Lilly
breast cancer drug wins expanded U.S. approval
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[February 27, 2018] (Reuters)
- U.S. regulators have approved expanded
use of Eli Lilly and Co's Verzenio breast cancer drug as an initial
treatment for certain women with advanced or metastatic disease, a
decision that should boost sales of the medicine, the company said on
Monday.
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The Food and Drug Administration approved the drug in combination
with an aromatase inhibitor in previously untreated postmenopausal
women with HR positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer.
Verzenio was originally approved last September in combination with
AstraZeneca's Faslodex (fulvestrant) once the disease had progressed
following endocrine therapy.
The Lilly oral drug competes with Pfizer's Ibrance and Kisqali from
Novartis.
The expanded approval was based on a late-stage study in which
Verzenio, known chemically as abemaciclib, taken twice a day with
either anastrozole or letrozole significantly delayed disease
progression compared with a placebo and one of the aromatase
inhibitors.
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"Today's news represents continued progress towards helping more
people living with this devastating disease," Marc Hurlbert,
chairman of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance, said in a
statement.
Eli Lilly shares rose 31 cents to $80.49 in extended trading after
closing up 1.8 percent on the New York Stock Exchange on Monday.
(Reporting by Bill Berkrot; Editing by Leslie Adler)
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