Amgen's Vectibix Given Thumbs Down by European Regulators

Amgen said on Friday that European regulators have declined to recommend approval of its drug Vectibix in combination with chemotherapy for patients with wild-type KRAS metastatic colorectal cancer.

Thousand Oaks, Calif.-based Amgen said it will consider its next steps as it believes Vectibix in combination with chemotherapy "provides an important treatment option" for patients with the disease, an aggressive form of colorectal cancer for which there are limited treatment options.

Vectibix is already approved in more than 30 countries outside the United States as a stand-alone treatment for the disease after standard chemotherapy is no longer effective.