Roche's divarasib beats approved drugs in KRAS-driven lung cancer trial
Roche reported that its investigational drug divarasib beat two approved treatments in a head-to-head trial for a common form of lung cancer. In the phase III Krascendo 1 study, patients with previously treated KRAS G12C-mutated non-small cell lung cancer who received divarasib had statistically significant improvements in both progression-free and overall survival compared with those given sotorasib or adagrasib , the drugs sold by Amgen and Bristol Myers Squibb. Roche reported no new safety concerns.
Head-to-head data are notable because most cancer drugs win approval by beating placebo or chemotherapy, not a rival targeted therapy. The KRAS G12C mutation appears in roughly 14% of non-small cell lung cancers and has long been associated with poor outcomes; the first inhibitors against it reached the market only in recent years.
Roche said it will present detailed results at a medical meeting and submit them to regulators. If approved, divarasib would give patients a more potent option in a competitive field and pressure the incumbents — though overall survival gains in this setting will draw the closest scrutiny from oncologists and payers.