Ceritinib in Japanese patients with anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)+ non-small cell lung cancer: interim analysis results of a post-marketing surveillance study

Ceritinib is a selective anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor approved for the treatment of patients with unresectable advanced and/or recurrent ALK fusion gene-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). As per the approval condition in Japan, this post-marketing surveillance (PMS) study evaluated the clinical safety (including adverse events [AEs], adverse drug reactions [ADRs] and priority investigation items) and efficacy (including ORR and PFS) of ceritinib in Japanese patients. Interim analysis was conducted ~ 2 years after the start of this non-interventional, multicentre, uncontrolled, open-label, special drug-use investigation and results are reported from March 28, 2016 to April 28, 2018. Each patient was followed up for 1 year. Most patients started treatment with 750 mg ceritinib. Safety profile was similar to that observed at the time of approval. No new AEs or ADRs with incidences higher than that at approval were identified. The rate of gastrointestinal ADRs (nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea) was 73.64%. Meaningful efficacy was observed in both post-crizotinib and post-alectinib settings, with ORR of 29.55% (95% CI 20.29–40.22) and disease control rate of 53.41% (95% CI 42.46–64.12). No concerns regarding the safety and efficacy of ceritinib were identified. No new measures, including modification of the PMS study protocol, are considered necessary.