By: Sruthy Iype  Aug. 24, 2020

Dexur’s analysis of Medicare claims data showed that Cyramza was used more in the treatment of patients with lung cancer, as compared to gastric, esophageal, colorectal, and liver cancer. The analysis looked at the J code (J9308) usage of the drug among Medicare patients* who received outpatient care between Jan and Dec 2019. The analysis also looks at the average claims per patient data, which is a proxy for the number of injections / IV infusions / doses administered to a patient.

Cyramza (ramucirumab) is a human vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) antagonist used as a targeted therapy in cancer treatment. The drug manufactured by Eli Lilly and Company is used in the treatment of certain types of advanced and metastatic cancer, including gastric cancer or gastro-esophageal junction adenocarcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and colorectal cancer. It is also approved for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma, in patients who have high levels of alpha-fetoprotein. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), is a protein produced by cells that signal the formation of new blood vessels. By targeting the VEGF protein on the surface of cancer cells, Cyramza prevents the formation of new blood vessels that supply nutrients required for the growth of the tumor, thereby slowing down the progression of the cancer and its spread to other parts of the body.

The study showed that Cyramza was used most extensively in the treatment of lung cancer. The drug was administered to a total of 970 patients belonging to the diagnosis category, each having an average of 3.5 claims per year. In combination with erlotinib, Cyramza is indicated as a front-line treatment for metastatic NSCLC with certain types of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation.

Following lung cancer, the use of Cyramza was most prevalent in the treatment of gastric and esophageal cancer. During this period, 471 patients with gastric cancer and 396 patients with esophageal cancer were administered Cyramza as a part of their treatment. The average usage of the drug per patient was noted to be relatively higher among these patients, with about 4.5 claims in a year.

Cyramza was also used in the treatment of 181 patients of colorectal cancer, wherein each patient had an average of 4.3 claims per year. A small proportion of its use was associated with the treatment of liver cancer patients as well. Cyramza was administered to 78 patients of liver cancer, having an average of 4.1 claims each.

* Individuals who received treatment for more than one type of cancer were considered as unique patients/claims under each of the concerned diagnosis categories, for the purpose of this analysis.