Amivantamab injection shrinks tumors in resistant head‑neck cancer patients

A clinical trial of the amivantamab injection, developed by Johnson & Johnson, reported significant tumor reductions in patients with head and neck cancers that were resistant to prior immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Among 43 participants, 15 experienced complete disappearance of their tumors and 28 saw marked shrinkage, representing a 42% overall response rate. The study involved 102 patients across 55 hospitals in 11 countries, with the drug administered every three weeks. Patients lived a median of 1 year and 5 months after treatment began, with tumor response observed within six weeks and a median progression‑free interval of 6.5 months. Professor Kevin Harrington of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust highlighted that such strong responses had not been seen before in this patient group.

The trial suggests amivantamab could benefit thousands of patients annually, pending further research and regulatory approval.