【Pharmaceutical Network Industry Dynamics】Lung cancer has always been a malignant tumor with a high incidence rate in China and even globally. Among these, non-small cell lung cancer accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancer cases. Recently, there have been multiple positive developments in the field of non-small cell lung cancer drugs in China.
Recently, Hansoh Pharma's self-developed Class I new drug, Osimertinib Mesylate Tablets (Ameile), has been approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for the treatment of patients with unresectable locally advanced (Stage III) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose disease has not progressed after platinum-based radical chemoradiotherapy and who have epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletions or exon 21 (L858R) mutations.
As China's self-developed third-generation EGFR-targeted therapeutic drug, Aumetinib has achieved remarkable progress in the field of non-small cell lung cancer treatment since its approval for marketing in 2020. The approval of this new indication signifies its further expansion from first-line and second-line treatments to locally advanced treatment in the non-small cell lung cancer domain, achieving full-line coverage across all treatment stages.
Experts in the industry indicate that EGFR gene mutations are relatively common in non-small cell lung cancer patients, especially exon 19 deletions or exon 21 (L858R) mutations. For patients with unresectable locally advanced (Stage III) disease, platinum-based radical chemoradiotherapy is an important treatment method, but patients still face the risk of disease recurrence and progression after chemoradiotherapy. The approval of a new indication for Aumolertinib provides a new treatment option for these patients, which is expected to further improve their prognosis. This also signifies important progress in precision treatment of lung cancer in China.
According to reports, the approval of Aumolertinib this time is based on the results of a study named POLESTAR. The study results showed that for inoperable EGFR-sensitive mutant stage III non-small cell lung cancer patients who received radical radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the median PFS (Progression-Free Survival) of using Aumolertinib as consolidation therapy reached 30.4 months (compared with 3.8 months for placebo), reducing the risk of disease progression by more than 80%. This means that compared with traditional regimens, the drug's consolidation therapy will continuously reduce the risk of recurrence and metastasis, significantly extending patient survival to eight times longer. Meanwhile, the benefits of this drug's consolidation treatment were observed across all predefined subgroups, showing significant advantages for a broad population including patients with poor physical condition, more advanced stages, or older age.
Hansoh Pharma's continuous investment in innovative drug research and development over the years is exemplified by the series of achievements of Aumolertinib. At the same time, this also encourages more pharmaceutical companies to increase their investment in the research and development of lung cancer treatment drugs, driving the entire industry to continuously innovate and break through. For the medical industry, the approval of the new indication for Aumolertinib this time highlights China's strong capabilities in the field of lung cancer drug research and development.
Notably, in the field of lung cancer treatment drug development, Kelun-Biotech's self-developed TROP2 ADC, Luskasotuzumab (sac-TMT, JiaTaiLai®), has recently achieved significant progress. Its second indication has been approved for marketing, targeting the treatment of EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer. This marks the world’s first TROP2 antibody-drug conjugate to gain approval for a lung cancer indication. Compared with the current standard treatment, Luskasotuzumab can significantly extend the overall survival benefit for such patients.
The emergence of this series of achievements fully demonstrates the vigorous development momentum in the field of lung cancer treatment drug research and development in China. Numerous pharmaceutical companies and research teams are continuously exploring innovations from different targets and mechanisms of action, bringing more and more treatment options to lung cancer patients and giving them hope for overcoming this difficult disease. It is believed that with the joint efforts of all parties, there will be more breakthroughs and innovations in the field of lung cancer treatment, offering greater hope of survival to lung cancer patients worldwide.
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