GSK hails ‘significant breakthrough’ with breast cancer drug

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) has reported that its breast cancer drug, Tykerb (lapatnib), is a vital breakthrough for women suffering from advanced HER2 (ErbB2) positive breast cancer.

The compound has undergone a number of clinical trials, including a phase III study involving 399 patients that showed a lengthening in the median time to disease progression.

Having recently been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration as a result of this trial, the drug is also being studied by GSK in ongoing clinical studies.

Tykerb is an orally-administered small molecule that inhibits the tyrosine kinase components of the EGFR (ErbB1) and HER2 (ErbB2) receptors, with the stimulation of these receptors associated with the processes involved in tumour progression, invasion and metastases.

Paolo Paoletti, senior vice president of the oncology medicine development centre at GSK, said: “The data clearly show that this small molecule, oral, targeted agent, in combination with capecitabine, is effective for women whose disease has progressed on previous therapies, including anthracylines, taxanes and trastuzumab.”

He added that the firm was committed to further development of the compound, testing the drug in adjuvant breast cancer and solid tumours.

Last month, GSK announced the initiation of a phase III international study of Tykerb in patients with head and neck cancer.