Yuhan Corporation's lung cancer drug, Lecaktor, has successfully extended the survival period of lung cancer patients by more than one year compared to existing standard treatments. There are evaluations suggesting it is likely to become a new standard treatment for patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
On the 19th (local time), Johnson & Johnson (J&J) in the United States released an abstract indicating that the overall survival (OS) of non-small cell lung cancer patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations treated with the combination of the lung cancer drug Lecaktor and Ribervant (ingredient name Amivantamab) is projected to exceed 48 months. OS is the duration from the moment treatment starts until death and is considered one of the most critical indicators of the effectiveness of cancer drugs.
According to the abstract, it is analyzed that OS will be extended by more than one year compared to the existing standard treatment of monotherapy with Tagrisso. Detailed information is expected to be presented at the European Lung Cancer Conference (ELCC) held in Paris, France, from the 26th to the 29th.
J&J conducted a phase 3 clinical trial (MARIPOSA) involving 1,074 patients with non-small cell lung cancer and EGFR mutations to compare the efficacy of the Lecaktor and Ribervant combination therapy with AstraZeneca's Tagrisso. The result from a total of 37.8 months of follow-up showed that the OS for patients receiving Tagrisso was 36.7 months. While the OS for Lecaktor and Ribervant combination therapy has not yet been announced, it is projected to be slightly over 50 months.
At the 36-month follow-up point, the Lecaktor and Ribervant group had a 60% survival rate. In comparison, the monotherapy group receiving Tagrisso had a 51% survival rate. An extension of the median OS by more than one year in cancer drug development is considered a significant achievement.
There are evaluations suggesting that the Lecaktor and Ribervant combination therapy has a greater likelihood of becoming the standard treatment for non-small cell lung cancer with EGFR mutations. Researchers leading the MARIPOSA study from Johnson & Johnson (J&J) stated in the research abstract that "the Lecaktor and Ribervant combination therapy is the first and only treatment that significantly reduces the risk of death compared to competing drugs," noting that it has established itself as a new standard treatment.
Tagrisso is a global blockbuster drug that generates nearly 10 trillion won in annual sales. Recently, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), which presents cancer treatment guidelines, revised its guidelines to recommend the Lecaktor and Ribervant combination therapy at a level equivalent to Tagrisso.
Lecaktor is a domestic anticancer drug for which Yuhan Corporation transferred global commercialization rights to Janssen, a subsidiary of J&J, for up to 1.4 trillion won in 2018. Following approvals as a first-line treatment for lung cancer in the U.S. and Europe in August and December last year, it is expected to join the ranks of blockbuster drugs with annual sales exceeding 1 trillion won.