Celgene drug trial suspended to alter protocol

(Updates with details)

BOSTON, April 11 (Reuters) - A trial of Celgene Inc.'s (CELG.O) cancer drug Revlimid was halted to amend the protocol so that patients can be switched to a regimen that has recently been shown to improve survival, according to a Lazard Capital Markets analyst.

The late-stage trial, which was testing Revlimid plus a standard dose of the steroid dexamethasone versus dexamethasone alone in front-line multiple myeloma, was temporarily suspended, probably for ethical reasons, according to the analyst, Matthew Osborne.

Officials at Celgene were not immediately available for comment.

The trial, S0232, which was being run by the Southwest Oncology Group was suspended following the recent early halting of a trial run by the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group that tested Revlimid plus low-dose dexamethasone versus Revlimid plus high-dose dexamethasone.

It was shown that there was a survival advantage for patients taking Revlimid plus the low-dose dexamethasone. For that reason, it is likely patients in the Southwest trial will be switched to be able to take low-dose dexamethasone rather than the standard dose, the Lazard analyst said.

((Reporting by Toni Clarke, editing by Gerald E. McCormick; Reuters Messaging, toni.clarke.reuters.com@reuters.net, 617-367-4165)) Keywords: CELGENE/

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