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Syndax says mid-stage trial of lung disease treatment fails main goal, ends development

By Thomson Reuters Oct 12, 2026 | 3:43 PM

Oct 12 (Reuters) – Syndax Pharmaceuticals said on Monday it will stop developing a treatment for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung-scarring disease, ​after a mid-stage trial failed to ‌meet its main goal.

Shares of the cancer therapy maker fell about 17% in extended trading.

• The company said the result does not affect ongoing studies of axatilimab in ‌chronic ​graft-versus-host disease, a serious complication ⁠that can occur after ⁠bone marrow transplants. The drug is already approved in the US for that condition.

• Syndax said the mid-stage study failed to meet its ​main goal of reducing the annual rate of lung function decline compared with placebo.

• The ⁠company said it will not ⁠pursue further development of the treatment ​in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

• According to Syndax, the treatment ​was well tolerated and showed a safety ‌profile comparable to placebo, with no new safety concerns identified.

• The company said there were no treatment-related deaths in either study arm and few ⁠patients stopped treatment because of side effects.

• The 26-week study enrolled patients across 62 sites in 14 countries.

• ⁠The treatment, ‌sold as Niktimvo, is approved in ⁠the United States for chronic graft-versus-host ​disease ‌after failure of at least two ​prior treatments.

• ⁠Syndax and partner Incyte continue to study the treatment in newly diagnosed chronic graft-versus-host disease, with additional trial results expected later this year and in early 2028.

(Reporting by Sahil Pandey in Bengaluru; Editing by ​Perla Velasco)