Dr. Bazhenova on the Potential Approval of Lorlatinib for Patients With ALK-Positive NSCLC

Lyudmila Bazhenova, MD, professor of clinical medicine, University of California, San Diego, discusses the potential approval of lorlatinib for patients with ALK-positive non—small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Lorlatinib data are only relevant for patients who have failed prior ALK inhibitors, says Bazhenova. The study of lorlatinib had a treatment-naïve cohort, so physicians should have an idea of how lorlatinib works in patients who have not been exposed to alectinib (Alecensa) or crizotinib (Xalkori). The randomized trial results have not been released yet, says Bazhenova.

Lorlatinib is running a head-to-head study against crizotinib, and it is very possible that in the future physicians may have another option for newly diagnosed patients. Bazhenova notes that the trial design of lorlatinib is very important. It had several cohorts, and some of the cohorts allowed patients who had received 2 or more prior ALK inhibitors. Physicians have some sense that lorlatinib could work following treatment with brigatinib (Alunbrig), alectinib, or ceritinib (Zykadia).