Efficacy

Alunbrig (brigatinib) Efficacy in Lung Cancer

Alunbrig (brigatinib) is a targeted therapy approved by the FDA for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a specific genetic alteration, an ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) gene mutation. This medication has shown significant efficacy in patients who have progressed on or are intolerant to crizotinib, which is another ALK inhibitor. Clinical trials have demonstrated that brigatinib has a high objective response rate, meaning that a significant percentage of patients experienced a reduction in their tumor size. Additionally, brigatinib has been found to have a durable response, with many patients maintaining their response for an extended period.

In the pivotal ALTA trial, brigatinib showed a marked improvement in progression-free survival compared to chemotherapy in patients with ALK-positive NSCLC who had progressed on crizotinib. The trial also highlighted the ability of brigatinib to effectively penetrate the central nervous system (CNS), which is particularly important as brain metastases are common in patients with ALK-positive NSCLC. The safety profile of brigatinib is consistent with other ALK inhibitors, with common side effects being manageable with appropriate dose adjustments and supportive care.

Lumakras (sotorasib) Efficacy in Lung Cancer

Lumakras (sotorasib) represents a significant advancement in the treatment of NSCLC, specifically for patients with a KRAS G12C mutation, which had been considered "undruggable" for decades. As the first FDA-approved targeted therapy for this mutation, sotorasib has shown promising efficacy in clinical trials. In the CodeBreaK 100 trial, which led to the accelerated approval of Lumakras, patients with KRAS G12C-mutated NSCLC who had received at least one prior systemic therapy saw a notable objective response rate, indicating that the tumor size was reduced in a substantial number of patients.

Moreover, the duration of response and disease control rate with Lumakras were encouraging, with many patients experiencing a stabilization of their disease. The medication has been particularly valuable for individuals who have few treatment options after the failure of first-line therapies. Although the overall survival data were still maturing at the time of the initial approval, the progression-free survival benefit provided by Lumakras has been a significant factor in its adoption as a treatment option for this challenging subset of lung cancer.