A groundbreaking clinical trial presented at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) conference in Chicago has revealed that a pill called osimertinib, marketed as Tagrisso, can significantly reduce the risk of death from a specific type of lung cancer. The trial involved over 680 participants who had undergone surgery to remove the tumor and those who were at an early stage of the disease. Results showed that patients who took osimertinib daily experienced a 51% reduction in the risk of death compared to those who took a placebo. The drug also helps prevent the spread of cancer to other organs. Osimertinib has already been authorized for various indications in multiple countries and has been given to around 700,000 individuals. However, it is crucial to screen patients for the specific mutation targeted by the drug before administering treatment. Side effects of osimertinib include severe fatigue, skin rashes, and diarrhea.
