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Onartuzumab in lung cancer: the fall of Icarus?
Christian Rolfo1, Nele Van Der Steen, Patrick Pauwels
1Oncology Department, Phase I - Early Clinical Trials Unit, Antwerp University Hospital, Edegem, Belgium.
Abstract:
The development of targeted therapies has led to a revolution in non-small-cell lung cancer, and opened up possibilities for improved personalized medicine. With the constant findings of new targets, a lot of inhibitors are being developed. However, reliable biomarkers are urgently needed. The design of clinical trials needs to become more flexible in order to obtain the best results and gain the US FDA/EMEA approval for the new drugs. A recent example of a failed trial is the Phase III MetLung trial that compared the effects of the c-MET monovalent antibody onartuzumab with erlotinib versus erlotinib alone in late-stage non-small-cell lung cancer. Here, we discuss several points as to why this trial could have failed.
Insights
Targeted therapies revolutionize non-small-cell lung cancer treatment, but reliable biomarkers and flexible clinical trial designs are crucial for drug approval. The failed MetLung trial highlights these challenges.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Trial Design
Background:
- Targeted therapies have transformed non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment, advancing personalized medicine.
- Numerous novel inhibitors are emerging due to the discovery of new molecular targets.
- There is a critical need for reliable biomarkers to guide targeted therapy selection and predict patient response.
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