Lilly Oncology welcomes regulatory study into cancer drug

Lilly Oncology has welcomed news that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is studying the benefits of necitumumab, a drug designed to combat squamous non-small cell lung cancer.

The drug is a recombinant human IgG1 monoclonal antibody that is designed to work by blocking the ligand binding site of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 1.

With fewer than five per cent of patients with this form of lung cancer surviving more than five years, the FDA's Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee is looking closely at the data supporting necitumumab.

Welcoming the study, senior vice-president, product development and medical affairs for Lilly Oncology Richard Gaynor said: "We believe necitumumab with gemcitabine and cisplatin represents a meaningful advance in the search for a new first-line treatment option."

He added that the company is "looking forward" to working with the FDA as it continues its review into the drug.

Squamous non-small cell lung cancer is the most common form of the disease, accounting for 85 percent of cases.