On May 16, the US licensed a new drug called tarlatamab-dlle, now sold under the trade name Imdelltra, to treat metastatic small cell lung cancer. Priced at $780,000 for a year of treatment, this targeted immunotherapy uses antibodies to bind to cancer cells and immune cells, instructing the immune system to destroy cancer.
The mechanism of action of tarlatamab-dlle involves binding to Delta 3 (DLL3) on tumor cells and combining with T cells to instruct the immune system to destroy cancer cells. This drug is the first of its kind to target DLL3 with bispecific T-cell engagement therapy, leading to the activation of a patient’s immune system to combat lung cancer. Amgen, the manufacturer of the drug, highlights its effectiveness and innovative nature in treating patients with small cell lung cancer.
Clinical trials have shown that tarlatamab-dlle can significantly reduce tumors in patients with relapsed/refractory small cell lung cancer. In a study involving 99 patients, those receiving the drug had an average survival time of 14.3 months and a 40% reduction in tumors compared to those who did not receive it. While generally safe, serious side effects like cytokine release syndrome (CRS) can be life-threatening. Other common side effects include fatigue, fever, and muscle pain.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved tarlatamab-dlle based on these clinical trial results under Project Orbis, a collaborative initiative for evaluating cancer drugs involving multiple regulatory agencies. The approval represents a significant milestone in the treatment of small cell lung cancer by offering patients a new and innovative option for combating this challenging disease.
