THOUSAND OAKS, Calif., May 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Amgen (NASDAQ:AMGN) today announced results from three analyses of Vectibix^® (panitumumab) in combination with FOLFOX, an oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy regimen, as a first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). These analyses include the description of new predictive biomarkers of clinical response to Vectibix, activating mutations in KRAS (beyond exon 2) and mutations in NRAS, collectively referred to as RAS.

"Amgen helped establish KRAS gene mutation as a biomarker for lack of response to anti-EGFR treatment," said Sean E. Harper, M.D., executive vice president of Research and Development at Amgen. "The identification of new biomarkers may further help to identify appropriate patients with this incurable disease for such treatment."

The RAS biomarkers were identified in a predefined retrospective subset analysis of the PRIME trial, where RAS was defined as exons 2, 3 and 4 of KRAS and NRAS. Mutational status of tumors was determined by Sanger sequencing in parallel with WAVE®-based SURVEYOR® Scan Kits (CRC RAScan™) from Transgenomic, Inc. (TBIO). In this exploratory analysis, patients with wild-type RAS mCRC who were administered Vectibix in combination with FOLFOX demonstrated an improvement in median overall survival (OS) of 26.0 months compared to 20.2 months for patients treated with FOLFOX alone (HR = 0.78, 95 percent CI, 0.62-0.99).

Patients with mutant RAS tumor status had inferior progression-free survival (PFS) (HR = 1.34, 95 percent CI, 1.07-1.60) and OS (HR = 1.25, 95 percent CI, 1.02-1.55) when administered Vectibix in combination with FOLFOX chemotherapy versus FOLFOX alone. These results suggest that RAS mutation status beyond KRAS may be predictive of negative outcomes in patients receiving Vectibix plus FOLFOX in mCRC. Amgen is working to inform investigators and physicians of this important new safety information, as well as working with regulatory agencies regarding appropriate communication of the outcomes of this analysis.

Results of this study will be presented at the 2013 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting on Tuesday, June 4, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. CDT, S405 (Abstract No. 3511; Poster Discussion).

In a separate and updated exploratory analysis of longer follow-up of OS of the PRIME trial (primary endpoint of PFS), an improvement in OS was observed in patients with wild-type KRAS exon 2 mCRC treated with Vectibix in combination with FOLFOX. Median OS was 23.8 months compared to 19.4 months for patients treated with FOLFOX alone (HR = 0.83, 95 percent CI, 0.70-0.98). In both PRIME analyses, the most commonly reported adverse events for the Vectibix treatment arms included rash, hypomagnesemia and diarrhea. The adverse event profiles for the wild-type tumor and mutant tumor populations were similar.

Updated results of the study will be presented at the 2013 ASCO Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 2, 8:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. CDT, S Hall A2  (Abstract No. 3620; Poster).

In a separate predefined secondary objective subset analysis of the PEAK study, patients with wild-type RAS mCRC treated with Vectibix in combination with FOLFOX had a median PFS of 13.1 months compared to 9.5 months (HR = 0.63, 95 percent CI, 0.43-0.94) for patients treated with bevacizumab in combination with FOLFOX. Median OS was not reached in the Vectibix arm, but the OS HR favored the Vectibix arm (HR = 0.55, 95 percent CI, 0.33-1.01). The most commonly reported adverse events for the Vectibix treatment arm included rash, hypomagnesemia and dehydration. The adverse event profiles for the wild-type tumor and mutant tumor populations were similar. No new toxicities were identified for Vectibix.

Updated results of the study will be presented at the 2013 ASCO Annual Meeting on Sunday, June 2, 8:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. CDT, S Hall A2 (Abstract No. 3631; Poster).

PRIME ('203) Study Design
The PRIME (Panitumumab Randomized trial In combination with chemotherapy for Metastatic colorectal cancer to determine Efficacy) ('203) trial is a global, multicenter, randomized Phase 3 study designed to evaluate (primary endpoint of PFS) Vectibix (6.0 mg/kg every two weeks) plus FOLFOX versus FOLFOX alone in patients with wild-type KRAS exon 2 mCRC. The primary objective of this predefined retrospective subset analysis was to determine the effect of Vectibix plus FOLFOX versus FOLFOX alone on overall survival in patients with mCRC based on RAS or BRAF mutation status. A total of 641 patients were included in this analysis. RAS status was ascertained in 90 percent of the patients with wild-type KRAS tumors.

PEAK ('509) Study Design
The PEAK (Panitumumab Efficacy in Combination with mFOLFOX6 Against bevacizumab plus mFOLFOX6 in mCRC subjects with wild-type KRAS tumors) ('509) trial is a global, multicenter, randomized Phase 2 study designed to compare the efficacy (primary endpoint of PFS) of Vectibix in combination with FOLFOX to the efficacy of bevacizumab in combination with FOLFOX in patients with previously untreated, unresectable, wild-type KRAS exon 2 mCRC. The primary objective of this predefined retrospective subset analysis was to determine the effect of Vectibix plus FOLFOX versus bevacizumab plus FOLFOX on PFS and OS in patients with mCRC based on RAS mutation status.

About KRAS and RAS
Results from studies performed over the last 25 years indicate that KRAS plays an important role in cell growth regulation. In mCRC, EGFR transmits signals through a set of intracellular proteins. Upon reaching the nucleus, these signals instruct the cancer cell to reproduce and metastasize, leading to cancer progression.¹ Anti-EGFR antibody therapies work by inhibiting the activation of EGFR, thereby inhibiting downstream events that lead to malignant signaling. However, in patients whose tumors harbor a mutated KRAS gene, the KRAS protein is always turned "on," regardless of whether the EGFR has been activated or therapeutically inhibited. Common KRAS mutations occurring in exon 2 (codons 12/13) are present in approximately 40 to 50 percent of mCRC patients.^2,3 RAS mutations are mutations occurring in exons 2, 3 and 4 of KRAS and NRAS and based on study data, appear to occur in approximately 16 percent of patients with wild-type KRAS exon 2.

About Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer found in both men and women in the United States, and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths.^4,5 Approximately 1.2 million people are living with colorectal cancer globally. The highest incidence rates are found in Japan, North America, parts of Europe, New Zealand and Australia, and rates are low in Africa and Southeast Asia.⁶

About Vectibix
Vectibix is the first fully human anti-EGFR antibody approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of mCRC. Vectibix was approved in the United States in September 2006 as a single agent for the treatment of patients with EGFR-expressing mCRC with disease progression on or following fluoropyrimidine-, oxaliplatin- and irinotecan-containing chemotherapy regimens. The effectiveness of Vectibix as a single agent for the treatment of EGFR-expressing mCRC is based on PFS. More than half of patients who receive Vectibix monotherapy respond to treatment with an average six month PFS benefit. Currently, no data are available that demonstrate an improvement in disease-related symptoms or increased survival with Vectibix.

Retrospective subset analyses of mCRC trials have not shown a treatment benefit for Vectibix in patients whose tumors had KRAS mutations in codon 12 or 13. Use of Vectibix is not recommended for the treatment of mCRC with these mutations.⁷

Important U.S. Product Information
Vectibix is indicated as a single agent for the treatment of EGFR-expressing mCRC with disease progression on or following fluoropyrimidine-, oxaliplatin- and irinotecan-containing chemotherapy regimens. The effectiveness of Vectibix as a single agent for the treatment of EGFR-expressing mCRC is based on progression-free survival. Currently, no data demonstrate an improvement in disease-related symptoms or increased survival with Vectibix.

Vectibix is not indicated for the treatment of patients with KRAS mutation-positive mCRC or for whom KRAS mCRC status is unknown.  Retrospective subset analyses of metastatic colorectal cancer trials have not shown a treatment benefit for Vectibix in patients whose tumors had KRAS mutations in codon 12 or 13.

WARNING: DERMATOLOGIC TOXICITY and INFUSION REACTIONS
Dermatologic Toxicity: Dermatologic toxicities occurred in 89 percent of patients and were severe (NCI-CTC grade 3 or higher) in 12 percent of patients receiving Vectibix monotherapy. [See Dosage and Administration (2.1), Warnings and Precautions (5.1), and Adverse Reactions (6.1)].

Infusion Reactions: Severe infusion reactions occurred in approximately one percent of patients. Fatal infusion reactions occurred in postmarketing experience [See Dosage and Administration (2.1), Warnings and Precautions (5.2), and Adverse Reactions (6.1, 6.3)].

The most common adverse events of Vectibix are skin rash with variable presentations, hypomagnesemia, paronychia, fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhea, including diarrhea resulting in dehydration.

The most serious adverse reactions of Vectibix are pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary embolism, severe dermatologic toxicity complicated by infectious sequelae and septic death, infusion reactions, abdominal pain, hypomagnesemia, nausea, vomiting and constipation.

About Amgen
Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science's promise by bringing safe, effective medicines from lab to manufacturing plant to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping people around the world in the fight against serious illnesses. With a deep and broad pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people's lives. For more information, visit www.amgen.com and follow us on www.twitter.com/amgen.

Forward-Looking Statements
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CONTACT: Amgen, Thousand Oaks
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