Novartis’ drug Scemblix demonstrated superior efficacy compared to current standard-of-care drugs in a recent late-stage trial.
According to reports presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago, Scemblix yielded significantly better responses and lower dropout rates among patients with a specific type of leukemia. Detailed data showed that 67.7% of patients achieved a major molecular response (MMR) with Scemblix, a nearly 20% increase compared to those on standard treatments.
The trial, involving 405 patients, focused on testing Scemblix in newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients against tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs), such as Novartis’ Glivec. TKIs have transformed CML from a fatal disease into a manageable condition with enduring responses for many patients.
As reported by ET Pharma, CML affects over 9,000 individuals annually in the U.S., leading to approximately 1,000 deaths. A major molecular response, characterized by a significant reduction in the cancer-causing gene BCR-ABL, is crucial for managing CML, as it is believed to play a key role in the disease’s initiation and progression.