In a late-stage trial, Pfizer announced on Friday that its drug, Lorbrena, has displayed promising long-term results for the treatment of advanced lung cancer. The findings, which will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual meeting in Chicago, suggest that Lorbrena may become the new standard treatment for this condition.

Lorbrena has already been approved in the U.S. for treating adults with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who have a specific gene mutation known as ALK. Although only 5% of non-small cell lung cancer patients have this mutation, it still amounts to 72,000 individuals diagnosed with this form of cancer each year worldwide.

The Phase 3 trial for Lorbrena included nearly 300 participants, who were either given Lorbrena or Pfizer's older lung cancer drug, Xalkori. Results after five years showed that 50% of patients in the trial were still receiving Lorbrena, compared to only 5% of those receiving Xalkori. Lorbrena also reduced the risk of cancer progression or death by 81% as compared to Xalkori.

Moreover, Lorbrena demonstrated its effectiveness in preventing the spread of the cancer to the brain, a common and concerning aspect of this type of cancer. The drug reduced the risk of brain metastases by an impressive 94% when compared to Xalkori.

Despite competing lung cancer drugs such as alectinib and brigatinib, both of which are ALK inhibitors like Lorbrena, there have been no head-to-head trials comparing their efficacy. However, experts in the field, like Dr. David Spigel, chief scientific officer at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute, expressed confidence in Lorbrena's performance against these competitors.

While Lorbrena has some side effects such as swelling, weight gain, and high cholesterol, it has been noted that the drug does not have the cognitive issues associated with its competitors. This distinguishes Lorbrena as an effective treatment option for patients.

The new data on Lorbrena's long-term effectiveness in treating advanced lung cancer is expected to reshape its position in the medical community. Pfizer's Chief Oncology Officer, Chris Boshoff, believes that this data will lead to Lorbrena becoming the standard first-line treatment for this specific type of lung cancer.

Further research and education will be crucial in maximizing the benefits of Lorbrena, including how physicians can manage any specific side effects associated with the drug. As Pfizer plans to relaunch Lorbrena following the release of this new data, increasing awareness and knowledge among healthcare professionals will be essential.

Pfizer's groundbreaking findings in the Phase 3 trial have the potential to significantly improve the lives of patients with advanced lung cancer. By offering a more effective treatment option that both extends survival and reduces the risk of cancer progression, Lorbrena could emerge as a game-changer in the fight against this aggressive form of cancer.