of the cancer therapy maker fell about 17% in extended trading. The company said the result does not affect ongoing studies of axatilimab in chronic graft-versus-host disease, a serious complication that can occur after bone marrow transplants. The drug is already approved in the US for that condition. Syndax said the mid-stage study failed to meet its main goal of reducing the annual rate of lung function decline compared with placebo. The company said it will not pursue further development of the treatment in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. According to Syndax, the treatment was well tolerated and showed a safety profile comparable to placebo, with no new safety concerns identified. The company said there were no treatment-related deaths in either study arm and few patients stopped treatment because of side effects. The 26-week study enrolled patients across 62 sites in 14 countries. The treatment, sold as Niktimvo, is approved in the United States for chronic gr