Tarlatamab Offers Improved Survival for Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients

A recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine reveals that Tarlatamab (Imdelltra; Amgen) significantly improves survival outcomes compared to chemotherapy in patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) whose cancer progressed during or after platinum-based chemotherapy [1]. This offers a promising new treatment option for a patient population with historically poor prognoses.

Tarlatamab: A Novel Immunotherapeutic Approach

Tarlatamab is a bispecific T-cell engager that targets delta-like ligand 3 (DLL3), found on the surface of most SCLC cancer cells, and CD3, present on T-cells. This mechanism facilitates T-cell mediated tumor lysis [2]. The FDA granted accelerated approval to Tarlatamab in May 2024 for treating extensive-stage SCLC in patients with disease progression during or after platinum-based therapy [3]