Posted by Michael Wonder on 03 Aug 2016
Ramucirumab in gastric cancer: no sign of an additional clinical benefit
1 August 2016 - Former orphan drug undergoes regular early benefit assessment; submitted studies unsuitable for assessment.
Ramucirumab (Cyramza) is a monoclonal antibody that blocks a receptor in the formation of blood vessels and thus the blood supply to tumours. The drug was initially an orphan drug, so was exempted from a full early benefit assessment. The medicine has since lost that special status by several supplemental indications.
The IQWiG has recently been carried out early benefit assessments for two other oncology indications. IQWiG has examined whether the use of ramucirumab in adults with advanced adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastro-esophageal junction has an additional clinical benefit compared to the appropriate comparator therapy. An additional clinical benefit has not been established.
