Gemzar Combination Extends Survival for Patients with Lung Cancer

Strategic Insights -

A groundbreaking approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Eli Lilly and Company's anticancer agent Gemzar (gemcitabine HCl) a new indication for use in combination with cisplatin, a commonly used anticancer drug, for the first-line treatment of inoperable, locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This combination has been shown to significantly improve survival rates and reduce tumor growth in patients with advanced NSCLC. According to the American Cancer Society, non-small cell lung cancer will account for 75% of the 171,500 lung cancer cases and 160,100 lung cancer deaths this year, making it the No. 1 cancer killer in the United States.

Key Takeaways:

  • The combination of Gemzar and cisplatin has been shown to significantly improve survival rates in patients with advanced NSCLC, with a one-year survival probability of 39% compared to 28% for patients who received cisplatin alone.
  • The Gemzar-cisplatin combination regimen resulted in a higher tumor response rate (26%) compared to cisplatin alone (10%), and a longer median time to disease progression (5.2 months vs. 3.7 months).
  • Patients who received Gemzar-cisplatin had a significantly higher one-year survival probability (39%) compared to patients who received cisplatin alone (28%).
  • The tumor response rate was significantly higher in the Gemzar-cisplatin group (33%) compared to the cisplatin-etoposide group (14%).
  • Common side effects of the Gemzar-cisplatin combination include myelosuppression, nausea, vomiting, and alopecia.

Statistics:

  • 171,500: estimated number of lung cancer cases in the United States this year (American Cancer Society).
  • 160,100: estimated number of lung cancer deaths in the United States this year (American Cancer Society).
  • 75%: percentage of lung cancer cases that are non-small cell lung cancer (American Cancer Society).
  • 39%: one-year survival probability for patients who received the Gemzar-cisplatin combination (FDA approval).
  • 28%: one-year survival probability for patients who received cisplatin alone (FDA approval).
  • 26%: tumor response rate for patients who received the Gemzar-cisplatin combination (FDA approval).
  • 10%: tumor response rate for patients who received cisplatin alone (FDA approval).
  • 5.2 months: median time to disease progression for patients who received the Gemzar-cisplatin combination (FDA approval).
  • 3.7 months: median time to disease progression for patients who received cisplatin alone (FDA approval).

Sources:

  • Eli Lilly and Company press release, August 26, 1998.
  • American Cancer Society, "Cancer Facts & Figures 1998".
  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration, "Gemzar (gemcitabine HCl) for Injection, for IV use".