Merck Serono’s Erbitux approved by European Commission

Merck Serono has received approval from the European Commission to extend the use of its Erbitux (cetuximab) targeted therapy.

The product is a first-line treatment for patients with recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

It was previously approved for use in combination with radiotherapy for locally advanced disease.

Dr Wolfgang Wein, executive vice-president of Oncology at Merck Serono, said the endorsement is “fantastic news”, commenting that patients and specialists are also “encouraged” by the advance of the treatment.

He added: “This latest approval recognises the impressive potential of Erbitux to extend patients’ lives and further confirms the high activity of Erbitux against difficult to treat cancers.”

Recent trials of the therapy found a median overall survival increase of nearly three months – the equivalent of a 20 per cent reduction in the risk of death over the study’s period.

In Europe, it is estimated there are approximately 143,000 cases of head and neck cancer – with more than 68,000 resulting fatalities – each year.

Last week, Merck Sorono announced a partnership with Compugen, with relation to a novel peptide.

The Compugen-discovered CGEN-855 is used to target the FPRL1 G-protein coupled receptor.