Ramucirumab: Interim Phase II data

Interim data from an open-label, international Phase II trial in 140 evaluable chemotherapy-naïve patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC showed that 10 mg/kg ramucirumab plus Alimta pemetrexed and carboplatin or cisplatin every 3 weeks led to a median PFS of 6.3 months vs. 4.3 months for Alimta plus carboplatin or cisplatin. The DCR in the ramucirumab arm was 87% with 30 partial responses and 30 cases of stable disease vs. 72% with 26 partial responses and 25 cases of stable disease in the control arm. The most common >=grade 3 adverse events were thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, fatigue, anemia, hypertension and nausea. Enrollment of chemotherapy-naïve patients with advanced squamous NSCLC in the trial is ongoing with data expected next year. Data were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology meeting in Vienna. ...