CHICAGO – ImClone Systems Inc. (IMCL) said on Tuesday it is seeking U.S. regulatory approval for use of colon cancer drug Erbitux (search) in head and neck cancer after a previous filing delay.
ImClone and its marketing partner Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.(BMY) said they are seeking priority review for the drug for the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
ImClone's shares rose to $32.84, up from a Monday close of $32.60.
ImClone delayed the filing for head and neck cancer in April, saying it needed more time to analyze data from a pivotal clinical trial.
In June, an independent panel verified results from a clinical trial that showed Erbitux used in combination with radiation was more effective in checking the spread of cancerous tumors beyond the head and neck than radiation alone.
The company seeks to market Erbitux in combination with radiation and to market Erbitux on its own as a treatment for certain patients who have failed prior treatments or whose cancer has spread.
According to ImClone, no new drug has been approved for head and neck cancer in more than a decade.
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