(Alliance News) - AstraZeneca PLC's partner Daiichi Sankyo Co Ltd on Wednesday announced that their cancer drug Enhertu has received another approval in Japan.
Daiichi, a Tokyo-based pharmaceutical company, said the approval was for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable advanced or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer with HER2 mutations that has progressed after chemotherapy.
The approval was by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour & Welfare and is based on results from the Destiny-Lung02 phase 2 trial.
Daiichi said that only 18% of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer live more than three years after diagnosis.
"HER2 mutant non-small cell lung cancer is a rare but serious disease and now patients and physicians in Japan have the potential to benefit from the first HER2 directed treatment option approved specifically for this type of lung cancer," said Wataru Takasaki, head of Daiichi's research & development division in Japan.
Enhertu is an antibody-drug conjugate which AstraZeneca and Daiichi jointly develop. In March it was approved in Japan for treating adults with HER2 low unresectable or recurrent breast cancer after prior chemotherapy.
Wednesday's approval is the fourth indication secured for Enhertu in Japan in just over three years.
Daiichi Sankyo shares closed 1.1% higher at JPY4,220.00 each on Wednesday in Tokyo.
By Tom Budszus, Alliance News reporter
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