Benzinga | Sep 16, 2021 08:09AM EDT

Amgen's Lumakras Combo Therapy Shows Improved Response Rate In Colorectal Cancer

* Amgen Inc (NASDAQ:AMGN) announced data from a Phase 1b/2 study evaluating the combination of Lumakras (sotorasib) with Vectibix (panitumumab) in patients with KRAS G12C-mutated advanced colorectal cancer.

* Related Link: Amgen's First KRAS-Targeted Therapy, Lumakras Scores FDA Approval For Lung Cancer.

* The data showed that the combination therapy led to improved response rates.

* The results were detailed at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO21) congress.

* Findings from the study showed that among 26 patients in the efficacy analysis set, the objective response rate (ORR) was 27%, while the disease control rate (DCR) was 81%.

* In the expansion cohort of sotorasib-na?ve patients with refractory CRC (n=18), 33% experienced a response (confirmed and unconfirmed).

* "We are excited by these CodeBreaK 101 data, which show encouraging response rates that were much higher than the 9.7% response rate observed with Lumakras monotherapy," remarked David Reese, executive vice president of R&D.

* Amgen says it has initiated a new Phase 3 trial with Lumakras plus Vectibix in the third-line setting of colorectal cancer.

* Price Action: AMGN stock closed 0.97% higher at $218.13 on Wednesday.

* Check out our coverage of the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress (ESMO21)