Despite various advancements in treatment, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. It is responsible for claiming lives of 1.8 million people with non-small cell lung cancer accounting for about 85% cases.
Divarasib Outperforms Existing KRAS G12C Treatments
Roche Holding AG – Basel, Switzerland-based pharmaceutical company said that its experimental drug, divarasib, has proven to be superior to existing KRAS G12C treatments in a late-stage study for people with advanced non-small cell lung cancer carrying the KRAS G12C mutation. This drug has outperformed marketed drugs in its class in a Phase III head-to-head study.
Expert Highlights Clinical Benefits
Levi Garraway, chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development, said, “The superior survival demonstrated in this global head-to-head comparison of KRAS G12C inhibitors confirms the potential of divarasib to improve clinical outcomes for people with KRAS G12C non-small cell lung cancer. These results should establish divarasib as a new standard of care for previously-treated lung cancer patients with this genetically defined tumor subtype.”
How Divarasib Works
Divarasib is an investigational, next-generation oral, KRAS G12C inhibitor and has shown good potency and selectivity in preclinical studies in comparison with first generation KRAS G12C-targeting treatments, sotorasib and adgrasib. KRAS is the most frequently mutated genes in lung cancer and occurs in about 25% of newly diagnosed lung cancers.
Trial Results and Next Steps
During the trial, divarasib significantly improved both progression-free survival and overall survival among treated patients. The drug achieves these results as KRAS remains one of the most common drivers in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. Although Genentech did not reveal specific safety details at this stage but it did note that most treatment associated events were manageable. The data will be submitted to health authorities and presented at an upcoming medial meeting.
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FAQ
What is divarasib?
Divarasib is an investigational next-generation oral KRAS G12C inhibitor being developed by Roche for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Which lung cancer patients may benefit from divarasib?
The drug is designed for patients with advanced NSCLC carrying the KRAS G12C mutation, especially those who have already received prior treatment.
How did divarasib perform in the Phase 3 trial?
The study showed that divarasib significantly improved progression-free survival and overall survival compared with existing KRAS G12C therapies.
What is the KRAS G12C mutation?
KRAS G12C is a genetic mutation found in a subset of NSCLC patients that drives cancer growth and can be targeted with precision medicines.
Has divarasib been approved for lung cancer treatment?
Divarasib is still investigational. Roche plans to submit the trial data to health authorities for regulatory review.