Rezivertinib

The incidence and mortality of lung cancer rank first among malignant tumors in China. Among them, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most important pathological type, accounting for 80%-85% of lung cancer patients, including adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and other pathological subtypes. In recent years, with the discovery of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene and the successful development of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), the treatment efficacy of stage Ⅳ NSCLC patients with EGFR gene sensitive mutation has been greatly improved. As of August 23, 2023, the first generation EGFR-TKIs, gefitinib, icotinib, and erlotinib; the second generation EGFR-TKIs, afatinib and dacomitinib; and the third generation EGFR-TKIs, osimertinib, almonertinib, furmonertinib and befotertinib were all approved for marketing by China National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). In addition, multiple domestic third-generation EGFR-TKIs are undergoing clinical trials, such as rezivertinib (BPI-7711), limertinib (ASK120067), and oritinib (SH-1028). Meanwhile, mobocertinib and sunvozertinib, which targets EGFR 20ins mutations, were also approved by NMPA. With the increasing variety of EGFR-TKIs approved for marketing subsequently, it brings confusion to clinicians when choosing specific medications, and there is an urgent need to develop relevant treatment guidelines. Hence, the Medical Oncology Branch of China International Exchange and Promotive Association for Medical and Health Care and the Chinese Association for Clinical Oncologists convened experts to integrate the research results of various EGFR-TKIs, and proposed the "China clinical practice guideline for epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors in stage Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer (version 2023)", to provide reference for better clinical practice.

Rezivertinib (BPI-7711) is a novel third-generation EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) targeting both EGFR-sensitizing mutations and EGFR T790M mutation. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rezivertinib in patients with locally advanced or metastatic/recurrent EGFR T790M-mutated NSCLC.

Patients with locally advanced or metastatic/recurrent NSCLC with confirmed EGFR T790M mutation who progressed after first-/second-generation EGFR TKI therapy or primary EGFR T790M mutation were enrolled. Patients received rezivertinib at 180 mg orally once daily until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or withdrawal of consent. The primary end point was objective response rate (ORR) assessed by blinded independent central review per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1. Secondary end points included disease control rate (DCR), duration of response, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, and safety. This study is registered with Clinical Trials.gov (NCT03812809).

A total of 226 patients were enrolled from July 5, 2019, to January 22, 2020. By the data cutoff date on January 24, 2022, the median duration of follow-up was 23.3 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 22.8-24.0). The ORR by blinded independent central review was 64.6% (95% CI: 58.0%-70.8%), and DCR was 89.8% (95% CI: 85.1%-93.4%). The median duration of response was 12.5 months (95% CI: 10.0-13.9), and median PFS was 12.2 months (95% CI: 9.6-13.9). The median overall survival was 23.9 months (95% CI: 20.0-not calculated [NC]). Among 91 (40.3%) patients with central nervous system (CNS) metastases, the median CNS PFS was 16.6 months (95% CI: 11.1-NC). In 29 patients with more than or equal to one brain target lesion at baseline, the CNS ORR and CNS DCR were 69.0% (95% CI: 49.2%-84.7%) and 100% (95% CI: 88.1%-100%), respectively. Time to progression of CNS was 16.5 months (95% CI: 9.7-NC). Of 226 patients, 188 (83.2%) had at least one treatment-related adverse event, whereas grade more than or equal to 3 occurred in 45 (19.9%) patients. No interstitial lung disease was reported.

Rezivertinib was found to have promising efficacy and favorable safety profile for patients with locally advanced or metastatic/recurrent NSCLC with EGFR T790M mutation.