To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Cetuximab as First-Line Treatment in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Approved in Europe URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/22640E.htm Doctor's Guide July 23, 2008
DARMSTADT, Germany -- July 23, 2008 -- The European Commission has approved for cetuximab (Erbitux) to update its license for the treatment of patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-expressing, KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in combination with chemotherapy and as a single agent in patients who have failed oxaliplatin- and irinotecan-based chemotherapies and who are intolerant to irinotecan. "This broad approval of cetuximab in metastatic colorectal cancer is welcomed by the oncology community, as it provides us with another treatment option for our patients in the first-line setting," said Eric Van Cutsem, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium. "We are excited by the data supporting this approval, as it demonstrates the increased efficacy of cetuximab in patients who have KRAS wild-type tumours. The broadened approval of cetuximab is also a big step towards offering tailored therapies to patients with metastatic colorectal cancer." The approval was granted following review of data from randomised, controlled, phase 3 and phase 2 trials that demonstrated the superior efficacy of cetuximab in combination with standard chemotherapy in the first-line treatment of patients with mCRC compared with chemotherapy alone. Further analyses of these trials found that patients experienced substantially increased efficacy with cetuximab and had statistically significant higher response rates and decreased risk of progression compared with patients receiving chemotherapy alone. SOURCE: Merck KGaA --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.