NICE Backs Expanded Use of Merck's Erbitux as Initial Treatment for Colorectal Cancer

The UK’s drug pricing watchdog is recommending that the National Health Service reimburse Merck's Erbitux in combination with chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for RAS wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer.

Previously, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence had only endorsed the therapy in combination with chemotherapy to treat cancer that had spread to the liver.

The endorsement was based on clinical evidence that showed Erbitux improves patient survival.