Possible Lung Cancer Treatment Shows Positive Results in Phase 3 Trials
The search for effective lung cancer treatments continues to yield positive results.
Regeneron, a biotech company that invents treatments for various diseases, is leading the search for novel cancer therapies. The firm has been evaluating Libtayo (Cemiplimab) to determine whether it can be used to treat patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
The efficacy of Libtayo with other cancers, specifically cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC), has already been established in medical literature. Its ability to target immune checkpoint-receptor PD-1 is a promising mechanism of action.
Currently, Libtayo is in Phase 3 of developmental testing, which consists of two different trials.
The first trial compares the usage of Libtayo to the commonly used platinum-based chemotherapy. Subjects randomly assigned to Libtayo were given 350 mg every three weeks, while conventional chemotherapy subjects were assigned to varying chemotherapy regimens based on the investigator’s preferences.
Results of this trial were deemed significant, suggesting that giving Libtayo to patients is correlated with a significant increase in overall survival (OS).
In addition, there is enough evidence to suggest that the use of Libtayo is associated with a decrease in mortality risk. In the study, patients that were given Libtayo showcased a 32.4% decrease in mortality risk in comparison to those who received chemotherapy.
The second trial is currently ongoing, evaluating the efficacy of combining Libtayo with chemotherapy.
The trial is split into two groups, dependent on PD-L1 expression. PD-L1 is a protein used by immune cells to differentiate harmful cells from native cells.
The first part of the trial tests the combined treatment, specifically for patients with PD-L1 expression of less than 50 percent.
Patients are divided into three treatment groups: chemotherapy, chemotherapy with Libtayo, and chemotherapy with Libtayo and ipilimumab.
The second part compares the efficacy of chemotherapy alone and chemotherapy with Libtayo for patients of all PD-L1 expression levels. As of now, full enrollment in this trial is expected by late 2020.
The significant results from the first trial illustrate the reasons to be optimistic about Regeneron’s work. This optimism is not limited to lung cancer, however.
Libtayo is also being investigated for treating basal cell carcinoma, cervical cancer, and Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, while already being approved to treat CSCC.
With positive results in clinical trials for both basal cell carcinoma and NSCLC, Libtayo may be the treatment solution for many types of cancers in the future.
Written by Zachary Ostrow
Edited by Alexander Fleiss, Glen Oh & Bryan Xiao