On Wednesday, Human Genome Sciences Inc. shared that a mid-stage study managed to reveal that a potential lung cancer treatment could not yield the desired results and failed to work more effectively than the traditional chemotherapy alone in the treatment of the cancer.

The company shared that mapatumumab, in combination with the chemotherapy drugs paclitaxel and carboplatin, failed to prompt any changes in the disease's response or survival rates. The aforementioned combination was compared with patients who were on chemotherapy alone in the mid-stage study. The main focus of the treatment was on patients receiving initial treatment for lung cancer.

The firm, however, did insist that mapatumumab was tolerated well by the patients, and it is expecting to present complete results of the study later during the year.

Shares of Human Genome managed to gain 4 cents, to hit $31.75 in pre-market trading.