The Lancet Oncology recently published the results of a phase II clinical trial showing Gemcitabine used in line with the antibody Ramucirumab yielded better clinical outcomes for malignant pleural mesothelioma than Gemcitabine used alone.

The study involved participants that had experienced disease progression after utilizing the traditional first-line treatment of pemetrexed and cisplatin chemotherapy.

The response rate was 73% for patients receiving Gemcitabine used in combination with Ramucirumab vs. 52% for those treating with just Gemcitabine. Median overall survival was 13.8 months vs. 7.5 months respectively.

Ramucirumab has already been approved for second-line treatment of colorectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, gastric adenocarcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma.