Dr. Thomas on the Rationale for the Phase 2 DDRiver SCLC 250 Trial in SCLC

Anish Thomas, MBBS, MD, medical oncologist, Lasker Clinical Research Scholar, Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, discusses the rationale for the phase 2 DDRiver SCLC 250 trial (NCT04768296) in relapsed, platinum-resistant small cell lung cancer (SCLC).

This trial evaluated the combination of berzosertib and topotecan in patients with relapsed, platinum-resistant SCLC. Early phase studies of the combination demonstrated a higher-than-expected efficacy with the doublet compared with topotecan alone, Thomas explains. Moreover, following the phase 2 study, another larger study will be conducted to confirm the results generated, Thomas adds.

The DDRiver SCLC 250 trial is enrolling patients with platinum-resistant SCLC, who represent a population of unmet need in terms of drug development, Thomas continues. Overall, the early signal of efficacy generated by early data with the combination is promising and establish precedence for future studies, Thomas concludes.