Date: 2015-02-13
Type of information: Distribution agreement
Compound: Erbitux®
Company: Merck KGaA (Germany) BMS (USA - NY)
Therapeutic area: Cancer - Oncology
Type agreement: distribution
Action mechanism: monoclonal antibody. Erbitux® is targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). In the EU, Erbitux® is indicated for the treatment of patients with:
- epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-expressing, RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer in combination with irinotecan-based chemotherapy, in first-line in combination with FOLFOX, as a single agent in patients who have failed oxaliplatin- and irinotecan-based therapy and who are intolerant to irinotecan.
- squamous cell cancer of the head and neck:in combination with radiation therapy for locally advanced disease, in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy for recurrent and/or metastatic disease.
Disease: metastatic colorectal cancer, head and neck cancer
Details: * On February 13, 2015, Merck KGaA and Bristol-Myers Squibb have agreed to transfer full responsibility for the promotion of Erbitux® (cetuximab) to Merck KGaA in Japan as of May 1, 2015. The transfer of promotional responsibilities for Erbitux® in Japan further increases Merck’s presence in this important strategic market, where the company has already positioned Japan as its regional Research and Development hub for North East Asia. “With this agreement, Japan will increasingly become a key focus country for us as it complements our Asia-centric Research and Development strategies. As a result, we plan to work diligently to develop therapies that best suit the unmet need, and the epidemiological profiles of Asian patient populations,” said Elcin Ergun, Head of Global Commercial at Merck Serono, the biopharmaceutical business of Merck.
Erbitux® was launched in collaboration with BMS in Japan in September 2008 for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, followed by an additional indication for the treatment of head and neck cancer, approved in December 2012.
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