Trastuzumab deruxtecan for treating previously untreated locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with HER2 mutations

Trastuzumab deruxtecan is in clinical development for treatment of previously untreated advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), with HER2 genetic mutations. Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK and NSCLC accounts for approximately 85% of all lung cancer cases, with around 1-4% of these being caused by mutations in the HER2 gene. Lung cancer symptoms include a persistent cough, chest infections that keep coming back, coughing up blood, and pain when breathing. The survival rates following a lung cancer diagnosis are relatively low, meaning not many people survive for a long time following a diagnosis. Metastatic or advanced cancer means that it has spread from where the cancer started, this makes it harder to treat. There are currently limited HER2 specific options for initial treatment of advanced or metastatic NSCLC, this indicates that there remains an unmet need.