Efficacy

Bavencio (Avelumab) Efficacy in Kidney Cancer

Bavencio (avelumab) is a programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) blocking antibody used in the treatment of various types of cancer, including kidney cancer. Specifically, it has shown efficacy in the treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which is the most common type of kidney cancer. When used in combination with axitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, avelumab has been approved for the first-line treatment of patients with advanced RCC. Clinical trials have demonstrated that this combination significantly improves progression-free survival when compared to sunitinib, another standard treatment. Furthermore, the combination of avelumab and axitinib has also shown an increased overall survival rate, although the data may still be maturing.

The effectiveness of Bavencio in kidney cancer was highlighted in the JAVELIN Renal 101 study, which was a phase III clinical trial. This study showed that treatment-naïve patients with advanced RCC had a substantial benefit from the combination of avelumab and axitinib. The results indicated a reduction in the risk of disease progression or death in patients with PD-L1 positive tumors. Moreover, objective response rates were also higher in the combination therapy group compared to those treated with sunitinib alone.

Afinitor (Everolimus) Efficacy in Kidney Cancer

Afinitor (everolimus) is an mTOR inhibitor that has been approved for the treatment of advanced RCC after failure of initial treatment with sunitinib or sorafenib, which are tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Everolimus works by inhibiting the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a protein that plays a critical role in the proliferation and growth of cancer cells. In clinical trials, everolimus has been shown to extend progression-free survival in patients with metastatic RCC who have progressed on other targeted therapies. While everolimus does not cure kidney cancer, it can slow the progression of the disease.

The RECORD-1 trial, a pivotal phase III study, demonstrated the efficacy of everolimus in patients with metastatic RCC who had progressed on previous VEGF-targeted therapies. The study showed a significant improvement in median progression-free survival in patients treated with everolimus compared to placebo. The benefit of everolimus was observed across various patient subgroups, including different risk categories and prior treatments. However, it's important to note that the overall survival benefit with everolimus is less clear, and the treatment is associated with a range of potential side effects that need to be managed appropriately.