Abbott Laboratories presented Atrasentan, shelved under the name Xinlay, as a treatment for men with an advanced stage of prostate cancer that spreads to the bone. The FDA's Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee, however, voted unanimously against its recommendation.
Abbott says it will continue to study Xinlay's use in patients with a less developed form of prostate cancer. It is slated to finish the study in 2006.
According to the company, the drug works by hindering a protein believed to play a role in cancer cell growth.
FDA staff documents released earlier in the week note weaknesses in the company's studies for the drug and argue it has not effectively shown the drug contributes to the slowing of cancer progression.
