Efficacy

Tabrecta (Capmatinib) Efficacy in Lung Cancer

Tabrecta, known generically as capmatinib, is a medication specifically approved for the treatment of adults with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that is metastatic and has mutations leading to mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) exon 14 skipping. This targeted therapy has shown efficacy in clinical trials for patients with this particular genetic alteration, which is present in a small percentage of NSCLC cases. In a pivotal phase II study, capmatinib demonstrated a notable objective response rate (ORR), meaning that a significant number of patients experienced a reduction in tumor size. This response was observed both in patients who had received prior treatment for lung cancer and in those who were treatment-naïve.

The efficacy of Tabrecta is particularly notable given the historical difficulty in treating MET exon 14 skipping mutations. The responses in patients treated with Tabrecta were also durable, with many patients experiencing prolonged periods of disease control. This has marked an important advancement in personalized medicine for lung cancer, offering a new hope for patients with this specific genetic profile.

Lumakras (Sotorasib) Efficacy in Lung Cancer

Lumakras, with the generic name sotorasib, is another novel medication that has been approved for use in treating NSCLC, specifically targeting the KRAS G12C mutation. This mutation was once thought to be "undruggable," but Lumakras has emerged as an effective treatment option for patients harboring this mutation. In clinical trials, sotorasib has shown an encouraging ORR in patients with the KRAS G12C mutation who had previously undergone standard treatment.

The approval of Lumakras was based on the results from a phase II trial which demonstrated significant tumor shrinkage and a median duration of response that indicates a potential for long-term benefit in a patient population with limited treatment options. The advent of Lumakras has thus represented a significant breakthrough in the field of targeted therapy for lung cancer, offering a new line of treatment for patients with the KRAS G12C mutation, which accounts for a substantial subset of NSCLC cases.