Efficacy

Tagrisso (Osimertinib) Efficacy in Lung Cancer

Tagrisso (osimertinib) is a third-generation, irreversible epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR TKI) that has shown significant efficacy in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with specific EGFR mutations. Clinical trials have demonstrated that osimertinib is effective in patients with NSCLC harboring EGFR T790M mutations, which are a common cause of resistance to earlier-generation EGFR inhibitors. In the AURA3 study, osimertinib significantly improved progression-free survival (PFS) compared to platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with T790M-positive advanced NSCLC who had disease progression after first-line EGFR-TKI therapy.

Furthermore, the FLAURA trial investigated osimertinib as a first-line treatment for NSCLC with EGFR mutations. In this study, osimertinib showed a greater PFS compared to standard EGFR-TKIs (gefitinib or erlotinib). Additionally, osimertinib has been associated with a higher objective response rate (ORR) and a longer duration of response (DoR) than earlier-generation EGFR-TKIs. Its efficacy, along with a favorable safety profile and the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, makes osimertinib a valuable treatment option for patients with advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC.

Xalkori (Crizotinib) Efficacy in Lung Cancer

Xalkori (crizotinib) is a first-generation anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor used to treat NSCLC patients whose tumors are ALK-positive. Crizotinib has shown high efficacy in shrinking tumors in patients with ALK-positive NSCLC. The PROFILE 1014 study compared crizotinib with chemotherapy in previously untreated advanced ALK-positive NSCLC and found that crizotinib significantly improved PFS. The ORR was also higher with crizotinib than with chemotherapy, indicating a robust response to the drug in this patient population.

Crizotinib has also been effective in patients with ROS1-positive NSCLC, which is another genetic alteration that can be targeted with this medication. In clinical trials, patients with advanced NSCLC harboring ROS1 rearrangements treated with crizotinib had a high ORR and experienced a prolonged PFS. The efficacy of crizotinib in ALK-positive and ROS1-positive NSCLC makes it a cornerstone in the management of these genetically defined subtypes of lung cancer. However, resistance to crizotinib can develop, and second-generation ALK inhibitors may be required for continued disease management.