Amgen reports that the European Commission approved a new use of Vectibix (panitumumab) as first-line treatment in combination with Folfiri for the treatment of adult patients with wild-type (WT) RAS metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). About half of the patients with mCRC have WT RAS tumors.1 Folfiri , an irinotecan-based chemotherapy regimen, is frequently used in first-line colorectal cancer treatment in Europe.

The new indication is based upon studies that evaluated Vectibix plus Folfiri in the first-line setting. Vectibix is now approved in the European Union (EU) for the treatment of adult patients with WT RAS mCRC: in first-line in combination with Folfox or Folfiri; in second-line in combination with Folfiri for patients who have received first-line fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy (excluding irinotecan); and as monotherapy after failure of fluoropyrimidine-, oxaliplatin-, and irinotecan-containing chemotherapy regimens.

Source: Amgen