FDA’s Approval to Larotrectinib (Vitrakvi)
The FDA has granted an accelerated approval to larotrectinib (Vitrakvi) for the treatment of adult and pediatric patients with solid tumors that have an NTRK gene fusion without a known acquired resistance mutation, are metastatic or where surgical resection is likely to result in severe morbidity, and have no satisfactory alternative treatments or that have progressed following treatment.
Results of 3 Clinical Trials
The approval is based on findings from patients with TRK-positive tumors enrolled across 3 clinical trials. In results published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) in February 2018, larotrectinib induced an objective response rate (ORR) of 75% (95% CI, 61-85) by independent review and 80% (95% CI, 67-90) by investigator assessment in 55 evaluable patients. Per the independent assessment, there were 7 (13%) complete responses, 34 (62%) partial responses, and 7 (13%) patients with stable disease (SD).
“Today’s approval marks another step in an important shift toward treating cancers based on their tumor genetics rather than their site of origin in the body. This new site-agnostic oncology therapy isn’t specific to a cancer arising in a particular body organ, such as breast or colon cancer. Its approval reflects advances in the use of biomarkers to guide drug development and the more targeted delivery of medicine. We now have the ability to make sure that the right patients get the right treatment at the right time,” FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, said in statement.
