Amgen announces positive Vectibix trial results

Amgen has announced positive top-line results from a phase III trial into Vectibix (panitumumab) in combination with an irinotecan-based chemotherapy called FOLFIRI.

In a statement, the organisation explained that the two therapies were evaluated as a second-line treatment in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Amgen found that Vectibix significantly improved progression-free survival when used in combination with FOLFIRI, compared to FOLFIRI on its own, in patients with KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer.

Commenting on the data, Roger Perlmutter, executive-vice president of research and development at Amgen, said that the results add to a “growing body of evidence” that confirms the potential of KRAS as a predictive biomarker.

“With these data, Vectibix has now demonstrated improved progression-free survival in phase III trials in patients with KRAS wild-type tumours in both first and second-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer,” he added.

Earlier this month, the company announced positive results from a phase III trial measuring denosumab administered subcutaneously versus Zometa (zoledronic acid) as a treatment for bone metastases in certain cancer patients.