On November 24, 2025 PharmaMar (MSE:PHM) reported that the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products (Swissmedic) has granted approval for Zepzelca (lurbinectedin) in combination with atezolizumab (Tecentriq) as a maintenance treatment for adults with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer
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(ES-SCLC), with no central nervous system (CNS) metastases whose disease has not progressed after first-line induction therapy with atezolizumab, carboplatin and etoposide. The decision marks the first combination therapy approval in an European country for first-line maintenance treatment of ES-SCLC, a fast growing and aggressive cancer with limited treatment options.
The Swissmedic approval is based on results from the Phase 3 IMforte[i] trial, which showed that the lurbinectedin and atezolizumab combination reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 46% and the risk of death by 27%, compared to atezolizumab maintenance therapy alone. Following four cycles of induction therapy, from the point of randomization the median overall survival (OS) for the combination regimen was 13.2 months versus 10.6 months and median progression-free survival (PFS) by independent assessment was 5.4 months versus 2.1 months, respectively. Safety was consistent with the known safety profiles of both treatments
In 2023, Swissmedic granted Temporary Authorisation for the commercialization of lurbinectedin alone for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic SCLC with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy without CNS metastases in second line.
Luis Mora, Managing Director of PharmaMar, said: "Switzerland has become the first European country to approve this combination for use as a first-line treatment, giving patients access to this new therapy. We will continue working to ensure that as many patients as possible have access to this new therapy across as many countries as possible."
In October, the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval for Zepzelca (lurbinectedin) in combination with atezolizumab (Tecentriq) as a maintenance treatment for adults with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). In addition, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) recently updated the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for SCLC to include the combination as a preferred regimen for maintenance.
PharmaMar has also submitted a Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which is currently under review.
SCLC represents about 15% of all lung cancer cases in Europe, each year, approximately 72,600 new cases of SCLC are reported in Europe. Most of these patients are diagnosed with extensive stage disease, which is aggressive and often difficult to treat, with poor prognosis.
(Press release, PharmaMar, NOV 24, 2025, View Source [SID1234660905])