** Shares of California-based drug developer Ideaya Biosciences IDYA.O rise 7.3% to $31.40 premarket
** Co says patients treated with combo of darovasertib and Pfizer's Xalkori showed median overall survival of 21.1 months in rare eye cancer in a mid-stage study
** Metastatic uveal melanoma, a rare eye cancer, typically has survival of ~12 months, per published data - IDYA
** Median survival is the length of time after which 50% of patients with a specific disease are still alive and 50% have died
** IDYA says the trial showed 34% response rate and 90% disease control in 44 patients; median response lasted 9 months
** No severe side effects seen in >5% patients; most common were nausea, fatigue, skin rash – IDYA
** Brokerage Leerink Partners say OS data at high end of prior guidance, boosting confidence in late-stage trial success
** Up to last close, stock up ~14% YTD
(Reporting by Sahil Pandey in Bengaluru)
((Sahil.pandey@thomsonreuters.com))