SMC accepts amivantamab and lazertinib for EGFR-positive lung cancer
Brian Attwood | May 22, 2026 | News story | | SMC, amivantamab, lazertinib, lung cancer
The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has accepted Rybrevant (amivantamab) in combination with Lazcluze (lazertinib) for use within NHS Scotland as a first-line treatment for adults with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) carrying common EGFR mutations.
The decision applies to previously untreated patients whose tumours have EGFR exon 19 deletions or exon 21 L858R substitution mutations. Eligible patients in Scotland may now receive the chemotherapy-free combination through the NHS.
NSCLC accounts for around 80-85% of lung cancer cases. EGFR-positive NSCLC is more commonly seen in women, non-smokers and people from Asian ethnic groups.
Professor Virginia Harrison, Research Trustee at EGFR+ UK, said: “For people living with common EGFR mutated non-small cell lung cancer, innovation in first-line treatment is critical.”
The SMC decision was based on data from the phase 3 MARIPOSA study, which compared amivantamab plus lazertinib with osimertinib alone.
The study met its primary endpoint of progression-free survival (PFS), with patients receiving the combination living for a median of 23.7 months without disease progression, compared with 16.6 months for patients receiving osimertinib monotherapy.
The trial also reported improved overall survival for patients treated with the combination therapy. At the time of analysis, around 60% of patients receiving amivantamab with lazertinib were alive, compared with 51% of patients receiving osimertinib alone.
Common adverse reactions associated with the combination included rash, nail toxicity, fatigue, stomatitis and oedema.
Dr Nicola Steele, Consultant Medical Oncologist at NHS Scotland, said the approval offered eligible patients “an alternative to chemotherapy containing regimens”, adding that increased treatment choice could support more personalised decision-making between patients and clinicians.
Welcoming the decision, Johnson & Johnson said it represented an additional treatment option for patients with EGFR-positive NSCLC and highlighted the importance of timely access to targeted therapies through the NHS.
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