Guest Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 I read this on another site and thought it might be of value here. For anyone having trouble getting their insurance company to cover Iressa costs -- the FDA just approved Erbitux (cetuximab) for colon cancer, with or without irinotecan (Camptosar). Erbitux is another EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) inhibitor, like Iressa. Unlike Iressa, it's injected like traditional chemo. Since irinotecan is also sometimes used for lung cancer, I'm assuming a doctor could also prescribe Erbitux off-label for NSCLC. The drug should be available in about two weeks, and estimates are it will cost about what Iressa costs. Wombat/Joan in Silicon Valley Dx: BAC Jun-2003; Tx: Iressa Jul-2003 90% shrinkage Jan-2004 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teresag Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 From 2003 ASCO: http://www.bms.com/news/press/data/pf_press_release_3740.html Press release about effectiveness of cetuximab in NSCLC. "In the randomized, Phase II, Merck KGaA-sponsored Lung Cancer Cetuximab Study (LUCAS), the addition of cetuximab to cisplatin and vinorelbine increased tumor response rates (53.3 percent vs. 32.3 percent) in 61 patients with chemotherapy-naïve NSCLC evaluable for response." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karenl Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Teresa Is this referring to people who have not had chemo at all yet? Karen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john Posted February 17, 2004 Share Posted February 17, 2004 Tarceva is the other drug that targets the same receptor as Iressa. Also CI-1033 is in clinical trials (it is called a pan-Erbb inhibitor and targets the for erbb rececptors) 1) The primary objective of this study is to assess the antitumor activity of CI-1033 in patients with progressive or recurrent, locally advanced (Stage IIIb) or metastatic (Stage IV) non-small cell lung cancer.. This study is being conducted in: - Philadelphia, PA (http://www.centerwatch.com/patient/stud ... 54477.html) - New York, NY (http://www.centerwatch.com/patient/stud ... 54474.html) - Houston, TX (http://www.centerwatch.com/patient/stud ... 54480.html) - Louisville, KY (http://www.centerwatch.com/patient/stud ... 54470.html) - Columbus, OH (http://www.centerwatch.com/patient/stud ... 54476.html) - Boston, MA (http://www.centerwatch.com/patient/stud ... 54471.html) - Ann Arbor, MI (http://www.centerwatch.com/patient/stud ... 54472.html) - Ann Arbor, MI (http://www.centerwatch.com/patient/stud ... 54473.html) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe B Posted February 17, 2004 Share Posted February 17, 2004 any timeframe on Tarceva and the FDA process? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john Posted February 18, 2004 Share Posted February 18, 2004 Don't know when/if tarceva will be approved. It is on the fast track and is in phase III trials. There is a trial with 700 people that started January 2003. Astrazenaca filed for fda approval for Iressa in 12/2001 and it was approved on 5/2003. So based on this I am *guessing* at least another year before approval but that is a just a guess (and not an educated one since I don't work in the industry) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe B Posted February 19, 2004 Share Posted February 19, 2004 thanks John! Hopefully I never need it But I am a adneo BAC / never smoker, and in one study they had pretty amazing results with tarceva in non smokers... so I want to keep my eye on it.... Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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