Happy New Year and welcome to the first newsletter in 2025 from the ALK Patient Gateway—your place for the latest information about ALK-positive lung cancer.
Last year we saw forward progress in the lung cancer space, particularly for those with ALK+ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We continue to see therapies targeting ALK move into the early-stage space, where using ALK inhibitors after surgery can help reduce the chances of disease recurrence. As we’ve seen in patients with metastatic disease, biomarker testing will play a key role in identifying patients with early-stage ALK+ NSCLC who may benefit from treatment with ALK targeted drugs after surgery.
This issue of the newsletter kicks off the new year with many inspiring stories of hope.
You can read the story of Dr. Sofia Merajver, who lost her father to cancer when she was a teenager and is now working tirelessly to deliver better treatments for patients. Her team at the University of Michigan is leading a major research study on ALK+ NSCLC.
There is also the story of Keith Martin, who was diagnosed with ALK+ NSCLC in 2022 and just celebrated his first holiday season away from the hospital in two years.
In addition, we continue to see ongoing advances to develop new drugs, including the recent approval of ensartinib for those with advanced ALK+ NSCLC.
With so much excellent research in the works, 2025 promises to be another exciting year for lung cancer treatment.
Research News
ReachMD
Advancing ALK Inhibition Into Early-Stage NSCLC: Integrating Biomarker-Driven Therapies to Reduce Recurrence Risk Post Resection
Published Jan 1, 2025
OncoDaily
The quest for cancer cures is personal – ALK Positive
Published Dec 29, 2024
HIS Education
Man Spends First Christmas Season Out of the Hospital After 2 Years of Complications and Treatments. It's a 'Story of Hope,' His Doctor Says (Exclusive)
Published Dec 27, 2024
WebMD
FDA Approves New Drug for Advanced Lung Cancer
Published Dec 19, 2024
Healio
FDA approves ensartinib for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer
Published Dec 19, 2024
Oncology - CancerNetwork
Advanced ALK-Rearranged NSCLC
Published Oct 21, 2024
BioPharma-Reporter
Oncology expert reveals the impact of biomarker testing on the outcomes of targeted therapies for cancer
Published Sep 26, 2024
FirstWord Pharma
Nuvalent boosts offering to $500M following promising NSCLC results
Published Sep 17, 2024
Get Connected
Join us for the ALK Virtual Meetup
This is an easy way to build your community. On the fourth Wednesday of each month, you can connect with others who understand what it’s like to live with ALK+ lung cancer. The next ALK Meetup is happening on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at 12 pm ET.
Register for this virtual meetup to get a confirmation email with details about how to join the virtual meeting. New attendees are always welcome and encouraged to join! Can’t make it? Don’t worry, there’s a full list of virtual meetups to fit your schedule.
Have You Seen?
Brain Mets Basics for NSCLC
Learn all about brain metastases in NSCLC from an expert in the field. Don’t miss the section dedicated to treating brain mets in people with ALK-positive lung cancer. Watch here.
Perspectives from a Lung Cancer Survivor
Read Frank Sierawski’s story of hope as he describes his journey with ALK-positive lung cancer.
Understanding Clinical Trials: Three-Part Series
This series on clinical trials explains how drugs get approved by the FDA and become available to you.
Part 1: Why Are Clinical Trials Important for Drug Development?
Part 2: How Do We Define Success for Clinical Trials?
Part 3: How Do Drugs Get Approved (and Fast-Tracked) by the FDA?
…and there is always so much more to explore on the ALK Patient Gateway.
If you were forwarded this email and you’d like to subscribe to this newsletter, you can sign up here.
If you need further assistance along your lung cancer journey, please email us at support@lungevity.org. Our team is always here to assist you.
