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A new targeted therapy called zongertinib has shown remarkable results in shrinking or even eradicating lung cancer tumours in patients with a specific genetic mutation, according to research presented by Professor Sanjay Popat of the Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress in Berlin. The study tested zongertinib as a first-line treatment for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) driven by HER2 mutations — a subgroup for which there are currently no approved targeted therapies.
In the global phase II trial involving 74 patients across 85 medical centres, participants received zongertinib as a daily oral pill. The results were striking: 77% of patients experienced tumour shrinkage, 8% saw complete tumour disappearance, and 69% showed partial responses. Overall, the disease was controlled in 96% of cases, a major improvement over traditional chemotherapy approaches, which often cause severe side effects and deliver lower success rates.
HER2 mutations are found in about 4% of lung cancer cases, occurring in both smokers and non-smokers. By directly targeting the abnormal HER2 protein that drives tumour growth, zongertinib works by “switching off” the molecular signals that enable cancer cells to proliferate. Patients in the trial not only responded better but also reported improved quality of life compared to those undergoing conventional treatments.
For many, the treatment has been life-changing. Susan Gasson, a 74-year-old patient from London, shared how her tumour shrank significantly with minimal side effects, allowing her to enjoy everyday activities and milestones, such as seeing her granddaughter start university. Encouraged by these promising results, researchers are now planning a final phase III trial comparing zongertinib to standard chemotherapy, raising hopes that the drug could soon offer a new, effective treatment option for patients with HER2-mutant lung cancer.
