Necitumumab, a fully human IgG1 mAb directed against the EGFR for the potential treatment of cancer

Necitumumab (IMC-11F8), under development by ImClone Systems in collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb, is a fully human IgG1 mAb targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), for the potential intravenous treatment of cancer, in particular NSCLC. In vitro studies demonstrate that necitumumab inhibits downstream targets in the EGFR pathway (eg, MAPK), which are important for cellular proliferation, differentiation, invasion and metastasis. Furthermore, because necitumumab is an IgG1 construct, it has the potential to induce antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity against tumor cells. Preclinical studies indicated that the antitumor activity of necitumumab is either comparable with or superior to that of ImClone's chimeric anti-EGFR mAb cetuximab. In a phase I clinical trial in patients with advanced solid malignancies, necitumumab displayed nonlinear pharmacokinetic behavior. The toxicity profile of necitumumab is acceptable, with skin toxicity being the most frequently reported adverse event in the phase I and II clinical trials conducted to date. Preliminary data from a phase II clinical trial of necitumumab in combination with chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of advanced colon cancer are promising. Success in the ongoing phase III clinical trials in patients with advanced NSCLC would lead to necitumumab becoming a valuable addition to future therapeutic strategies in oncology.