Bristol wins U.S. approval for lung cancer drug targeting rare genetic mutation

The Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday approved a new treatment for people with non-small cell lung cancer that contains a rare genetic alteration called Ros1.

The genetically targeted medicine, called Augtyro, will be sold by Bristol Myers Squibb. It was developed by a small biotech company, Turning Point Therapeutics, that was acquired by Bristol in June 2022.

advertisement

Augtyro, also known by its scientific name repotrectinib, is entering the market after the approvals of two other drugs — Pfizer’s Xalkori and Roche’s Rozyltrek — that also treat Ros1-altered lung cancer, which occurs in about 2% of all lung cancer cases. But Augtryo was designed to have a more durable effect and to work against tumors that have grown resistant to other Ros1 drugs.

Get unlimited access to award-winning journalism and exclusive events.

Subscribe