Merck KGaA 's Erbitux gets broader use in mCRC

Germany's Merck KGaA has been granted approval by the European Commission for Erbitux (cetuximab), to update its license for the treatment of patients with epidermal growth factor receptor-expressing, KRAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer in combination with chemotherapy, and as a single agent in patients who have failed oxaliplatin- and irinotecan-based therapy and who are intolerant to irinotecan. "This broad approval of Erbitux in metastatic colorectal cancer is welcomed by the oncology community as it provides us with another treatment option for our patients in the first-line setting," said Eric Van Cutsem, professor of medicine and digestive oncology at the University Hospital Gasthuisberg in Leuven, Belgium. "The broadened approval of Erbitux is also a big step towards offering tailored therapies to patients with metastatic colorectal cancer," he added.