Alecensa outshines standard of care in ALK-positive lung cancer

Swiss pharma giant Roche (ROG: SIX) has released results from a pivotal trial comparing Alecensa (alectinib) with the standard of care in lung cancer, which show a marked improval in progression-free survival.

The study of previously untreated patients with ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a type which affects about 5% of NSCLC cases, pitted Alecensa against Pfizer’s (NYSE: PFE) Xalkori (crizotinib). Data are being presented on the final day of the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting, in Chicago.

The results show that the risk of progression or death was reduced by 53%. Median progression-free survival was 25.7 months for the test group, compared with 10.4 months for the current standard of care.

The data also show a positive safety profile for Roche’s drug. Adverse events of grade 3 or 4, which are severe or life-threatening, were less frequent with Alecensa - 41% compared with 50%. There were also fewer fatalities and a lower rate of discontinuation, dose reduction and interruption.

Dr Martin Forster, consultant medical oncologist, said: “These dramatic data show that alectinib could provide meaningful benefit for this group of patients who are typically non-smokers, younger and often progress faster than people with other forms of lung cancer.”

“According to independent reviewers, people on alectinib, on average, are free from progression for over two years, which is more than double that of the comparator arm.”

“Alectinib is very well tolerated and these data represent another big step towards improving outcomes for patients with lung cancer.”

In the UK, more than 45,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer annually. ALK-positive NSCLC is often found in younger people, and those who have a light or non-smoking history. NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer, affecting 85-90% of cases.