Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among both men and women. It broadly splits into NSCLC and small cell lung cancer.
Osimertinib (Tagrisso) in combination with pemetrexed and platinum-containing first-line treatment has been approved in Japan for patients with locally advanced or metastatic EGFR-mutant NSCLC whose tumors have exon 19 deletions or exon 21 mutations. In this trial, Tagrisso with addition of chemotherapy reduced the risk of lung cancer progression or death by 38% by investigator assessment. This approval is based on FLAURA2 results which showed Tagrisso plus chemotherapy extended median progression-free survival by nearly nine months in comparison to standard care.
This decision was informed by robust data from the randomized, open-label, multicenter, phase 3 FLAURA2 study. According to the investigators, patients treated with the combination of osimertinib and chemotherapy showed a median progression-free survival of 25.5 months, compared to 16.7 months for those receiving osimertinib alone. The study indicated a promising trend favoring the osimertinib plus chemotherapy approach over osimertinib alone.
David Planchard, MD, PhD, Thoracic Oncologist at Gustave Roussy Institute of Oncology and principal investigator for the trial, said: “Today’s news marks a significant advance for patients with EGFR-mutated lung cancer in Europe, providing a new 1st-line treatment option with osimertinib now in combination with chemotherapy. The FLAURA2 results build on the established efficacy of osimertinib monotherapy, showing a meaningful nine-month improvement in progression-free survival and offering physicians the option to tailor treatment to a patient’s specific needs.”
FLAURA2 is a randomized, global Phase III trial on the first-line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic EGFRm NSCLC. This new approval introduces an important new treatment option for this aggressive form of lung cancer, potentially improving patient outcomes and expanding the available therapies. The combination of Osimertinib and chemotherapy offers a promising approach for managing this challenging disease, providing hope and better prospects for those affected by lung cancer.
The information in this blog is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider for personalized medical guidance.
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