ILEX(tm) Oncology Inc. announced that the investigational agent eflornithine (DFMO), which was being studied by ILEX in collaboration with the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in a Phase III placebo-controlled trial of patients with superficial bladder cancer, did not prevent the recurrence of cancer more so than placebo and that the trial has been discontinued. The findings of an independent data monitoring board determined that no statistical significance among the treatment arms was observed.

The NCI is continuing to study the agent in a number of clinical settings.

Founded in 1994 as an oncology drug development company, ILEX is product-driven biopharmaceutical company, focused primarily in oncology.