Argentina Makes New Lung Cancer Treatment Available

Argentina welcomes a new treatment for a particular type of lung cancer. This is amivantamab, a monoclonal antibody that has shown efficacy for people with a specific mutation within the advanced or metastatic subtype of lung cancer called “non-small cell” lung cancer (NSCLC). This development represents a turning point for those patients who previously lacked specific therapeutic options beyond conventional chemotherapy. Diego Kaen, president of the Argentine Association of Clinical Oncology (AAOC), underlined the importance of this advance, highlighting that each patient now has “a therapeutic alternative” that was not available before. Amivantamab was the subject of clinical trials, such as the CHRYSALIS research program, which evaluated its safety and efficacy in lung cancer patients who have a genetic alteration in the tumor’s epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The results were encouraging, with an overall response rate of 37% and a median overall survival of 23 months, unprecedented figures for this type of tumor. This new treatment was approved by the National Administration of Drugs, Food and Medical Technology (ANMAT), as well as by regulatory authorities in the United States (FDA) and Europe (EMA), among other countries. Its availability in Argentina offers new hope for patients affected by this disease, which is one of the most prevalent and aggressive types of cancer in the country. Lung cancer represents a public health challenge, with more than 12,000 new cases detected annually in Argentina, according to estimates by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). In addition, it is the cause of a considerable number of deaths, with lung cancer being the main cause of mortality among all types of cancer in the country, according to data from the National Ministry of Health. coughing up blood, chest pain, shortness of breath, constant fatigue, and unintentional weight loss, which could indicate the presence of the disease and warrant a medical consultation with a specialist.

Original source in Spanish