From Early Research to New Treatments for Patients with ROS1-positive Lung Cancer
By Dhru Deb, PhD
Senior Director, Research and Administration, LCRF
One of my favorite parts of my work at the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) is connecting the dots — between groundbreaking research and the real impact it has on people living with lung cancer.
Earlier this summer, the FDA approved Taletrectinib (Ibtrozi, Nuvation Bio Inc.), a kinase inhibitor for adults with locally advanced or metastatic ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
One of the toughest challenges with earlier therapies has been disease progression, especially when the cancer spreads to the brain. Taletrectinib has shown strong response rates and durable efficacy, including the ability to cross into the central nervous system and help patients with brain metastases.
What’s remarkable is how far back the story goes. Thirteen years ago, LCRF recognized the urgent need to explore targeted treatments for ROS1-positive lung cancer. Donors who believe in scientific progress helped to fund the study “Targeted Therapy Approaches to Lung Cancers Harboring ROS1 Gene Rearrangements,” led by Dr. Alice Shaw at Massachusetts General Hospital. Her work laid the foundation for the first-in-human study of Taletrectinib in the U.S. in 2020.
When I reached out to congratulate Dr. Shaw, she said:
“It’s incredibly exciting that ROS1 patients have so many treatment options.”
Moments like this remind me why our mission matters so deeply. The approval of Taletrectinib reflects the long-term impact of LCRF’s early investments in innovative research and the power of visionary donors.
And this is just one of many promising advancements still to come.
This article originally appeared on LinkedIn.