Vizimpro (dacomitinib) is an oral, once-daily pan-human epidermal growth factor receptor kinase inhibitor from Pfizer. It is approved in the European Union (EU) for the first-line treatment of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-activating mutations.
Approval from the European Commission comes after data from a Phase III study, which showed “more than five-month improvement in progression-free survival over existing therapy,” according to Andreas Penk, regional president of oncology international markets at Pfizer.
The trial was conducted by Pfizer and SFJ pharmaceuticals, in a collaborative development agreement. The drug has also been approved in the US, as well as in Japan, and Canada.
Pfizer’s portfolio for lung cancer will grow with this approval, as its current treatment for first-line treatment for ALK-positive NSCLC, Xalkori (crizotinib), and its recently approved second-line treatment Lorbrena (lorlatinib) are both facing competition in the market.
According to a Global Data report sales for NSCLC treatments by 2025 is estimated to reach $26.8bn (€23.79bn) with a compounded annual growth rate of 15.7%. With Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pfizer, Roche, AstraZeneca, and Merck as projected leaders.