Capmatinib for advanced non-small cell lung cancer

Capmatinib is in clinical development for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). NSCLC makes up the majority of lung cancers in the UK and at the metastatic stage (stage IV), the disease has already spread from the lungs to other sites. 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. Most patients with NSCLC are diagnosed at the advanced/metastatic stage where curative treatment with surgery is unsuitable. Advanced NSCLC is not usually curable; there is therefore the need for additional treatment options.
Capmatinib is selective inhibitor of a protein called hepatocyte growth factor receptor known as cMet. By binding to cMet, capmatinib prevents phosphorylation of the protein, inducing cell death in tumour cells. If licensed, capmatinib will offer an additional treatment for patients with advanced NSCLC.