Health Canada has approved Erbitux (cetuximab) injection for use in combination with irinotecan in the treatment of patients with epidermal growth factor receptor expressing, metastatic colorectal cancer who are refractory to other irinotecan-based chemotherapy. Additionally the treatment has been approved as a single agent therapy for patients who are intolerant to irinotecan-based chemotherapy.
The companies report that in Canada alone an estimated 19,100 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer every year. Half of these patients have metastatic diseasease at the time of diagnosis, making this the second leading cause of cancer death in the country.
“Erbitux is a promising new option for patients in whom irinotecan-based chemotherapy is no longer effective or tolerated,” said Dr Derek Jonker, of the Regional Cancer Centre, in Ottawa. “Clinical studies indicate that non- chemotherapeutic molecular drugs are effective in treating metastatic colorectal cancer.”
Bristol-Myers Squibb expects to have Erbitux available for Canadian patients in the coming weeks and will work with federal, provincial and regional authorities to ensure patients have timely access to this new treatment.
At this time, Canadian cancer centres are participating in several international clinical trials which include hundreds of patients taking Erbitux.