Landmark Approval for First-line Sarcoma Therapy

Lartruvo (olaratumab) is now approved, in conjunction with doxorubicin, to treat patients with soft tissue sarcoma incurable with radiotherapy or surgery, according to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) press release.¹

Olaratumab reduces tumor growth by blocking platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor activation. Among 133 patients with varying sarcoma subtypes, adding olaratumab to doxorubicin nearly doubled overall and progression free survivals over doxorubicin alone.

The tumors of patients who received olaratumab shrank 18.2%; this figure was only 7.5% for patients who received doxorubicin only.

The drug received accelerated approval from the FDA, which is granted only when a therapy is likely to improve clinical outcomes for patients with life-threatening disease.

This approval is a landmark in sarcoma treatment, as no drug for first-line treatment has been approved since doxorubicin, which was approved over 40 years ago.

Serious adverse events with olaratumab may include embryo-fetal harm, low blood pressure, fever, chills, and rash.

Reference

1. FDA grants accelerated approval to new treatment for advanced soft tissue sarcoma. FDA website. http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm525878.htm. Updated October 19, 2016. Accessed October 19, 2016.