Efficacy

Lenvima (Lenvatinib) Efficacy in Thyroid Cancer

Lenvima, the brand name for lenvatinib, is a medication that has shown efficacy in the treatment of thyroid cancer. Specifically, it is approved for use in patients with locally recurrent or metastatic, progressive, radioactive iodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Lenvatinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor that targets multiple pathways involved in tumor angiogenesis, growth, and progression. Clinical trials have demonstrated that lenvatinib significantly improves progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with radioactive iodine-refractory DTC. In a pivotal phase 3 study, the median PFS for patients treated with lenvatinib was markedly longer compared to placebo, establishing lenvatinib as a valuable treatment option for this patient population.

Additionally, lenvatinib has shown a response rate in terms of reduction in tumor size. The objective response rate (ORR) in patients treated with Lenvima was notably high, with a considerable percentage of patients experiencing partial or complete responses. While the improvement in overall survival (OS) is still under investigation, the current data suggest that lenvatinib has a significant impact on disease control in patients with advanced thyroid cancer.

Gavreto (Pralsetinib) Efficacy in Thyroid Cancer

Gavreto, known generically as pralsetinib, is another medication that has been found to be effective in the treatment of thyroid cancer. It is specifically indicated for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older with advanced or metastatic RET-mutant medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) who require systemic therapy, or RET fusion-positive thyroid cancer who require systemic therapy and who are radioactive iodine-refractory (if radioactive iodine is appropriate). Pralsetinib is a selective RET kinase inhibitor, targeting a key enzyme in the growth and proliferation of certain thyroid cancers.

In clinical trials, pralsetinib has demonstrated significant antitumor activity in patients with RET-altered thyroid cancers. The ORR for patients with RET-mutant MTC treated with Gavreto was impressive, with many patients achieving partial or complete responses. For those with RET fusion-positive thyroid cancer, the efficacy of pralsetinib was also substantial, leading to its approval for these indications. The duration of response (DOR) and PFS data have further supported the use of pralsetinib as an effective treatment option for patients with these specific genetic alterations in thyroid cancer.