Enhertu shows improved progression-free survival in HER2-mutant lung cancer

AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo's Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) has shown a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) for patients with HER2-mutant advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The DESTINY-Lung04 Phase III trial found that Enhertu monotherapy resulted in a median PFS of 14.3 months, compared to 8.3 months for the standard of care, which was a combination of chemotherapy and pembrolizumab.

The trial, presented at the IASLC World Conference on Lung Cancer in Seoul, also revealed that Enhertu reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 37%. The objective response rate (ORR) for Enhertu was 70%, versus 44.5% for the chemotherapy and pembrolizumab combination.

Researchers noted that HER2-mutant NSCLC is an aggressive disease with limited treatment options. The drug's ability to delay disease progression and achieve high response rates positions it as a potential new first-line treatment option for these patients.

These results from DESTINY-Lung04 mark the first time a Phase III trial has demonstrated superior PFS over the global first-line standard of care in this patient population. Data on overall survival (OS) is still being collected and analyzed.