Amgen receives EU approval for new Vectibix indication

Amgen has announced that its colorectal cancer drug Vectibix has been approved in a new indication by the European Commission.

The therapy has been ratified as a first-line treatment in combination with Folfiri, a commonly-used irinotecan-based chemotherapy regimen, for the treatment of adult patients with wild-type RAS metastatic colorectal cancer.

About half of the patients with metastatic colorectal cancer have wild-type RAS tumours, with clinical trials having shown the effectiveness of this regimen in treating the disease.

Vectibix is also approved for first-line use in combination with Folfox, in second-line treatment in combination with Folfiri for patients who have received first-line fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy, or as a monotherapy after the failure of chemotherapy.

Dr Elliott Levy, senior vice-president of global development at Amgen, said: "Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in Europe, and additional treatment options are important for patients and for physicians treating this serious disease."

Last week, the firm was granted a priority review by the US Food and Drug Administration for a supplemental new drug application for its product Kyprolis to be approved as a treatment for relapsed multiple myeloma.