Gastric Cancer (Metastatic) | Decision Base | US | 2015
What Advantages Do Surveyed Oncologists and Payers Believe Emerging Therapies Must Offer to Gain Traction in This Market?
The introduction of the HER2-targeting agent trastuzumab (Roche/Genentech/Chugai’s Herceptin) in 2010 transformed the treatment algorithm for metastatic gastric cancer, segregating the population into those with HER2-positive disease (and, therefore, eligible for trastuzumab treatment) and those deemed HER2-negative. Although physicians report that progress has been made in the treatment of metastatic gastric cancer—i.e., two new drugs have been approved in the United States in the last five years (trastuzumab and ramucirumab [Eli Lilly/ImClone Systems’ Cyramza])—the overall outcome for patients remains bleak. Several therapies, including agents from novel drug classes, are in development for metastatic gastric cancer. Given the substantial unmet need associated with treatment, the clinical and commercial opportunity for therapies that can provide greater survival benefits are significant.
