Pfizer's drug Lorbrena has demonstrated promising long-term results in treating an advanced form of lung cancer, according to recent trial data. The findings, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting in Chicago, indicate that Lorbrena may soon become the standard first-line treatment for patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Lorbrena, already approved in the U.S. for treating adults with advanced ALK-positive NSCLC, has shown that patients can live longer without their cancer progressing. Remarkably, over 50% of patients treated with Lorbrena remained progression-free for more than five years. This marks a significant improvement over Pfizer's older lung cancer drug, Xalkori, which showed an 8% progression-free survival rate at the five-year mark.
"These long-term data results are off the chart," said Dr. David Spigel, chief scientific officer at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute in London. He emphasized that the results are unprecedented, particularly the durability of progression-free survival achieved with Lorbrena.
The phase three trial that led to Lorbrena's U.S. approval enrolled nearly 300 patients, who were either given Lorbrena or Xalkori. The trial showed that Lorbrena reduced the risk of cancer progression or death by 81% compared to Xalkori over five years. Furthermore, around 60% of patients treated with Lorbrena were alive without disease progression after five years, a stark contrast to the 8% in the Xalkori group.
"In cancer medicine, you always want to give the best medicine upfront first. That's why we believe this data will lead to Lorbrena becoming a standard first-line treatment in this specific form of lung cancer," stated Chris Boshoff, Pfizer's chief oncology officer, in an interview with CNBC.
Lorbrena's ability to prevent and treat brain metastases, a common and severe complication of ALK-positive NSCLC, is another significant advantage. The drug reduced the risk of cancer progression in the brain by 94% compared to Xalkori. Only four out of 114 patients on Lorbrena developed brain metastases within 16 months, compared to 39 out of 109 patients on Xalkori.
Dr. Benjamin Solomon, a medical oncologist at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Australia, and the study's lead author, highlighted the importance of these findings. "Lorlatinib is the only ALK TKI that has reported five-year progression-free survival, and even after this time, the majority of patients continue to have their disease controlled, including control of disease in the brain."
While the efficacy of Lorbrena is evident, it is not without side effects. The most common issues include swelling, weight gain, cognition and mood changes, and high cholesterol levels. Despite these side effects, experts believe that the benefits of the drug outweigh the drawbacks, especially considering the severe prognosis of advanced lung cancer.
"Sixty percent five-year progression-free survival in non-small cell lung cancer is just unheard of," said Dr. Julie Gralow, ASCO's chief medical officer. The new data has sparked optimism among oncologists and patients alike, offering a ray of hope for those battling this aggressive disease.
Cancer Research UK's chief clinician, Prof. Charles Swanton, who was not involved with the study, lauded the results as groundbreaking. "This study could present us with an effective way of stopping cancer in its tracks and preventing it from spreading to the brain. The groundbreaking results show that over half of the patients who took lorlatinib did not suffer a progression in their disease after five years."
As Pfizer prepares for the potential "relaunch" of Lorbrena, the company plans to educate physicians on managing the drug's side effects effectively. With these promising results, Lorbrena is set to play a crucial role in the treatment of ALK-positive NSCLC, potentially transforming the standard of care for this challenging condition.
