FDA accelerates review of Novartis’s Zykadia for first-line treatment in lung cancer

Novartis AG, a prominent Swiss pharmaceutical company, has received a significant regulatory boost as its lung cancer medication, Zykadia (ceritinib), has been granted a priority review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its expanded use in treating lung cancer. This priority review specifically targets its application as a first-line treatment for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who are positive for the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) receptor.

Expanded Use in Treating Metastatic NSCLC

The new application of Zykadia is intended for patients whose tumors have been identified to carry the ALK receptor through an FDA-approved test, marking a critical advancement in personalized cancer treatment. This initiative underscores Novartis’s commitment to enhancing therapeutic accuracy in oncology, particularly for conditions with high unmet needs.

Breakthrough Therapy Designation

Further elevating its profile, Zykadia has also been acknowledged with the FDA’s breakthrough therapy designation for its potential as a first-line treatment in ALK+ metastatic NSCLC patients, including those with secondary malignant growths in the brain. This designation is intended to expedite the development and review of drugs which may demonstrate substantial improvement over existing therapies on one or more clinically significant endpoints.

Clinical Trial Insights and Regulatory Path Forward

The FDA’s acceptance of the supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) for Zykadia was driven by compelling data from the global phase 3 study, ASCEND-4. In this study, Zykadia was pitted against platinum-based chemotherapy, including maintenance, in Stage IIIB or IV ALK+ NSCLC adult patients. The results were promising: patients treated with Zykadia as a first-line therapy exhibited a median progression-free survival (PFS) of 16.6 months, compared to just 8.1 months in the chemotherapy group. This translates to a 45% reduction in the risk of progression in the Zykadia arm.

Vas Narasimhan, Global Head of Drug Development and Chief Medical Officer at Novartis, highlighted the strategic importance of these developments: “Today’s Priority Review of Zykadia for newly diagnosed patients with ALK+ metastatic NSCLC, including Breakthrough Therapy designation for those with brain metastases, brings us closer to delivering the right treatment to the right patient at the right time.”

The expedited priority review process means that the FDA’s decision could come within six months, significantly reducing the typical ten-month review period. Approval would position Zykadia as a new cornerstone treatment for patients with ALK+ metastatic NSCLC, who are newly diagnosed and previously untreated.

The FDA’s rapid review and potential approval of Zykadia signify a pivotal moment in the treatment of ALK-positive NSCLC. It reflects a broader shift towards targeted cancer therapies, which promise more effective management of the disease with potentially fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy. This move could set a precedent in the regulatory landscape, encouraging more pharmaceutical companies to pursue similar paths for other complex oncologies.