What are the new medicines for lung cancer (and how to get them in Nigeria)?

Last updated: 29 January 2025

What are the new medicines for lung cancer (and how to get them in Nigeria)?

Vous pouvez légalement accéder à de nouveaux médicaments, même s'ils ne sont pas approuvés dans votre pays.

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While it isn't one of the most common types of cancer in Nigeria, lung cancer does affect close to 2000 people each year. With challenges in diagnosis and treatment, many cases go undetected until a later stage of the disease. At that point, treatment options available locally may be more limited.

The good news is that lung cancer patients in Nigeria can get the newest, most advanced medicines in the world. Even if they're not available locally yet. In this article, you'll find out which are some of the latest breakthroughs in treating different stages of lung cancer, and how to get them in Nigeria.

What are the newest immunotherapies for lung cancer in the world [2025]?

In the last 10 years, immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment, especially for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). By reactivating the immune system to combat tumor cells, immunotherapy has led to remarkable outcomes in some patients, with long-term remission observed in certain cases 1.

Some of the latest approved lung cancer drugs that fall in the immunotherapy bracket are listed below.

#1: Imdelltra: for patients who have exhausted other options

Imdelltra (tarlatamab-dlle) is a type of immunotherapy used to treat adults with advanced small cell lung cancer (SCLC) that has spread extensively (extensive-stage SCLC) and worsened despite previous treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy 2.

How efficient is Imdelltra (tarlatamab-dlle)?

According to its reported clinical trial results, this is what we know about its efficacy:

  • 40% of patients treated with Imdelltra had their tumor shrink or disappear;
  • The median duration of response was 9.7 months;
  • For 68% of patients, their response to the therapy lasted at least 6 months 3.

Is Imdelltra available in Nigeria?

Unfortunately, tarlatamab is not currently an available lung cancer treatment in Nigeria. However, this doesn't mean you cannot access it. If your treating oncologist believes it is suitable for your condition, they can prescribe it to you. With the prescription, you can get the medicine into Nigeria right away. Simply click below to get started.

 

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#2: Imfinzi (durvalumab)

Imfinzi (durvalumab) is used to treat the following types of lung cancer:

  • Unresectable Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): For patients whose cancer cannot be removed by surgery and has not worsened after receiving chemotherapy and radiation.
  • Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer (ES-SCLC): Used as a first treatment alongside chemotherapy (etoposide and either carboplatin or cisplatin) 4.

How successful is Imfinzi?

According to its reported clinical trial results, Imfinzi (durvalumab) may help increase patient survival after chemotherapy. Here are some of the key reported trial outcomes that point to that:

  • 2 years after the start of treatment with Imfinzi, 66% of patients were living, compared to 56% of those taking placebo;
  • 5 years after the start of treatment with Imfinzi, 43% of patients were living, compared to 33% of those taking placebo;
  • The median time without tumor progression was 16.8 months for Imfinzi patients, and 5.6 months for the placebo group 5.

Is durvalumab available in Nigeria?

As of January 2025, no. However, if your treating doctor prescribes it to you, you have a safe, fast, and legal way to get the medicine in Nigeria without delay. Our expert medicine access team at Everyone.org will be happy to help. To get started, click below.

 

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#3: Opdivo (nivolumab)

Opdivo is suitable for treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in the following situations:

  • Before Surgery (Neoadjuvant). For resectable tumors (≥4 cm or node-positive), with platinum-doublet chemotherapy, with or without follow-up Opdivo.
  • Metastatic NSCLC (First-Line). For PD-L1 (≥1%) tumors or no EGFR/ALK mutations, combined with ipilimumab and/or platinum-doublet chemotherapy.
  • After Platinum-Based Chemotherapy. For metastatic NSCLC, if progression occurs after other therapies for EGFR/ALK mutations 6.

How successful is Opdivo?

According to the results of the Checkmate 77T trial, patients treated with nivolumab saw these outcomes:

  • Before surgery:
    • At 32 months, half of the patients given Opdivo+chemotherapy experienced no cancer recurrence or progression;
    • 24% of patients given Opdivo+chemotherapy saw their cancer disappear completely after surgery. In the chemotherapy group, this was true of 2% of patients 8.
  • After platium-based chemotherapy:
    • 51% of advanced non-squamous NSCLC patients taking Opdivo were alive at 1 year, compared to 39% of those on chemotherapy;
    • 42% of advanced squamous NSCLC patients taking Opdivo were alive at 1 year, compared to 24% of those on chemotherapy 7.
  • For PD-L1 positive metastatic NSCLC:
    • At 17 months, half of the patients taking Opdivo + Yervoy were alive 9.

Is Opdivo available in Nigeria?

As of January, 2025, Opdivo (nivolumab) is not on the NAFDAC database and is, therefore, not available in Nigeria. Does your treating doctor believe it can benefit your lung cancer treatment? With a prescription, you can get nivolumab before it's registered in Nigeria. Simply request the medicine below.

 

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What are the newest targeted therapies for lung cancer in the world [2025]?

Advances in understanding the molecular biology of NSCLC have led to the development of targeted therapies. These treatments focus on specific genetic mutations driving cancer growth, allowing for more personalized and effective interventions 1.

Here are some of the newest targeted drugs for lung cancer.

#1: Tagrisso (osimertinib): the new pill for lung cancer

Tagrisso is a lung cancer medicine prescribed in these cases:

  • After Surgery. To prevent the cancer from coming back in patients whose tumors have specific EGFR gene mutations (exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R mutations);
  • First-Line Treatment. For patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC with these same EGFR mutations;
  • With Chemotherapy. Combined with pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy as a first-line treatment for advanced or metastatic NSCLC with EGFR mutations;
  • For EGFR T790M Mutation. To treat metastatic NSCLC that has progressed after earlier EGFR-targeted therapy and has the EGFR T790M mutation 9.

How efficient is Tagrisso?

According to the reported clinical trial results, here's what outcomes were observed in patients taking Tagrisso with or without chemotherapy.

  • Tagrisso without chemotherapy
    • Half of the patients taking Tagrisso lived for over 3 years;
    • The median overall survival was 38.6 months with Tagrisso vs 31.8 months with chemo;
    • The median time without cancer progression was 18.9 months for Tagrisso patients and 10.2 months for chemo patients;
    • 77% of patients taking Tagrisso saw their tumors shrink 10.
  • Tagrisso with chemotherapy
    • The median time without cancer progression was 25.5 months for those taking Tagrisso with chemotherapy, compared to 16.7 months for patients taking Tagrisso alone 10.

Is Tagrisso available in Nigeria?

No, unfortunately, the lung cancer pill Tagrisso (osimertinib) is not yet available in Nigeria. However, any patient who has a prescription can access the treatment right away via Everyone.org. Request the medicine below to get started.

 

 

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#2: Lumakras (sotorasib): Another pill for lung cancer

Lumakras (sotorasib) is used to treat locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). For this indication, Lumakras is used as a single treatment, after the cancer has advanced or spread following at least one other therapy 11.

How efficient is Lumakras?

This is what we know about the efficacy of Lumakras, based on reported clinical trial results:

  • 36% of patients treated with Lumakras saw their tumor shrink or dissappear;
  • For 58% of the patients who responded to the treatment, the effect lasted over 6 months 12.

Is Lumakras available in Nigeria?

Similar to most other new medicines for lung cancer, Lumakras is not yet available in Nigeria. This being said, if it has been prescribed to you, you can start your treatment right away, by importing the medicine for personal use. Everyone.org is specialized in helping patients gain medicine access this way. Request Lumakras below to get started.

 

 

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#3: Lorviqua (lorlatinib)

Lorviqua (lorlatinib) is used to treat specific types of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in adults that are ALK-positive (a specific genetic mutation). It is prescribed for:

  • First-Line Treatment: For advanced ALK-positive NSCLC.
  • Previously Treated Cases: For metastatic ALK-positive NSCLC that has progressed after previous treatment 13.

How efficient is Lorviqua?

According to the reported clinical trial results, these are the key patient outcomes after treatment with lorlatinib.

  • For previously treated ALK-positive advanced NSCLC
    • 43% of patients previously treated with alectinib or ceritinib responded to Lorviqua.
    • 40% of patients previously treated with crizotinib and another ALK TKI responded to Lorviqua.
    • 67% of patients previously treated with alectinib or ceritinib had no signs of cancer in the brain or reduced signs.
    • 52% of patients previously treated with crizotinib and another ALK TKI had no signs of cancer in the brain or reduced signs.
  • For previously untreated ALK-positive advanced NSCLC
    • Patients on crizotinib experienced disease progression after ~9 months, while disease progression could not be calculated for Lorviqua due to very few cases worsening;
    • 76% of patients treated with Lorviqua responded, compared with 58% on crizotinib.
    • 66% of patients on Lorviqua had no signs of cancer in the brain or reduced signs, compared with 20% of those on crizotinib 14.

Is Lorviqua available in Nigeria?

Not as of January 2025. However, with a prescription from your treating doctor, you can get the medicine in Nigeria right away. To get started, click below.

 

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Always the best and newest drugs for lung cancer


In reality, it can take years for new lung cancer medicines to become available in Nigeria. However, as a patient, you don't have to wait until a medicine is registered locally or is widely available. As soon as a medicine for your condition is approved somewhere in the world, you can get it.

Simply contact our expert team at Everyone.org. We'll help you get the best treatment for lung cancer in Nigeria. Of course, always following your doctor's recommendation.

 

 

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Références :

  1. KATELLA, KATHY. How Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Treatment Is Improving. Yale Medicine, 31 October 2024.
  2. HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION. Accessdata.fda.gov, Accessed 29 January 2025.
  3. IMDELLTRA, Accessed 29 January 2025.
  4. HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION. Accessdata.fda.gov, Accessed 29 January 2025.
  5. HOW WAS IMFINZI STUDIED?, Imfinzi.com, Accessed 29 January 2025. 
  6. Highlights of prescribing information, Packageinserts.bms.com, Accessed 29 January 2025.
  7. Previously Treated Advanced NSCLC | Clinical Trial Results | OPDIVO® (nivolumab). Opdivo, Accessed 29 January 2025.
  8. Early-Stage NSCLC | Clinical Trial Results | OPDIVO® (nivolumab) + Chemotherapy. Opdivo, Accessed 29 January 2025.
  9. Reference ID: 5331000. Accessdata.fda.gov, Accessed 29 January 2025.
  10. About TAGRISSO® (osimertinib) for Late-Stage EGFR+ NSCLC. Tagrisso, 26 December 2024.
  11.  HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION. Pi.amgen.com, Accessed 29 January 2025.
  12. Drug Trials Snapshot: LUMAKRAS. FDA, 22 August 2023.
  13. Prescribing information, Labeling.pfizer.com, Accessed 29 January 2025. 
  14. Lorviqua | European Medicines Agency (EMA). European Medicines Agency, Accessed 29 January 2025.