Can aumolertinib be used again after osimertinib causes lung problems?

If you or a loved one has lung adenocarcinoma and developed lung problems (such as interstitial lung disease) from osimertinib, you may wonder whether another targeted drug like aumolertinib (also called almonertinib) can be used instead. Case reports suggest that switching to aumolertinib after osimertinib-induced lung injury can be safe and effective, but this is not yet standard practice and should only be done under close medical supervision.

What the research says

Osimertinib is a targeted therapy for EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma, but it can cause serious lung inflammation called interstitial lung disease (ILD) ². In one case, a patient developed severe ILD from osimertinib and was successfully switched to aumolertinib, which controlled the cancer without causing lung problems again ². Another case report describes a patient who developed myocardial damage (heart muscle injury) from osimertinib and then received aumolertinib, which not only resolved the heart issues but also shrank the tumor enough for successful surgery ⁹. A third report details a patient who developed osimertinib-induced ILD and then safely took low-dose almonertinib (another name for aumolertinib) with good results ¹⁰. These are single-patient reports, so the evidence is limited, but they suggest that aumolertinib may be a viable option for some patients who cannot tolerate osimertinib due to lung or heart side effects.

What to ask your doctor

• Based on my EGFR mutation type, is aumolertinib a reasonable option if I develop lung problems from osimertinib?
• What are the known risks of switching to aumolertinib after osimertinib-induced lung injury?
• Should I be monitored with regular lung function tests or imaging if I switch to aumolertinib?
• Are there any ongoing clinical trials testing aumolertinib after osimertinib side effects?
• What other treatment options (like chemotherapy or immunotherapy) might be considered if aumolertinib is not suitable?