21 September 2015 - Eli Lilly Canada announced today that its new gastric cancer medicine, Cyramza (ramucirumab), has been approved and is now available for use in Canada. Cyramza was authorized by Health Canada for use as a single agent or in combination with paclitaxel for the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic gastric cancer or gastro-esophageal junction adenocarcinoma with disease progression on or after prior platinum and fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy.

In Canada, an estimated 3,400 new cases of gastric cancer are expected to be diagnosed in 2015, gastric cancer offers few discernible symptoms until the disease has reached an advanced stage.

Consequently, patients are often diagnosed late in the progression of the disease, yielding poor outlooks for most patients5. In Canada, the five-year relative survival ratio is sixth-worst of all cancers, at approximately 25 percent.

"A diagnosis of gastric cancer changes your life forever," says Teresa Tiano, gastric cancer survivor and advocate. "It can take you to a dark place where you feel frightened and alone. Patients need to be assured that they are not alone, that they have support from their medical team, their family and friends, and from other gastric cancer patients and survivors."

"Developing medications for gastric cancer, and spreading awareness through organizations like Debbie's Dream Foundation, empower patients and caregivers with hope - a critical tool for people on their cancer journeys," adds Ekaterina Kosyachkova, gastric cancer survivor and advocate.

For more details, go to: http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/new-gastric-cancer-medicine-approved-and-available-for-use-in-canada-528481341.html