Eli Lilly Suspends Phase III Trial of Tasisulam for Melanoma

Eli Lilly & Co. announced Dec. 13, 2010, the immediate suspension of their phase III trial of tasisulam for unresectable or metastatic melanoma.

The company said in a statement that its action was taken in consultation with an independent data monitoring committee that recommended a "full clinical hold" because of safety concerns. The statement did not specify the nature of those safety concerns.

Lilly is testing tasisulam in other cancers, including soft tissue sarcoma; breast, ovarian, and renal cancers; non-small cell lung cancer; and acute leukemia. The company is continuing those trials without modification because the dosing of tasisulam is different.