Alunbrig bests crizotinib in first-line advanced ALK+NSCLC, ESMO hears

Takeda Pharmaceutical (TYO: 4503 announced on Friday that intracranial efficacy data from the Phase III ALTA-1L (ALK in Lung Cancer Trial of BrigAtinib in 1st Line) trial showed improved intracranial progression-free survival (PFS) and intracranial objective response rate (ORR) with Alunbrig (brigatinib) compared to crizotinib (Pfizer’s [NYSE: PFE] Xalkori) among anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK+) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Data were presented in a poster discussion at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2018 Congress in Munich, Germany. These results further support Alunbrig as a potential treatment for adults with ALK+ locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC who had not received a prior ALK inhibitor. Alunbrig is currently not approved as first-line therapy for advanced ALK+ NSCLC.

“ALK+ NSCLC often spreads to the brain, so having options that can clearly demonstrate efficacy both in the brain and systemically is important for physicians and their patients,” said Sanjay Popat, medical oncologist, Royal Marsden Hospital, UK. “The ALTA-1L trial showed that treatment with brigatinib significantly delayed progression of disease in the brain compared to crizotinib, and we look forward to sharing the clinical evidence with the medical community at ESMO.”