Trial Results Boost Chances for BI Lung Cancer Drug Outside US

Promising recent clinical trial data for Boehringer Ingelheim’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) Gilotrif (afatinib) will strengthen the drug’s position in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment markets outside the US, says research and consulting firm GlobalData.

The LUX-Lung 7 trial showed Gilotrif to reduce the risk of adenocarcinoma progression for patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations by 27% compared with one of its closest rivals, AstraZeneca’s Iressa (gefitinib). The differential in progression-free survival at 18 months was 27% for Gilotrif and 15% for Iressa, increasing further at 24 months, to 18% and 8%, respectively.

According to GlobalData analyst Cai Xuan, these trial results suggest that "Gilotrif may have superior long-term efficacy to Iressa, which will encourage uptake in NSCLC markets in Europe and Asia". The US market, however, will likely continue to be dominated by Genentech/Astellas Pharmaceuticals’ Tarceva (erlotinib).

For more see GlobalData's report here.