European Commission Approves Fruquintinib for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Treatment

The European Commission has recently approved Fruzaqla, which contains fruquintinib, as a monotherapy for patients with adult metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), who have previously undergone standard treatments. This includes fluoropyrimidine-, oxaliplatin-, and irinotecan-based chemotherapies, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents, and anti-epidermal growth factor receptor agents. Fruquintinib is the first advanced therapy in the European Union for mCRC, regardless of the biomarker status within the past decade. It is a kinase inhibitor that eliminates tumor angiogenesis, and as an oral inhibitor of VEGFR-1, -2, and -3, it blocks the pathways allowing blood vessel formation in tumors.

Colorectal Cancer Overview

Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer type across the globe and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. It is estimated that 20% of patients with colorectal cancer will present with metastatic disease risk during their diagnosis, while another 25% will develop metastases while on localized disease diagnosis.

Although early-stage colorectal cancer can undergo surgical resection, metastatic colorectal cancer is an area of high requiremement for new treatments, given the limited treatment options and poor outcomes.

The Benefits of Fruquintinib

It is noticeable from the phase 3 multiregional FRESCO-2 trial that fruquintinib provides a clinically significant and meaningful benefit for patients with refractory metastatic colorectal cancer, regardless of prior therapies they have undergone. Median overall survival for those in the treatment group was 7.4 months when treated with fruquintinib, compared with those in the placebo group, which was only 4.8 months. The study’s authors concluded that fruquintinib should be used as a global treatment option for metastatic colorectal cancer’s refractory therapy.

Adverse Reactions to Fruquintinib

The most prevalent adverse reactions of patients treated with fruquintinib were thrombocytopenia, hypothyroidism, and anorexia, among others. Adverse reactions leading to treatment discontinuation occurred in 20% of patients in fruquintinib-treated patients and in 21 % of those treated with a placebo.

The Approval of Fruquintinib

The decision to approve fruquintinib by the European Commission was based on the positive opinion given by the European Medicines Agency Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use in April this year, supported by the results from the phase 3 multiregional FRESCO-2 trial. Josep Tabernero, MD, PhD, director of Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology in Barcelona, Spain, emphasized that innovative treatments such as fruquintinib are required since people living with metastatic colorectal cancer face numerous difficulties from their illness and the adverse effects of therapies. Fruquintinib is an oral, chemotherapy-free targeted agent making metastatic colorectal cancer treatment an essential need for patients worldwide.

Conclusion

The approval of fruquintinib is a significant step forward in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer. The kinase inhibitor provides a new option beyond the initial treatments that have been unsuccessful in the treatment of mCRC. Under the treatment, the drug will give diseased patients a breakthrough, and it can quickly become a leading drug in the fight against colorectal cancer.

Originally Post From https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/europe-approves-fruzaqla-metastatic-colorectal-cancer-2024a1000bzn

Europe Gives Green Light to Fruzaqla for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer