Brigatinib Approved, but Treatment Role Uncertain.

The FDA has approved the ALK inhibitor brigatinib for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer who cannot take crizotinib or whose disease worsened despite its use. The decision was based upon results of a phase II study that assessed two drug doses, with overall response rates of 45% and 56% respectively. The drug's effect on overall survival remains unclear, as does the optimal sequence of brigatinib and the three other ALK inhibitors.