Luye Pharma has launched its innovative drug Zepzelca (lurbinectedin) for the treatment of Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC) in both Hong Kong and Macao.

Lurbinectedin is a new chemical entity with a novel mechanism of action. It was approved for launch in Macao in November 2023 and in Hong Kong in December 2023 for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic SCLC with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. The drug was also approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) through the accelerated approval process in 2020.

To date, lurbinectedin has been approved for launch in 16 countries and regions worldwide. Luye Pharma has been granted the rights to develop and commercialize lurbinectedin in Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, and Macao, to allow Chinese patients to benefit from the innovative therapy as soon as possible. In addition to being approved for launch in Hong Kong and Macao, the drug is also under review for its New Drug Application (NDA) in Chinese mainland with a priority review designation.

SCLC is one of the most aggressive lung cancers, with a five-year survival rate of only 7%. Most patients would experience a relapse or develop drug resistance after the initial treatment, with an mOS (median Overall Survival) of only 4 to 5 months after receiving further chemotherapy.