Johnson & Johnson has welcomed the decision by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) to accept Rybrevant (amivantamab) in combination with carboplatin and pemetrexed for use within NHS Scotland as a first-line treatment for adult patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with activating EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations.
Lung cancer is the third most common cancer in Scotland, with around 5,300 people diagnosed each year. NSCLC accounts for 80–85 percent of all cases, and EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations are linked to poorer outcomes compared to other EGFR mutations. There has been a significant unmet need for targeted treatment options for this group of patients, whose cancer is often resistant to other NSCLC therapies.
Prof Virginia Harrison, Research Trustee, EGFR+ UK, said: “EGFR+ UK is delighted that the Scottish Medicines Consortium has approved amivantamab with chemotherapy for eligible patients in Scotland diagnosed with EGFR Exon 20 insertion mutations NSCLC. This announcement marks a landmark moment for a group of patients who have long faced limited and often ineffective treatment options.
She added: “This is an important and emotional moment for the patient community, and we’re really grateful to everyone who helped make this progress possible.”
Dr Brian Clark, Consultant Clinical Oncologist in Scotland, explained: “The approval is very welcome news and an important advance in the treatment of patients with lung cancer in Scotland. This is the first targeted therapy available in Scotland specifically approved as a first-line treatment for patients with this uncommon subtype of lung cancer, where treatment options until now have been quite limited.”
The SMC’s recommendation is based on data from the phase 3 PAPILLON study, which showed that amivantamab with carboplatin and pemetrexed increased median progression-free survival by 4.7 months compared to chemotherapy alone.
Amanda Cunnington, UK Senior Director of Patient Access, Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine, said: “The availability of targeted treatment options is crucial for people living with lung cancer driven by specific mutations. We are therefore delighted to have secured access for eligible patients in Scotland to a first-line treatment targeting EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations, which will make a real difference to these patients’ lives.”
