FDA approves Korean cancer drug

On 20 Aug, the domestic lung cancer drug Lazertinib became the first Korean anti-cancer medicine to be approved by the U.S. FDA. After a pricing procedure, it is set to be released in the U.S. within this year. The drug targets mutation in the EGFR gene, which causes lung cancer.

The drug is mostly prescribed to stage 4 lung cancer patients with EGFR mutation, who account for about 30% of all lung cancer cases. A similar lung cancer drug from a global pharmaceutical company generated over 5.8 billion dollars, in global sales last year. The domestic lung cancer drug has received approval in the U.S., eyes are on whether it will become the first drug to surpass 757 million dollars, in sales.