Necitumumab: First Global Approval

Eli Lilly is developing necitumumab (Portrazza™), an intravenously administered fully human IgG monoclonal antibody directed against the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is expressed in a variety of solid tumours and has been implicated in promoting oncogenesis and tumour progression. Necitumumab is approved as a part of combination therapy (with gemcitabine and cisplatin) in the USA for the first-line treatment of metastatic squamous non-small cell lung Cancer (NSCLC), and regulatory submissions have been made in the EU for this same indication. Necitumumab was derived from the proprietary phage display library of Dyax Corp, and originated with ImClone Systems, which was acquired by Eli Lilly in November 2008. Necitumumab was also under phase II development for colorectal Cancer in Belgium and Spain; however, no recent development has been reported for this indication. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of necitumumab leading to this first approval for the first-line treatment of metastatic squamous NSCLC, in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin.