Full results scheduled for disclosure at ASCO meeting in June.
ImClone Systems and Bristol-Myers Squibb reported that a Phase III study of Erbitux in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) showed positive results. Erbitux (cetuximab) plus Folfiri (an irinotecan-based chemotherapy) increased median duration of progression-free survival over Folfiri alone in patients with previously untreated mCRC.
“These results provide important new information for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer and are part of a comprehensive clinical development program designed to fully understand the potential uses of Erbitux for cancer patients,” says Martin Birkhofer, M.D., vp, oncology global medical affairs, Bristol-Myers Squibb.
The study, in which more than 1,000 patients participated, was conducted by Merck KGaA, ImClone’s Erbitux partner outside of North America. The company hopes to present the results at the ASCO Annual Meeting in June.
Erbitux’ current indications are related to squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and EGFR-expressing metastatic colorectal carcinoma.