FDA approves Cyramza for treatment of metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer- Eli Lilly

The FDA on 15 December 2014 expanded the approved use of Cyramza (ramucirumab) from Eli Lilly to treat patients with metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). Cyramza works by blocking the blood supply that fuels tumour growth. The drug is intended for patients whose tumour has grown (progressed) during or following treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy, and it is to be used in combination with docetaxel, another type of chemotherapy.

The approval of Cyramza plus docetaxel for metastatic NSCLC is based on a clinical study of 1,253 participants with previously treated and progressive lung cancer. Study participants were randomly assigned to receive Cyramza plus docetaxel or a placebo plus docetaxel. Treatment was given until disease progression or development of intolerable side effects.The trial was designed to measure overall survival, the length of time a participant lived before death. Results showed that half of the participants treated with Cyramza plus docetaxel survived an average of 10.5 months from the start of treatment, compared to an average of 9.1 months from the start of treatment for half of the participants who received placebo plus docetaxel.