Merck KGaA cancer drug shows ‘encouraging’ results

Merck KGaA has presented data from the European prospective investigation of cancer (Epic) trial at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research investigating targeted cancer pharmaceutical Erbitux (cetuximab).

The Epic trial assessed the use of Erbitux in conjunction with irinotecan-based chemotherapy compared to the administration of irinotecan-based chemotherapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer.

Erbitux is a 1gG1 monoclonal antibody that targets epidermal growth factor receptor.

Patients in the trial receiving Erbitux, who had failed first-line treatment with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, showed a response rate equal to four times that of those receiving solely irinotecan-based chemotherapy, with an increase in progression-free survival of over fifty per cent.

Alberto Sobrero, study lead investigator, said: “We are encouraged by these new data. There are limited treatment possibilities available for patients whose cancers have progressed on oxaliplatin-based therapies.”

He added that the results of the Epic trial added to the evidence for the efficacy of Erbitux and could provide a new treatment option for metastatic colorectal cancer patients.

Earlier this month, Merck announced that Erbitux had met its primary endpoint in a first line phase III clinical trial investigating the use of the compound in patients with head and neck cancer.