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Ensartinib is approved by the USFDA for ALK-positive locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer

Sai SreeWritten by Sai SreeMedically ReviewedUpdated March 9, 20253 min read
 Ensartinib is approved by the USFDA for ALK-positive locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer
In this article
  1. FDA Approves Ensartinib for ALK-Positive Locally Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
  2. EXALT3 Trial – Efficacy and Safety of Ensartinib in ALK-Positive NSCLC
  3. How CancerFax Helps

On December 18, 2024, the Food and Drug Administration sanctioned ensartinib (Ensacove, Xcovery Holdings, Inc.) for adult patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have not previously been treated with an ALK inhibitor.

The efficacy was assessed in eXALT3 (NCT02767804), an open-label, randomized, active-controlled, multicenter trial involving 290 patients with locally progressed or metastatic ALK-positive NSCLC who had not previously undergone ALK-targeted treatment. Patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either ensartinib or crizotinib.

The primary effectiveness endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) assessed by blinded independent central review. The primary secondary efficacy outcome measure was overall survival (OS). Ensartinib exhibited a statistically significant enhancement in progression-free survival (PFS) vs to crizotinib, with a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.56 (95% CI: 0.40, 0.79; p-value 0.0007).

The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 25.8 months (95% confidence interval: 21.8, not estimable) in the ensartinib group and 12.7 months (95% confidence interval: 9.2, 16.6) in the crizotinib group. No statistically significant change in overall survival was observed (HR 0.88 [95% CI: 0.63, 1.23], p-value 0.4570).

The predominant adverse responses (≥20%) included rash, musculoskeletal pain, constipation, cough, pruritus, nausea, edema, pyrexia, and exhaustion.

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Sai Sree

About Sai Sree

✓ Reviewed for medical accuracy by the CancerFax review panel.

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This article is for educational purposes only and should not replace medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified oncology specialist. Every patient's case is different. Treatment decisions should always be made after a review of complete medical records by the treating medical team.

Treatment availability, eligibility, timelines, and access can change. Any clinical trial participation depends on detailed review and approval by the trial hospital or investigator.