Efficacy

Lorviqua (lorlatinib) for Lung Cancer

Lorviqua, known generically as lorlatinib, is a medication approved for the treatment of certain types of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Specifically, it is indicated for patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive metastatic NSCLC who have progressed on crizotinib and at least one other ALK inhibitor for metastatic disease or whose disease has progressed on alectinib or ceritinib as the first ALK inhibitor therapy for metastatic disease. Lorlatinib is a third-generation ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that has shown high efficacy in penetrating the blood-brain barrier, making it particularly useful in treating brain metastases, a common complication of NSCLC.

Clinical trials have demonstrated the efficacy of Lorviqua in patients with ALK-positive NSCLC. In a phase 2 trial, lorlatinib showed substantial systemic and intracranial activity in patients with ALK-positive NSCLC who had failed previous ALK inhibitors. The overall response rate (ORR) in this study was significant, with many patients achieving partial or complete responses. Furthermore, Lorviqua has been shown to be effective in patients with ALK mutations that confer resistance to other ALK inhibitors, highlighting its role in later lines of therapy.

Gavreto (pralsetinib) for Lung Cancer

Gavreto, with the generic name pralsetinib, is another targeted therapy approved for the treatment of NSCLC. It is specifically indicated for adult patients with metastatic RET fusion-positive NSCLC. Pralsetinib is a selective and potent RET kinase inhibitor that has shown significant efficacy in treating RET-driven cancers, including those with central nervous system involvement. The approval of Gavreto was based on the results of clinical trials that demonstrated robust and durable responses in patients with RET fusion-positive NSCLC.

In pivotal clinical trials, Gavreto displayed a high ORR in patients with RET fusion-positive NSCLC, including those who were previously treated and treatment-naïve. The duration of response (DOR) was also notable, with many patients experiencing prolonged disease control. The efficacy of Gavreto in the central nervous system was also evaluated, and the data suggested that it could provide intracranial benefits. This is particularly important given that lung cancer patients are at risk for brain metastases, which can significantly impact quality of life and overall prognosis.