The FDA has approved a new drug called Lazcluze (lazertinib) for adults with a certain type of advanced lung cancer. This drug is a pill taken once a day. It is used together with another medicine called amivantamab. This combination is for patients whose non-small cell lung cancer has spread or cannot be removed with surgery. The cancer must have specific changes in the EGFR gene, called exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R substitution mutations. These changes are found by an FDA approved test.
This approval gives patients a new targeted therapy option that attacks cancer cells with these mutations. In studies, the combination helped delay cancer growth. However, the treatment can cause side effects like blood clots and skin problems. Doctors will prescribe blood thinners for the first four months and help manage skin reactions.
What does this mean for patients? If you have advanced lung cancer, this new pill might be an option. But it is only for people with the right EGFR mutations. You should talk to your doctor about whether testing for these mutations is right for you. Your doctor can help you understand the benefits and risks of this new treatment.