What's Happening?
Exelixis has announced promising results from a subgroup analysis of the CABINET Phase 3 trial, which evaluated CABOMETYX (cabozantinib) against placebo in patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors (NET) originating in the lungs or thymus. The trial demonstrated
that CABOMETYX reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 81% compared to placebo, with a median progression-free survival of 8.2 months versus 2.7 months for placebo. The study included patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic NET (pNET) or extra-pancreatic NET (epNET), with 49 participants having lung or thymic NET. The results will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress (ESMO) in 2025.
Why It's Important?
The findings from the CABINET trial are significant as they offer a new targeted treatment option for patients with advanced lung and thymic NET, which are challenging to treat due to limited existing therapies. The approval of CABOMETYX in the U.S. and EU earlier this year provides hope for improved outcomes in this patient population. The trial results reinforce the potential of CABOMETYX to address unmet needs in the treatment of heterogeneous NET, potentially improving survival rates and quality of life for affected patients.
What's Next?
Exelixis is committed to furthering research in the NET patient community, with ongoing trials such as the STELLAR-311 pivotal trial examining zanzalintinib as a first-line therapy for NET. The company aims to continue developing treatments that address the needs of patients with limited options, potentially expanding the use of CABOMETYX and other therapies in the future.
Beyond the Headlines
The CABINET trial highlights the importance of targeted therapies in oncology, particularly for rare and aggressive cancers like thymic NET. The success of CABOMETYX may encourage further research into similar treatments, potentially leading to breakthroughs in other difficult-to-treat cancers.
