WASHINGTON – Experimental treatment by Pfizer and Arvinas delayed the development of breast cancer for more than three months compared to Astrazeneca Faslodex in patients with certain gene mutations, according to the trial results announced on Saturday.
The findings were presented at Chicago at the Annual American Society of Clinical Oncology and published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
The trial found that the experimental vepdegestrant drug increased survival without the development of the disease in patients with ESR1 mutations for up to five months, compared to about two months for faslodex.
The findings follow the initial results of the research in March. These results show the benefits of Vepdegestrant in patients with mutations but fail to show benefits in a greater group of patients, so that Arvinas shares reach the lowest record.
More detailed data on Saturdays shows that Vepdegestrant increases survival in a group of patients larger up to 3.8 months, compared to 3.6 months for faslodex.
The final stage of research involved 624 patients who were previously treated with a type of breast cancer which covered nearly 70% of all of these cancers.
Erika Hamilton, one of the study authors, said that Faslodex “clearly has several challenges now,” added that the drug was injected into the muscles, in contrast to the more practical oral vepdegestrant dose.
Vepdegestrant is included in the new drug group called Protac Er Degraders, which is designed to utilize the body’s natural protein disposal system to specifically target and degrade proteins that spur tumor growth.
Breast cancer contributes about one third of all new female cancer every year in the US, according to the American Cancer Society.
Approved treatments for advanced types of breast cancer include Eli Lilly, Verzenio, Pfizer`s Ibrance and Novartis` Kisqali.
Leerink Partners analyst Andrew Berens estimates that Vepdegestrant will get $ 576 million in peak sales in 2032.
Earlier this month, Arvinas said that they would not continue the two final stages of research planned for the drug.
Time.news Exclusive: Is Vepdegestrant a Game-Changer in Breast cancer Treatment? An Expert Weighs In
Keywords: Breast Cancer Treatment, Vepdegestrant, ESR1 Mutation, Arvinas, Pfizer, faslodex, Targeted Therapy, clinical Trial, Protac Er Degraders
Time.news: Today, we’re diving deep into a promising progress in the fight against breast cancer. Recent trial results, presented at the american Society of Clinical Oncology and published in The New England Journal of Medicine, show that an experimental drug, vepdegestrant, offers a potential advantage over existing treatments like Astrazeneca’s Faslodex, particularly for patients with specific gene mutations. To help us understand this breakthrough and its implications, we welcome Dr. Anya Sharma, a leading oncologist specializing in breast cancer. Dr. Sharma,thank you for joining us.
Dr.Anya Sharma: It’s my pleasure to be here.
Time.news: Dr. Sharma, can you break down what’s so significant about these findings regarding vepdegestrant and its impact on breast cancer treatment? The article mentions an improvement in progression-free survival.
Dr. Anya Sharma: absolutely. We’re talking about a targeted therapy showing promise in a specific subset of breast cancer patients. The trial focused on patients previously treated for the disease, a common situation given that breast cancer accounts for roughly a third of new cancer diagnoses in women. The key finding is that vepdegestrant, developed by Pfizer and Arvinas, prolonged the time before the cancer progressed again in patients with ESR1 mutations – about five months compared to two months with Faslodex. While the overall improvement across all patients was a more modest 3.8 months versus 3.6 months, the benefit in the ESR1 mutation group is definitely noteworthy.
Time.news: Let’s talk more about these ESR1 mutations. Why are they so vital in this context?
Dr.Anya Sharma: ESR1 mutations are frequently found in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, which is the most common type. These mutations can make the cancer cells resistant to standard hormonal therapies. So, having a drug that appears to overcome this resistance, even in a subset of patients, is a significant step forward.
Time.news: The article highlights that vepdegestrant is a “Protac Er Degraders.” Can you explain what that means and why this mechanism of action is fascinating?
Dr. Anya Sharma: Protac Er degraders represent a novel approach to targeted therapy. They work by harnessing the body’s own protein disposal system. Instead of just blocking the estrogen receptor, as conventional hormone therapies do, vepdegestrant actually targets the estrogen receptor protein for degradation, effectively removing it from the cancer cell. This can be a more effective way to shut down the signaling pathways that fuel tumor growth.
Time.news: Faslodex is mentioned as one of the standard treatments. Erika Hamilton, one of the study authors, even noted its challenges. What are the limitations of Faslodex, and how does vepdegestrant potentially address them?
Dr.Anya Sharma: Faslodex is an effective drug, but it has limitations. It’s administered via intramuscular injection,which can be uncomfortable for patients. Veptidegestrant, conversely, is an oral medication, making it more convenient and typically better tolerated. Oral management could significantly improve patient adherence and quality of life.
Time.news: The financial analysts predict peak sales of nearly $600 million by 2032.What are the commercial implications if vepdegestrant gets approved?
Dr. Anya Sharma: That’s a significant number, reflecting the unmet need for effective therapies in advanced breast cancer. If approved, vepdegestrant would likely become an critically important option for patients with ESR1 mutations, potentially competing with existing treatments like Eli Lilly’s Verzenio, Pfizer’s Ibrance, and Novartis’ Kisqali – all approved treatments for advanced breast cancer.
Time.news: Interestingly, the article also mentioned that Arvinas has decided not to continue with the planned final stages of research. Can you speak to whether this undermines the drug potential?
Dr. Anya Sharma: It is indeed an important point that raises questions. Without knowing their full reasoning, decisions like that are often financially motivated to either deprioritize resources elsewhere or due to negative findings in other trials. That alone does not necessarily mean the drug is not useful, especially given the promising results in those with ESR1 mutation.
Time.news: For our readers,what’s the key takeaway here? Should women diagnosed with breast cancer be asking their doctors about vepdegestrant?
Dr.Anya Sharma: It’s critically important to keep in mind that this is still an experimental treatment, and it is indeed not yet widely available. However, women diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive, advanced breast cancer, particularly those who have previously received endocrine therapy, should definitely discuss ESR1 mutation testing with their oncologists. Testing for ESR1 mutation is crucial to see if the patients would be a candidate for the new drug. It’s all about personalized medicine now – tailoring treatment to the specific characteristics of each individual’s cancer. If the tumor displays ESR1 mutation, this therapy would be worth discussing with their physicians. Patients should also be aware of ongoing clinical trials that test various new treatments,including this and similar therapies.
Time.news: Dr. sharma, thank you for shedding light on this important development in the breast cancer treatment landscape. Your insights are invaluable.
Dr. Anya Sharma: You’re welcome. I’m always happy to contribute to greater awareness and understanding of these advancements.
