Lung cancer is one of the deadliest diseases, curbing people in its vicious circle around the globe. Continuous trials and therapies are being conducted to help in lung cancer survival rates. The Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has granted conditional approval to Anktiva. It is a new lung cancer therapy for adult’s patients with advanced lung cancers.
With this approval, Saudi Arabia becomes the first country in the world to approve treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) for those patients whose disease has progressed after standard therapies.
How Anktiva Works
Anktiva is a cancer therapy that helps the body’s immune system target and destroy cancer cells. This therapy works by activating immune cells that fight tumors. For NSCLC at advanced level, it is given in form of injection under the skin.
Ankitva has shown success in combination with checkpoint inhibitor in two NSCLC trials. Across 151 patients, Anktiva demonstrated statistically significant immune restoration and consistent association between lymphocyte recovery and improved survival in checkpoint experienced patients.
Clinical Evidence Behind the Approval
This approval is based on clinical evidence showing the potential of Anktiva for patients with limited treatment options. Also, the conditional approval was based on results from a single-arm clinical study involving patients who had failed one or more treatments in the past. The trial has suggested a potential survival benefit and require a confirmatory study to verify the long term clinical benefits.
Side Effects and Patient Experience
The common issues faced by most patients in lung cancer trials include fatigue, fever, nausea, flu-like symptoms, reduced appetite etc. These are similar to effects observed in many immunotherapy-based treatments.
A Global Precedent in Cancer Care
By approving Anktiva for NSCLC, Saudi Arabia has provided a new treatment option for patients with serious lung cancer and sets a global precedent in regulatory approvals for innovative therapies.
The information shared in this blog is for educational purposes only. You should always consult with your healthcare professional for any medical needs.
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