It’s a while since we discussed ALK+ lung cancer, but with new data coming out at ESMO last week, this is a good time to take stock and see what’s happening with the next generation inhibitors in a post crizotinib (Xalkori) world. These include ceritinib (Zykadia), alectinib and Ariad’s AP26113, which just received Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the FDA.

At ESMO two years ago in Milan, it was quite clear in a dedicated ALK session that these agents not only looked very promising, but were also likely to be fast tracked to market in patients with crizotinib resistance. All are more potent (based on the IC50) than crizotinib, while some target point mutations associated with crizotinib resistance and others have activity in patients with brain metastases, which is one of the common causes of progressive disease with crizotinib.

Today’s post is a long and meaty one – it not only covers data that was presented at the meeting, but also offers a glimpse into the changing ALK landscape.

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