‘Earth-shattering’ lung cancer pill reduces death risk in half!
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Lung cancer is still the leading cause of death from cancer worldwide, and the fifth most common cancer diagnosed in Australia. One in five people are diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime in the country.
But for those facing a lung cancer diagnosis, the outlook today is far more hopeful than even a decade ago, thanks to exciting new developments in targeted therapies.
New data published in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that osimertinib, a drug sold under the brand name Tagrisso, was proven to be highly effective in certain groups of lung cancer patients.
Tagrisso is a prescription medicine used for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with certain abnormal epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) genes. EGFR is a protein in cells that helps tumours to grow.
Tagrisso targets tumours that are driven by a genetic mutation that triggers the release of EGFR.
Tagrisso also cuts the risk of the disease returning by more than 70 per cent and can reduce the likelihood of dying within five years of treatment by half.
The drug is available to patients with the EGFR genetic mutation at any stage of the disease, including those who have already undergone treatment such as surgery.
According to Dr Faiz Bhora, Chief of Thoracic Surgery and Central Region Chair of Surgery at Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey, the drug’s trial results were ‘earth-shattering’.
‘In the past, medical oncologists were happy with five per cent or 10 per cent survival—and now we're talking about in excess of 50 per cent improvement in survival,’ he said.
Dr Bhora has been prescribing Tagrisso to his patients and has seen ‘groundbreaking’ results in his practice.
‘We now have a lot of targeted therapies that work well for patients who have mutations in their tumours,' he said.
‘We used to think of lung cancer as just a smoker's illness. Now, we know that over 30 per cent of individuals who develop lung cancer have never smoked, and a lot of them are women,’ he added.
However, eligibility for this drug is for EGFR patients at any stage of the disease who have undergone prior treatment like surgery. Tagrisso can be taken as long as it is effective.
In the US, Tagrisso is covered by 95 per cent of insurance plans, including Commercial, Medicare and Medicaid.
In Australia, Tagrisso has also been included in the Pharmaceuticals Benefits Scheme.
One patient who has benefited from the treatment is 67-year-old Kim Mosko from New Jersey.
After undergoing surgery in February 2023 to remove a lung tumour, Kim began four rounds of chemotherapy which finished at the end of June.
In July, her doctors found the genetic mutation and suggested Kim take Tagrisso.
Kim said she needed ‘no persuasion at all’ to start the treatment, which was covered by her insurance.
She had some ‘manageable’ side effects from taking Tagrisso, such as skin rash, diarrhea, and fatigue.
Despite these, Kim has been taking the pill for three and a half months, and she is hopeful that she can take it daily for the next three years.
‘I don’t need to have hope. I absolutely believe that this medication is going to make sure the lung cancer will not return. I am planning on living for many more years,' she said.
Members, consult with your GP as well if you are allowed to take such medications.
What do you think of this story? Let us know in the comments below!
But for those facing a lung cancer diagnosis, the outlook today is far more hopeful than even a decade ago, thanks to exciting new developments in targeted therapies.
New data published in the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that osimertinib, a drug sold under the brand name Tagrisso, was proven to be highly effective in certain groups of lung cancer patients.
Tagrisso is a prescription medicine used for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with certain abnormal epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) genes. EGFR is a protein in cells that helps tumours to grow.
Tagrisso targets tumours that are driven by a genetic mutation that triggers the release of EGFR.
Researchers discovered the effectiveness of osimertinib in treating lung cancer patients. Credit: Unsplash
Tagrisso also cuts the risk of the disease returning by more than 70 per cent and can reduce the likelihood of dying within five years of treatment by half.
The drug is available to patients with the EGFR genetic mutation at any stage of the disease, including those who have already undergone treatment such as surgery.
According to Dr Faiz Bhora, Chief of Thoracic Surgery and Central Region Chair of Surgery at Hackensack Meridian Health in New Jersey, the drug’s trial results were ‘earth-shattering’.
‘In the past, medical oncologists were happy with five per cent or 10 per cent survival—and now we're talking about in excess of 50 per cent improvement in survival,’ he said.
Dr Bhora has been prescribing Tagrisso to his patients and has seen ‘groundbreaking’ results in his practice.
‘We now have a lot of targeted therapies that work well for patients who have mutations in their tumours,' he said.
‘We used to think of lung cancer as just a smoker's illness. Now, we know that over 30 per cent of individuals who develop lung cancer have never smoked, and a lot of them are women,’ he added.
However, eligibility for this drug is for EGFR patients at any stage of the disease who have undergone prior treatment like surgery. Tagrisso can be taken as long as it is effective.
In the US, Tagrisso is covered by 95 per cent of insurance plans, including Commercial, Medicare and Medicaid.
In Australia, Tagrisso has also been included in the Pharmaceuticals Benefits Scheme.
One patient who has benefited from the treatment is 67-year-old Kim Mosko from New Jersey.
After undergoing surgery in February 2023 to remove a lung tumour, Kim began four rounds of chemotherapy which finished at the end of June.
In July, her doctors found the genetic mutation and suggested Kim take Tagrisso.
Kim said she needed ‘no persuasion at all’ to start the treatment, which was covered by her insurance.
She had some ‘manageable’ side effects from taking Tagrisso, such as skin rash, diarrhea, and fatigue.
Despite these, Kim has been taking the pill for three and a half months, and she is hopeful that she can take it daily for the next three years.
‘I don’t need to have hope. I absolutely believe that this medication is going to make sure the lung cancer will not return. I am planning on living for many more years,' she said.
What do you think of this story? Let us know in the comments below!
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My mother was also diagnosed with Stage 2B (it's like Stage 3) breast cancer 16 years ago. She has been cancer-free after a few sessions of chemotherapy and radiotherapy 
my father, unfortunately, lost his battle against Stage 4 throat cancer recently.
