Amgen, Abgenix panitumumab colorectal cancer study shows positive results

By Jennifer Chiou

New York, Nov. 3 - Amgen Inc. and Abgenix, Inc. said their phase 3 study of panitumumab showed an improvement in survival in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer who had failed standard chemotherapy.

Co-developed by Amgen and Abgenix, panitumumab is a monoclonal antibody that targets the epidermal growth factor receptor, a protein that plays an important role in cancer cell signaling.

The companies said the 463-patient randomized trial showed a 46% decrease in tumor progression rate versus those who received best supportive care alone.

"We are excited that panitumumab, our most advanced investigational cancer therapeutic, improved progression-free survival and response rate in metastatic colorectal cancer patients who had failed multiple prior chemotherapy regimens," Willard Dere, Amgen chief medical officer and senior vice president of global development, said in a news release.

"These results will support a [biologics license application] submission, which we plan to initiate by the end of the year."

According to the release, panitumumab received fast-track designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in July.

Thousand Oaks, Calif.-based Amgen is a biotechnology company targeting cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis and other illnesses.

Abgenix is a Fremont, Calif., biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery of antibodies.

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