United States: Pfizer said on Friday that it has acquired very encouraging high-stage lung cancer drug research work. The findings reveal long-term efficacy that could set a new benchmark in lung cancer treatment.
Details on the Findings
The drug has notably prolonged the lifespan of patients, with many experiencing positive effects for over five years by halting cancer growth. Full approval of Lorbrena also notably reduces the risk of the cancer worsening in patients’ brains.
Lorbrena’s approval in the US provides the first-line treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in adults with the ALK gene mutation, according to CNBC. This particular type of lung cancer affects around 72,000 people globally each year, as per Pfizer’s statement. The disease is described as aggressive and more common among younger populations.
Lorbrena’s Role in Treatment
Lorbrena is authorized as the first-line therapy for this form of lung cancer, meaning patients are not receiving any other treatment. Although it is not yet the standard benchmark treatment for this condition, Pfizer believes that new five-year data will solidify its role as the first-line treatment.
Chris Boshoff, Pfizer’s chief oncology officer, said, “In cancer medicine in general, you always want to give the best medicine upfront first. So that’s why we believe this data … will lead to [Lorbrena] becoming a standard” first-line treatment in this specific form of lung cancer, as CNBC reported.
About the Trial
Almost 300 people were involved in either administering Lorbrena or Pfizer’s older lung cancer drug, Xalkori.
On reaching the five-year deadline, half of the patients of thetrial were still been receiving Lorbrena, as compared to the five percent of those receiving Xalkori.
During the trial, after the five-year mark, Lorbrena lowers the risk of cancer spread or death by 81 percent with Xalkori.
However, 60 percent of patients who were administered Lorbrena were still living without having their cancer progression in sight after the same period gap.
According to the chief scientific officer at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Dr. David Spigel, those results were “the best we’ve ever seen,” CNBC reported.
Spiegel added, “We have not seen anything close to this. Other great drugs that are available … have not reported the kind of durable, progression-free survival events of this magnitude,” while referring to the number of people who still remained alive without cancer progression in sight.