New lung cancer medicine under trial in China
A domestically developed drug targeting one type of lung cancer is expected to complete clinical trials before the end of year and then receive approval for use among patients soon afterward, say experts from Shanghai Chest Hospital, which is leading the trials.
So far there are no drugs specifically targeting patients with MET exon 14 skipping mutation. This mutation is found in 3 percent of lung cancer patients.
“Both Chinese and Western medical experts are conducting research targeting this mutation and our clinical trial of the new targeted medicine has received considerable attention from the international medical community,” said Dr Lu Shun from Shanghai Chest Hospital. Lu is also leading research on the drug with assistance from 33 other hospitals in China.
“Current clinical trials saw positive responses in 55 percent of patients, whose average survival is expected to prolong from eight months to over two years,” he said. “The medicine has been included in the 'green channel' for innovative drugs for a quicker reviewing and approval process. After being approved, it will become the first medicine in the world targeting such mutations and bring hope to patients who usually have a poor response to chemotherapy and short survival.”
In addition to enhancing new drug development, the domestic medical community has also started to regulate the use of anti-cancer medicines.
“A nationwide training has been carried out this year and the National Health Commission will conduct a wide inspection next year,” said Lu, who is a member of the specialist team on the new guideline.
Dr Lu Shun from Shanghai Chest Hospital checks a lung cancer patient.
