Savolitinib for MET-driven, unresectable and locally advanced or metastatic papillary renal cell carcinoma

Savolitinib is a medicinal product that is currently in clinical development for the treatment of MET-driven, unresectable and locally advanced or metastatic papillary renal cell carcinoma. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common type of kidney cancer and is described as locally advanced and metastatic when the cancer has spread from the kidneys to other parts of the body. Papillary RCC is a less common subtype of RCC and is associated with an inherited gene mutation (‘MET-driven’) that provides a potential target for emerging treatments. In most cases of advanced papillary RCC, surgery is not possible (‘unresectable’) and therapeutic options are often limited.
Savolitinib is a potent first-in-class, MET inhibitor that works by selectively inhibiting the MET-pathway which is responsible for the growth of the tumours in papillary RCC. Savolitinib is administered orally and early results from clinical studies suggests that it may suppress MET-driven tumour growth. If licensed savolitinib would offer a new treatment option for patients with MET-driven, unresectable and locally advanced or metastatic papillary renal cell carcinoma.