Amgen “very pleased” with Vectibix study outcome

Amgen has welcomed the outcome of a phase III trial which found that its first-line metastatic colorectal cancer drug Vectibix (panitumumab) administered in combination with Folfox (an oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy) noticably improves the survival period of patients.

The study discovered that a combination of the treatments significantly improved median progression-free survival by 1.6 months, prolonging life by 9.6 months compared to eight months for patients treated with Folfox alone.

Jean-Yves Douillard, the study’s lead investigator, stated: “I am very pleased with the outcome of this high quality trial which demonstrated that Vectibix improved progression-free survival and appeared to be well tolerated as a first-line metastatic colorectal cancer treatment.”

Amgen recently announced further positive news as a phase III trial into the use of denosumab found the treatment to be more effective than the lone administering of similar therapy Zometa (zoledronic acid).

It was given to patients with either multiple myeloma or solid tumours, excluding prostate and breast cancer.