Cetuximab (International Nonproprietary Name (INN)) is an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor used for the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, metastatic non-small cell lung cancer and head and neck cancer. Cetuximab is a chimeric (mouse/human) monoclonal antibody given by intravenous infusion that is distributed under the trade name Erbitux in the U.S. and Canada by the drug company Bristol-Myers Squibb and outside the U.S. and Canada by the drug company Merck KGaA. In Japan, Merck KGaA, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Eli Lilly have a co-distribution.
In July 2009, the FDA approved Erbitux for treatment of KRAS wild type colon cancer, since Cetuximab had little or no effect in colorectal tumors harboring a KRAS mutation (this also applied to the EGFR antibody panitumumab)This was the first genetic test to guide treatment of cancer.In July 2012, the FDA approved a real time PCR companion diagnostic test for KRAS, the therascreen KRAS test. |
