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Ramucirumab: First Global Approval

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Abstract

Ramucirumab (Cyramza™ [US]), a fully human immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) monoclonal antibody that inhibits vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), has been developed by Eli Lilly (formerly ImClone Systems) for the treatment of cancer. Ramucirumab has received its first global approval in the US for use as monotherapy in the treatment of advanced or metastatic gastric cancer or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma in patients who experience disease progression on or after fluoropyrimidine- or platinum-containing chemotherapy. Ramucirumab is the first treatment to be approved by the US FDA for this setting. This article summarizes the milestones in the development of ramucirumab leading to this first approval for the treatment of gastric cancer and gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

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Disclosure

The preparation of this report was not supported by any external funding. During the peer review process the manufacturer of the agent under review was offered an opportunity to comment on the article. Changes resulting from any comments received were made by the authors on the basis of scientific completeness and accuracy. R.M. Poole is a contracted employee of Adis, Springer SBM. A. Vaidya is a salaried employee of Adis, Springer SBM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Adis, Level 1, 5 The Warehouse Way, Northcote 0627; Private Bag 65901, Mairangi Bay 0754, Auckland, New Zealand

    Asha Vaidya

  2. Adis, Auckland, New Zealand

    Raewyn M. Poole

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  1. Raewyn M. Poole
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  2. Asha Vaidya
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Correspondence to Asha Vaidya.

Additional information

This profile has been extracted and modified from the Adis R&D Insight drug pipeline database. Adis R&D Insight tracks drug development worldwide through the entire development process, from discovery, through pre-clinical and clinical studies to market launch.

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Poole, R.M., Vaidya, A. Ramucirumab: First Global Approval. Drugs 74, 1047–1058 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-014-0244-2

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