FDA Grants Accelerated Approval to a New Breast Cancer Treatment

The FDA granted accelerated approval to AstraZeneca's Etcamah (camizestrant), an oral tablet, combined with a CDK4/6 inhibitor (abemaciclib, palbociclib or ribociclib) for adults with HR-positive, HER2-negative locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer whose tumors show an ESR1 mutation during aromatase inhibitor and CDK4/6 inhibitor therapy, detected by the FDA-authorized Guardant360 CDx companion diagnostic. In the pivotal trial, estimated median progression-free survival was 16 months versus 9.2 months for continuing an aromatase inhibitor plus a CDK4/6 inhibitor. The label carries a boxed warning for irregular heart rhythm, and confirmatory trials are required to verify clinical benefit.