Novartis given boost in race to target MET pathway

The US regulator has granted Switzerland’s Novartis (NOVN: VX) Priority Review status for a submission for capmatinib in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Capmatinib is a MET inhibitor being evaluated as a treatment for first-line and previously treated patients with a certain form of locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC.

The MET mutation is seen in an estimated 3%-4% of all patients with NSCLC, and recent research has suggested that the cMET gene is an important oncogenic driver.