Drug manufactured by a Chinese firm found to be effective against an uncommon type of lung cancer

A drug developed by a Chinese company, Sunvozertinib, has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness against a rare and challenging type of lung cancer that does not respond to platinum-based chemotherapy. This breakthrough was reported by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), highlighting the drug’s potential against lung cancer characterized by its resistance to standard treatments.

Sunvozertinib, manufactured by Dizal, a company based in Jiangsu province, has shown a 61% anti-tumor response in a phase 2 clinical trial involving 104 advanced patients. The trial results were published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine journal on December 12. The drug has been designated as a breakthrough therapy by China’s National Medical Products Administration and the US Food and Drug Administration.

The specific lung cancer subtype targeted by Sunvozertinib is associated with a mutation known as “EGFR exon 20 insertions” in the tumor. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with this mutation has been challenging to treat, and the new drug has shown promising results in addressing this medical need.

According to a scientist referred to as Tang by SCMP, the 61% response rate is noteworthy, especially when compared to other potential candidates that previously achieved response rates below 50% for this specific subgroup of lung cancer.

The drug’s development focused on creating a treatment option for lung cancer patients with EGFR gene mutations, particularly those with the EGFR exon 20 insertions mutation. This genetic alteration is associated with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations, making Sunvozertinib a targeted and potentially effective therapy.

Oncologist Hidetoshi Hayashi from Kindai University Faculty of Medicine in Japan expressed optimism about the drug’s impact, stating, “Patients and healthcare providers have long sought hope in the form of effective treatments that offer respite from relentless disease progression.”

The successful trial results for Sunvozertinib highlight a significant advancement in the treatment landscape for a challenging subset of lung cancer, providing hope for patients who have limited treatment options due to the unique characteristics of their cancer.