Bristol Myers-Squibb announces phase III Erbitux results

Together with ImClone Systems, Bristol Myers-Squibb has announced the results of a phase III clinical study of Erbitux (cetuximab) as a combination treatment with a taxane and carboplatin as a first-line treatment metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Bristol-Myers Squibb notes that the study did not meet its primary endpoint of progression-free survival as measured by an independent radiology review committee, though Erbitux did exhibit positive and statistically significant results for important secondary endpoints.

These secondary endpoints included progression-free survival as measured by clinical investigators and response rate judged by an independent radiology review committee.

Involving over 600 patients in North America, the BMS CA225-099 trial hopes to assess the position of Erbitux in the treatment of NSCLC.

Martin Birkhofer, vice-president of oncology and global medical affairs at Bristol-Myers Squibb, said: “Lung cancer is a devastating disease with few effective treatment options.”

He added that work is continuing to properly interpret the results of the clinical trial, with the firms involved planning to submit the information gleaned to a medical meeting this year.

In April 2007, Bristol-Myers Squibb announced the results of a phase III clinical trial assessing the use of Erbitux plus irinotecan in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who had failed first-line therapy, with the company reporting higher secondary endpoints for these individuals when compared to those receiving only irinotecan.