Erbitux Receives Positive Funding Decision on Cancer Drugs Fund for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
The Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) has announced that Erbitux (cetuximab) can be used in the first line setting in combination with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy FOLFOX4, FOLFOX6 or OxMdG for patients with EGFR-expressing, RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in England. The decision means that Erbitux is now funded in combination with oxaliplatin first line by the CDF in addition to its use in combination with irinotecan- based chemotherapy, or as a single agent in patients who have failed oxaliplatin- and irinotecan- based therapy and who are intolerant to irinotecan.
The positive CDF decision is based on the results from the OPUS trial (OxaliPlatin and cetUximab in firSt-line treatment of mCRC), which showed an increase of median Progression Free Survival (PFS) of more than 6 months [(12.0 vs. 5.8 months) (HR 0.433; P=0.0180)] for Erbitux in combination with chemotherapy compared to chemotherapy alone in the RAS wild-type population.[i]
Between 40 and 50% of bowel cancer patients are RAS wild-type, which equates to more than 8000 UK patients each year.[ii,iii,iv] Oxaliplatin-based treatments make up almost half of first line treatment in mCRC in the UK.]v]
Dr Mark Saunders, Consultant Oncologist, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Cetuximab is a personalised medicine, which is approved for patients with the RAS wild-type gene in their tumours. Testing for RAS status is important in enabling doctors to identify the effective treatment option for patients and also to avoid patients from potentially receiving a treatment that might not work as well for them. This new funding for cetuximab, in combination with FOLFOX, means that patients, being treated in the first line setting, now have more options available to them.”
Mark Flannagan, Chief Executive, Beating Bowel Cancer said: “Any funding for a cancer treatment that potentially prolongs life is a welcomed step forward for those affected by bowel cancer. The decision by the CDF to allow funding of cetuximab in combination with FOLFOX means that there are now more treatment options available.”
David Garmon-Jones, General Manager, Merck Serono UK & Ireland, said: “We welcome this decision by the CDF to extend funding for Erbitux in combination with FOLFOX in the first line setting. This is potentially good news for the patients with RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer in England, as it will mean that there is yet another treatment option open to them.”
References
[i] Tejpar S, et al. Presented at 2014 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium, 16–18 January 2014. J Clin Oncol 2014;32 (suppl 3;abstr LBA444).
[ii] http://publications.cancerresearchuk.org/downloads/Product/CS_KF_BOWEL.pdf Accessed February 2014
[iii] www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/13651/57921/57921.pdf Accessed February 2014
[iv] www.beatingbowelcancer.org/facts-and-figures Accessed February 2014
[v] CSD HMSL and Promo: Colorectal Cancer Market Summary Conducted December 2013. Data on file
Related News
-
News Patients vs Pharma – who will the Inflation Reduction Act affect the most?
The Inflation Reduction Act brought in by the Biden administration in 2022 aims to give better and more equitable access to healthcare in the USA. However, pharma companies are now concerned about the other potential costs of such legislation. -
News CPHI Podcast Series: What does the changing US Pharma market mean for industry and patients alike?
In this week's episode of the CPHI Podcast Series Lucy Chard, Digital Editor for CPHI Online is joined by James Manser to discuss the political and market changes in the US pharma field. -
News CPHI Barcelona Annual Report illuminates industry trends for 2024
The CPHI Annual Survey comes into it’s 7th year to report on the predicted trends for 2024. Over 250 pharma executives were asked 35 questions, with their answers informing the industry landscape for the next year, spanning all major pharma marke... -
News Which 10 drugs are open to price negotiation with Medicare in the USA?
The Centres for Medicare & Medicaid Services, under the Biden administration in the USA, has released a list of the 10 drugs that will be open to price negotiations as part of the new legislation under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). -
News EU Medical Devices Regulation causes unintended disappearances of medical devices for children, doctors state
Doctor groups and associations have appealed to the EU to correct the EU Medical Devices Regulation law that may cause unintended shortages of essential drug and medical devices for children and rare disease patients. -
News 10 Major Drug Approvals So Far in 2023
Last year, 37 novel drugs were approved by the FDA, this was a high number for such a category, and covered many fields including oncology, demonstrating how promising further research is, and how it is only continuing to build. To date, there are alre... -
News Detecting Alzheimer's disease with a simple lateral flow test
A novel rapid diagnostic test for early-stage Alzheimer's disease has been developed using a biomarker binder from Aptamer Group along with technology from Neuro-Bio, the neurodegenerative disease experts. -
News CPHI Podcast Series: outsourcing and manufacturing trends
Listen to the CPHI Podcast Series this June to hear Gil Roth of the PBOA speak with Digital Editor Lucy Chard about the biggest trends and topics to watch in pharma outsourcing and manufacturing at the minute.
Position your company at the heart of the global Pharma industry with a CPHI Online membership
-
Your products and solutions visible to thousands of visitors within the largest Pharma marketplace
-
Generate high-quality, engaged leads for your business, all year round
-
Promote your business as the industry’s thought-leader by hosting your reports, brochures and videos within your profile
-
Your company’s profile boosted at all participating CPHI events
-
An easy-to-use platform with a detailed dashboard showing your leads and performance