First-line masitinib plus gemcitabine for locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer with associated pain

Masitinib is a small molecule drug targeting mast cell and macrophage activity in the tumor microenvironment. The French phase 3 study AB12005 compared first-line masitinib plus gemcitabine versus placebo plus gemcitabine for unresectable locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer with associated pain. Median overall survival was significantly better with MAS-GEM compared with PBO-GEM (HR 0.46; p=0.007). After 18 months 40% of patients in the MAS-GEM group were alive versus 10% of patients in the PBO-GEM group. MAS-GEM was well tolerated with no sign of add-on toxicity.