• 7/15/2005
  • Newton, PA
  • Neal Belluci
  • Pharmalive.com

Drugs in Development: A wealth of options in oncology

With a continued investment in innovative therapies in oncology, Merck
KGaA has ongoing active development programs with additional novel
therapies that may offer new hope to people with cancer. The company is
best known for the first-in-class EGFR-targeted monoclonal antibody,
Erbitux, comprising cetuximab, that works by blocking the epidermal
growth factor receptor to inhibit tumor growth and spread.

Merck KGaA focuses on four therapeutic technology platforms in
oncology: EGFR-targeting monoclonal antibodies that may block tumor
growth; immunocytokines that may provide local stimulation of the
immune system; angiogenesis inhibitors that may starve tumors of the
blood supply they need to grow and spread; and cancer vaccines that may
stimulate a specific immune response against tumors.

“These are exciting times in oncology,” says Dr. Bernhard Ehmer, VP,
oncology, Merck KGaA (merck.de). “With a better understanding of the
growth and spread of tumors, we are able to develop treatments that
target the cancer cells and give physicians and their patients
additional options with which to fight cancer.

“We are particularly excited by Erbitux not only in the treatment of
colorectal cancer but also in its potential in head and neck cancer,
and by BLP25 Liposome Vaccine, which is showing impressive results in
the treatment of nonsmall cell lung cancer. Furthermore, our humanized
EGFR-targeting monoclonal antibody matuzumab is showing potential in
several types of cancer.”

Erbitux is a first-in-class and highly active IgG1 monoclonal antibody
targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor. As a monoclonal
antibody, the mode of action of Erbitux is distinct from standard
non-selective chemotherapy treatments in that it specifically targets
and binds to the epidermal growth factor receptor. This binding
inhibits the activation of the receptor and the subsequent
signal-transduction pathway, which results in reducing both the
invasion of normal tissues by tumor cells and the spread of tumors to
new sites.

Consistent findings in clinical trials support the use of Erbitux in
different treatment settings. The drug has been targeted to treat
various stages of colorectal cancer, squamous cell carcinoma of the
head and neck, and nonsmall cell lung cancer.

Study results showed that Erbitux and a platinum compound, such as
cisplatin or carboplatin, or Erbitux monotherapy in patients with
recurrent and/or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and
neck may prolong survival by 2.5 months compared to platinum-refractory
historical controls. This supports Phase III data from 2004 in locally
advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck where the median
overall survival for patients treated with Erbitux and radiotherapy was
54 months compared to 28 months for patients treated with radiotherapy
alone.