Merck receives further NICE recommendations for metastatic cancer therapy Erbitux

Merck has received further recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for its therapy Erbitux, which has previously been prescribed to patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Now, however, NICE has also recommended that Erbitux (cetuximab) be offered to patients with metastatic head and neck cancer of the oral cavity, as trials have indicated that it can be effective when used alongside platinum-based chemotherapy.

What's more, investigations have shown that when used in line with radiotherapy, Erbitux can have a Karnofsky performance status of up to 90 per cent, even in some patients for whom platinum-based chemotherapy has been deemed unsuitable.

Speaking to Pharmafile, Dr Belinda Byrne, medical director at Merck, commented: "We are delighted that patients with recurrent and/or metastatic head and neck cancer in the oral cavity will continue to have access to Erbitux and that NICE has recognised the survival benefits it can offer to patients with this disease."

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