Erbitux gains favor among some oncologists--poll

By Kim Dixon

CHICAGO, June 7 (Reuters) - Doctors are willing to try ImClone Systems Inc.'s IMCL.O Erbitux treatment for colon cancer even after a key study found a weaker-than-expected survival advantage, according to a poll of oncologists.

The study found that Erbitux stemmed progression of colon cancer by less than a month when added to chemotherapy. That fell short of hopes that it would match a several-month benefit that has been shown with Avastin, a rival drug marketed by Genentech Inc. DNA.N and Roche Holding AG (ROG.VX).

The findings, presented earlier this week at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting in Chicago, are seen hampering ImClone's efforts to broaden use to a bigger market -- early-stage colon cancer patients.

The poll of 47 oncologists, however, found that among those who attended the presentation of the Erbitux study on Tuesday, nearly two-thirds are more likely to use it as a so-called "front line" treatment. About the same percentage said they viewed Erbitux more positively after the presentation, the survey found.

Physicians were paid for their anonymous participation in the survey, which was carried out for Anian -- a Reuters business that tracks industry issues and trends for institutional investors.

David Ryan, clinical director for gastrointestinal cancers at Massachusetts General Hospital, who attended the cancer meeting, said he will continue to use Avastin first and Erbitux as a second choice in treating his patients.

But he added that because the two drugs have never been directly compared, it is difficult to assess which is more effective.

"We have no idea which is the best in terms of efficacy and safety," Ryan said. "It's still up in the air."

The National Cancer Institute is now enrolling patients in such a head-to-head study, but results won't be available for several years, Ryan said.

Erbitux is now approved to treat the disease, which kills about 655,000 a year worldwide, but only after other treatments have failed. Avastin is approved as a first-line treatment and is normally given with chemotherapy.

The study's underwhelming results led Morgan Stanley to downgrade ImClone on Thursday, which contributed to a 7 percent decline in the company's shares on Nasdaq.

((Reporting by Kim Dixon, editing by Gary Hill, Reuters Messaging; kim.dixon.reuters.com@reuters.net; email; kim.dixon@reuters.com, 1-312 408 8561)) Keywords: IMCLONE SURVEY/

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