Merck KGaA Wins First Erbitux Approval for Head Cancer

FRANKFURT DEC 22, 2005 (Reuters) - Germany"s Merck KGaA has won Swiss approval to market Erbitux (cetuximab) for treating head and neck cancer in combination with radiation therapy, the company said on Thursday.

"This is the first approval for Erbitux for the treatment of head and neck cancer anywhere in the world," Merck said in a statement.

It said an opinion by the European Medicines Agency was expected to follow, which would pave the way to market Erbitux for this indication thoughout the European Union and other countries that recognise the EU drug approval process.

Erbitux, which was originally discovered by U.S. biotech firm ImClone Systems Inc., is already authorised in 48 countries to treat metastatic colorectal cancer.

Merck has the licence to market the product in Europe while ImClone"s U.S. marketing partner is Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.


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