In a surprising turn of events, Johnson & Johnson’s injectable Rybrevant has shown to extend the lives of lung cancer patients compared to the intravenous version. The subcutaneous (SC) formulation of Rybrevant demonstrated a 38% reduction in the risk of death when combined with J&J’s Yuhan-partnered lazertinib in previously treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with common EGFR ex19del or L858R mutations.

Results from the PALOMA-3 trial, presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting, revealed that 65% of patients receiving the SC version and lazertinib were alive at 12 months, compared to 51% in the IV-lazertinib group. The injectable Rybrevant also showed statistically significant results with a nominal p-value at 0.017, indicating its effectiveness in improving overall survival.

Not only did SC Rybrevant demonstrate better overall survival, but it also exhibited longer duration of response and progression-free survival compared to the IV counterpart. Additionally, the SC version had a lower rate of infusion-related reactions (13% versus 66%) and a quicker administration time of up to seven minutes, in contrast to the IV formulation which can take up to five hours.

With these promising results, Johnson & Johnson is looking to file for FDA approval for the SC Rybrevant this year. The company sees this development as a potential advantage in the competitive landscape against AstraZeneca’s EGFR drug Tagrisso. The SC formulation’s improved efficacy and tolerability could position J&J favorably in the market.

Overall, the success of the SC Rybrevant in extending the lives of lung cancer patients marks a significant milestone for Johnson & Johnson in the field of oncology. The company’s commitment to innovation and patient care is evident in the development of this improved drug delivery method, offering hope to those battling this devastating disease.