Aeterna Zentaris to stop late-stage cancer drug trial, shares fall

(Reuters) – Canadian drugmaker Aeterna Zentaris Inc said it would discontinue a late-stage trial of a cancer drug after an independent data safety monitoring committee said the drug was unlikely to help increase patient survival. Shares of the company fell as much as 29 percent to C$1.89 on Monday on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The committee recommended that patient enrollment be stopped and the study discontinued for perifosine, the company said in a statement. …