Pfizer's lorlatinib cuts intracranial progression risk 94% in ALK‑positive lung cancer

Pfizer presented a seven‑year update of the phase III CROWN trial at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting. The study compared lorlatinib with crizotinib as first‑line therapy for patients with advanced ALK‑positive non‑small cell lung cancer. Results showed a 94% reduction in the risk of intracranial disease progression and an estimated 83% probability of remaining free of brain progression after seven years for those on lorlatinib. More than half of the participants (55%) were still free of overall disease progression at the same time point, and the median progression‑free survival had not yet been reached. Safety data remained consistent with earlier analyses, with no new safety signals identified. Luis Suárez, Pfizer’s medical lead for oncology in Latin America, highlighted the long‑term benefit of targeted therapy during a simultaneous Latin‑American oncology seminar held in Mexico City, São Paulo and Buenos Aires.