Nimotuzumab goes on trial for head and neck cancer

Medical Tribune September 2008 SFVI
David Brill


A new phase II trial has been launched
in Singapore to investigate the use of
nimotuzumab as an adjunct to chemo-radiation
for treating squamous cell cancers of
the head and neck.
The study, a joint venture between the
National Cancer Centre Singapore and Innogene
Kalbiotech Pte. Ltd., is designed
to assess the drug’s effect on tumor size,
progression-free survival and toxicity. Up
to 37 patients with unresectable tumors
will receive the combined therapy for 8
weeks.
Nimotuzumab targets the epidermal
growth factor receptor (EGFR) to inhibit
the growth and spread of a tumor. The
efficacy of the drug is similar to others in
its class but it is less toxic and has a better
safety profile, according to Dr. Rikrik Ilyas,
director of Innogene.
“Patients are spared the discomfort of
severe skin rash and benefit from an enhanced
quality of life. As such, nimotuzumab
shows great potential to be used
as a long-term treatment that may allow
cancer to be managed as a chronic illness
rather than a lethal disease,” she said.
Nimotuzumab has already been approved
for use in various countries around
the world for head and neck cancers, but
in Southeast Asia this practice remains on a
named patient basis.
“At the moment we have patients from
Latin America, Canada, the US and Europe
… but none from ASEAN countries,” said
Ilyas.
“This [trial] will give us the opportunity
to enrich the database, extending it into
the Asian and ASEAN populations.”
Two patients have already been enrolled
in the trial, which is expected to be
completed within 2 years. A phase III trial
comprising around 700 patients is planned,
should phase II prove successful.