Cancer drugs targeting ErbB pathway generate $5B sales in nine months of 2007

Six ErbB (EGFr/HEr2)-pathway inhibitors, marketed for the treatment of several major solid tumor indications, generated global sales of $4.96 billion in the first nine months of 2007, almost reaching the $5.16 billion total revenues of these agents in 2006, according to New Medicine's Oncology KnowledgeBASE.

Despite this unprecedented market success and the acceptance of targeted therapies in oncology practice, it notes, many challenges remain unfulfilled. One key problem of currently-approved agents is the relatively marginal benefits they provide; median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) are extended only by a few months. However, aggressive efforts to overcome current limitations are providing unique opportunities in this field.