Yesterday’s decision by the Food and Drug Administration to approve Genentech’s Avastin for the treatment of colorectal cancer came several months earlier than most observers had expected. I had felt that Imclone/Bristol Myers would have about a 3-month exclusive window to launch Erbitux. The launch should have gone very well because of the large unmet therapeutic need and free publicity engendered by the legal problems of Sam Waxsal and Martha Stewart. The pent up demand and the long lead-time to deal with issues such as formulary acceptance and pharmacoeconomics should have resulted in robust market acceptance. Now, the presence of contemporaneous competition from a blue chip competitor, armed with SURVIVAL data as well, will necessitate a major rethinking of the Imclone launch strategy.
I have written before of the positive aspects of competition within product classes (this is similar although technically within therapeutic indication rather than class). Are they really complementary rather than competitive? Longer term will Erbitux and Avastin spur development within the class as a whole? Will a 3 armed trial comparing; Avastin plus Erbitux vs. Avastin alone vs. Erbitux alone be done? If it is done will it be conclusive? Will such a trial include patients in all stages of disease? Will prior treatments include 5 Flurouracil? Where does Oxaloplatin fit in the therapeutic scheme?
There is 10 years worth of development to be done. I do know that prospects will be better soon for patients with colorectal cancer, perhaps in a major way. How does this play out near term in terms of the stocks? On the margin it is negative for Imclone/Bristol Myers and a small positive for Genentech. It has never been a better time to be a drug development junkie.
I READ IN CURE MAGAZINE (MARCH) THAT ERBITUX AND AVASTIN ARE BEING USED TOGETHER (as well as 5FU,etc.). What info is available?
Since AVASTIN was not available as my First Line, we used the OXYPLATIN protocol. However, five months into the treatment, I had a BAD reaction Dec 16th, 2003...symtamatic of a heart attack (BP dropped to 60/40)...After three days evaluation in the hospital, we determined that my heart had no damage and it was just a bad readtion.
Therefore, my First-Line was Oxyplatin and was changed to ERBITUX (3/30 WILL BE FOUR WEEKS TREATMENT)...DIFFICULT TO QUANTIFY at this point in time.
Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks
Posted by: EVERETT PHILLIPS | March 30, 2004 at 12:09 AM
Advanced colorectal CA with liver metastasis (Rt. lobe invade hepatic a. & IVC c fatty liver), what will be the best choice between Avastin and Erbitux?
Posted by: saengduan | April 20, 2004 at 11:52 AM
i STARTED WITH COLORRECTAL CANCES AND ONLY QUIMOTHERAPY FOR SIX MONTH, IRINOTECA, OXIOLATIN AND F5 ETC. IT MADE A METASTATIC TUMOS ON THE LIVER THAT WAS OPERABLE WITH SUCCES. SO AFTER THE OPERATION WE WENT FOR AVASTIN ,F5 ATC WHATEVER GOIES WITH IT.
MY ORGANS ACCORDING TO MY TEM IN SPANISH ARE CLEAN BUT DEVELOPED AFTER TWO MONTS SECONDARY NODULES IN BOTH LUNGS. SO MY ONCOLOGIST WENT WITH ERBITUX FOR SIX WEEKS WITH XELODA THAT APPARENTLY DOES WOR WORK FOR MY. THE BIGEST WAS 1.5 CM, AFTER SITHE SIX WEEK WENT FOR ANOTHER CHECK AND DID NOT IMPROVE BUT IS STABLE, SO WE ARE CONTINUED FOR ERBITUX FOR ANOTHER 6 WEEKS BI DAY AND RTHE SECOND WITH IRINOTECAN. LETS HOPE IT WORK BUT ACCORDING WITH MY ONCOLOGIST IS A GOOD SIGN THAT IS STABLE. I HAVE 4 MORE WEEKS AND KEEP YOU POSTED AFER MY TEM. I GUESS ITS CALLED TEP IN ENGLISH .
STABLE, I hOPE IT WORKS FOR ME AND MAY HELP SAVE OR IMPROVE QUALYTY OF lIVING. aCTUALLY IT HAS BEEN PROVEN THAT MEDICINE WITH OUT HELPING WIT OUR POSSITIVE MING WOULD DO NOT ANY GOOD BY ITSELF. aND OF cOURSE WE ARE IN THE HANDS OF O,D.
Posted by: EDDIE | May 29, 2008 at 06:05 AM
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Posted by: paul | June 19, 2009 at 04:31 AM