AMGEN STOPS CANCER TRIALS.Byline: Ben Sullivan Daily News Staff Writer Biotechnology drug maker Amgen Inc. said Friday it stopped all testing of an experimental cancer drug after some patients developed an adverse reaction to the treatment. The drug, megakaryocyte megakaryocyte /mega·karyo·cyte/ (-sit?) the giant cell of bone marrow containing a greatly lobulated nucleus, from which mature blood platelets originate.megakaryocyt´ic meg·a·kar·y·o·cyte n. growth development factor or MGDF MGDF Megakaryocyte Growth and Development Factor , was being tested in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. A few of the patients developed antibodies that attacked healthy cells in their bodies during treatment. Amgen last month stopped testing of the same drug in healthy subjects. That test was designed to see if MGDF could be used to increase platelet counts Platelet Count Definition A platelet count is a diagnostic test that determines the number of platelets in the patient's blood. Platelets, which are also called thrombocytes, are small disk-shaped blood cells produced in the bone marrow and involved in in blood donors. ``We're obviously disappointed, but the reality is that not every potential product succeeds,'' said Amgen spokesman David Kaye David V. Hope (born 14 October 1964), known professionaly as David Kaye, is a Canadian actor who is better known and revered for his work as a voice actor. Career , who would not disclose how much Amgen spent developing the drug. Analysts had expected MGDF to generate annual sales of about $200 million. Amgen shares rose $1.50 Friday to close at $72.50. |
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