Lorlatinib for advanced ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer – first line


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Therapeutic Areas: Lung and Respiratory Cancer
Year: 2020

Lorlatinib is being investigated for the treatment of advanced anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC comprises the majority of lung cancers in the UK. Symptoms of lung cancer include a persistent cough, shortness of breath, coughing up blood, aches and pains in the chest or shoulder, loss of appetite, weight loss and fatigue. While current treatments exist for ALK-postive NSCLC, significant unmet medical need remains for more effective treatment options as treatment with current options inevitably leads to further progression of the disease over time.
Lorlatinib is administered orally in tablet form and works by acting as an inhibitor to tyrosine kinases which function as ‘on’/’off’ enzymes in cellular proteins. This prevents cancer cells from growing so can control the spread of the cells. If licensed, lorlatinib would offer an additional first-line treatment option for adult patients with ALK-positive NSCLC.