One of the world's leading biotechnology companies revealed that the Food and Drug Administration cleared its key lung cancer treatment
Amgen's Lumakras, a medicine designed to treat a non-small
cell lung cancer with a specific mutation gene known as KRAS, was cleared by
the FDA on Friday.
According to data from Amgen, Lumakras shrank
tumours having the KRAS mutation in about 36% of patients in clinical trials. "The
LUMAKRAS development program was a race against cancer for Amgen's scientists
and clinical-trial investigators who together have now successfully delivered
this new medicine to patients in less than three years -- from the first
patient dosed to U.S. regulatory approval," stated the company's Executive
Vice President of Research David Reese.
FDA's decision came after last month’s proposal that the
once-daily treatment be compared with a lower daily dose of the drug. Amgen
agreed, and the results are expected in late 2022.
In March, Amgen announced the purchase of Five Prime
Therapeutics for $1.9 billion to expand its cancer-drug pipeline.
Lumakras will be listed at $17,900 per month in the U.S.
Following the news, Amgen closed the trading session 1.2% up
at $238.23 per share.
Sources: finance.yahoo.com, thestreet.com