Pralsetinib for treating thyroid cancer

Pralsetinib is in clinical development for the treatment of thyroid cancer. Thyroid cancer is a rare type of cancer that affects the thyroid gland, a small gland at the base of the neck that produces hormones. Thyroid cancer can happen when there are genetic changes in the thyroid cells, which cause them to grow uncontrollably and produce a lump. One of such genetic changes happens in the RET-activating fusions and mutations, which are key disease drivers in many cancer types, including thyroid cancer. The currently available drugs for treating thyroid cancer are associated with significant side effects, which can lead to a reduction in the effective dose of the medicine taken compared to the recommended dose. There is, therefore, a need for well-tolerated, effective treatments, particularly those that target the genetic mutations that drives the cancer.
Pralsetinib is a once-daily oral therapy designed to selectively and potently inhibit alterations in the RET gene. Early studies have shown that Pralsetinib can have improved selectivity for common RET-activating fusions and mutations when compared to similar therapies in the same class, resulting in manageable safety profile and meaningful clinical activity in patients irrespective of previous treatment history. If licensed, pralsetinib may offer a potent and well-tolerated treatment option for people with thyroid cancer, who currently have few safe and effective treatment options.