FDA Clears First-Line Lung Cancer Drug

Why in News?

Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved zongertinib (Hernexeos) of Boehringer Ingelheim as a first-line treatment for a rare form of lung cancer.

Zongertinib

• The drug Zongertinib is marketed as Hernexeos.
• Type – The drug is a Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI).

Tyrosine kinase is a protein in the body that helps control how cells grow and function by sending signals inside the cell.

• Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are a kind of targeted therapy.
• They work by blocking tyrosine kinase enzymes, stopping cancer cells from growing and dividing. 
• Target – For adults with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) having HER2 (ERBB2) tyrosine kinase domain mutations.
• Approval Status – Earlier approved for the patient whose cancer progressed despite prior treatment.
• Now approved as first-line treatment for previously untreated patients.
• Clinical result – Around 76% of untreated patients showed substantial tumour reduction, compared to current standard of care which achieved 30–45%.
• Benefits – It may be easier to take, have fewer side effects, and work better than current treatments.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

• Disease – Most common form of lung cancer, typically growing and spreading more slowly than small cell lung cancer.
• Type – Adenocarcinoma – Most common type that usually starts in mucus-producing gland cells, often in the outer parts of the lung.
• Squamous cell carcinoma – Starts in the central airways within the flat cells lining the airways.
• Large cell carcinoma – A less common, fast-growing type that can appear anywhere.
• Symptoms – Persistent cough, coughing up blood, chest pain, breathlessness, hoarseness, weight loss, and sometimes bone pain or neurological problems in advanced stages.
• Cause – Mainly due to tobacco smoking.
• Also linked exposure to asbestos, radon, arsenic, chromium, nickel, ionising radiation, and air pollution.
• Higher risk in pulmonary fibrosis and HIV patients.
• Stages – In early stages (I–III), the cancer is mainly limited to the lung or nearby areas and may still be cured with treatment.
• In Stage IV, the cancer has spread to distant organs like the brain, bones, or liver, making it harder to cure.
• Treatment –
  • Surgery for the removal of the tumour
  • Chemotherapy with anti-cancer drugs
  • Radiation therapy involves high-energy rays to kill cancer cells.
  • Targeted therapy with drugs acting on specific gene mutations
  • Immunotherapy (boosts the body’s immune system to fight cancer), and combination therapy, depending on stage and patient condition.

References

1. TH | FDA Clears First-Line Lung Cancer Drug
2. FDA | Zongertinib
3. NCBI | Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment