The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has adopted a positive opinion regarding ramucirumab, recommending the granting of a marketing authorisation for the medicinal product "Cyramza" (ramucirumab), 10 mg/ml, concentrate for solution for infusion intended for the treatment of adult patients with advanced gastric cancer or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma with disease progression after prior platinum and fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy.

Ramucirumab was designated as an orphan medicinal product on 4 July 2012.

The applicant for this medicinal product is Eli Lilly Nederland B.V.

They may request a re-examination of any CHMP opinion, provided they notify the European Medicines Agency in writing of their intention within 15 days of receipt of the opinion.

Ramucirumab is a human receptor-targeted antibody that specifically binds VEGF Receptor 2 and blocks angiogenesis by binding of VEGF-A, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D.

The benefits with ramucirumab are its ability to improve the survival in patients compared to chemotherapy alone (when used in combination with chemotherapy) and compared to placebo (when used alone).

The most common side effects are fatigue/asthenia, neutropenia, leukopenia, diarrhoea, epistaxis, and hypertension.

A pharmacovigilance plan for ramucirumab will be implemented as part of the marketing authorisation.

The approved indication is: Ramucirumab in combination with paclitaxel is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with advanced gastric cancer or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma with disease progression after prior platinum and fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy.

Ramucirumab monotherapy is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with advanced gastric cancer or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma with disease progression after prior platinum or fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy, for whom treatment in combination with paclitaxel is not appropriate.

It is proposed that ramucirumab be prescribed by physicians experienced in the administration of anticancer therapy.

Detailed recommendations for the use of this product will be described in the summary of product characteristics (SmPC), which will be published in the European public assessment report (EPAR) and made available in all official European Union languages after the marketing authorisation has been granted by the European Commission.

The CHMP, on the basis of quality, safety and efficacy data submitted, considers there to be a favourable benefit-to-risk balance for ramucirumab and therefore recommends the granting of the marketing authorisation. 

Source: European Medicines Agency