Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common form of lung cancer, accounting for around 80 to 85 out of 100 cases.
Non-small cell lung cancer can be one of three types: squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma or large-cell carcinoma.
Now, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has approved the medicine sugemalimab (Eqjubi) to treat adult patients with non-small cell lung cancer.
Sugemalimab is a monoclonal antibody (a protein designed to recognise and attach to a specific target in the body).
It works by attaching to a target called programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). Cancer cells with PD-L1 may switch off some immune system cells.
By blocking PD-1, sugemalimab stops cancer, switches off immune cells, and increases the immune system’s ability to kill cancer cells.
Sugemalimab found to be most effective treatment for non-small cell lung cancer
Sugemalimab is given to the patient in a hospital or clinic under the supervision of an experienced doctor.
The patient’s doctor will give them sugemalimab through an infusion (drip) into a vein over 60 minutes every three weeks.
Clinical trials showed that sugemalimab in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy was more effective than placebo (a dummy treatment) in patients with Stage 4 metastatic lung cancer.
The main measure of effectiveness was survival without worsening (progression) of small-cell lung cancer.
Patients who had sugemalimab treatment lived, on average, nine months without the disease getting worse, compared with 4.9 months for patients who did not receive sugemalimab.
Julian Beach, MHRA Interim Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access, explained, “Enabling safe access to high-quality, safe, and effective medicines is a key priority for us.
“We’re assured that the appropriate regulatory standards of safety, quality and effectiveness for the approval of this new formulation have been met.”
Side effects of sugemalimab
During clinical studies, common side effects of patients will small-cell lung cancer included:
- A decreased number of red blood cells that carry oxygen around your body.
- Increased blood levels of liver enzymes, sugar, triglycerides, and cholesterol.
- Decreased blood levels of calcium, potassium, sodium and thyroid hormone.
- Increased levels of protein in the urine.
- Numbness, tingling or decreased sensation in part of the body.
As with any medicine, the MHRA will keep the safety and effectiveness of sugemalimab under close review.
Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect from this medicine is encouraged to talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to the Yellow Card scheme, either through the website or by searching the Google Play or Apple App stores for MHRA Yellow Card.
