Scotland has approved zolbetuximab, a new targeted treatment for advanced stomach cancer, making it the first UK nation to greenlight the drug. The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has authorised the medication for use alongside chemotherapy.
The treatment addresses a specific type of advanced or metastatic gastric cancer that cannot be removed surgically or has already spread. It targets cancerous cells containing the CLDN18.2 protein, a specific marker found on some stomach cancer cells, enabling the immune system to attack them and slow disease progression. An estimated 386 patients per year in Scotland have this condition.
Precision medicine approach
Dr Robert Peel, SMC vice-chair, said the drug "provides an effective targeted treatment option for people with a certain type of advanced stomach cancer".
Professor Russell Petty, professor of medical oncology and director of Tayside Medical Science Centre (TASC) School of Medicine at the University of Dundee, emphasised the significance of the approval. "The SMC recommendation of zolbetuximab reflects our ambition as doctors to deliver cutting-edge care for cancer patients in National Health Service (NHS) Scotland through precision medicine", he said. "By moving beyond one-size-fits-all methods and targeting specific features of a tumour, like CLDN18.2, it's possible to deliver more effective therapies, ultimately extending a patient's time with their loved ones."
Developer highlights patient outcomes
Pharmaceutical company Astellas Pharma Ltd developed the treatment. Dr Timir Patel, Astellas medical director, described it as "an innovative approach to treating advanced gastric cancer".
"Today's recommendation by the SMC highlights the importance of personalised approaches in cancer care and underscores the potential of zolbetuximab to improve patient outcomes", Patel said.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
