Type Whole antibody Target VEGFR2 (KDR) Routes of
administration Injection | Source Human Trade names Cyramza ATC code L01XC21 (WHO) | |
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Ramucirumab in the treatment gastric and gastroesophageal cancers video abstract 71045
Ramucirumab (IMC-1121B, trade name Cyramza) is a fully human monoclonal antibody (IgG1) developed for the treatment of solid tumors. This drug was developed by ImClone Systems Inc. It was isolated from a native phage display library from Dyax.
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Does cyramza ramucirumab make difference for second line treatment
Mechanism of action
It is directed against the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2). By binding to VEGFR2 it works as a receptor antagonist blocking the binding of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) to VEGFR2. VEGFR2 is known to mediate the majority of the downstream effects of VEGF in angiogenesis.
Approved uses
On April 21, 2014, the FDA approved ramucirumab, as a single agent or with paclitaxel, for treatment of advanced gastric or gastro-esophageal junction adenocarcinoma if the disease has progressed despite fluoropyrimidine- or platinum-containing chemotherapy.
On December 12, 2014, the FDA approved ramucirumab in combination with docetaxel, for treatment of metastatic non-small-cell lung carcinoma with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy. If the cancer has a sensitizing mutation of EGFR or ALK previous therapy should have included targeted therapy for the genomic tumor aberration.
Clinical trials
On September 26, 2013 the manufacturer Eli Lilly announced that its Phase III study for ramucirumab failed to hit its primary endpoint on progression-free survival among women with metastatic breast cancer.
In June 2014, a phase III trial of the drug reported it failed to improve overall survival in liver cancer.
In Feb 2016 it was reported that a phase II trial of adding ramucirumab to docetaxel improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared with docetaxel alone in locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma. It is now in the RANGE phase III trial for this indication.