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] https://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