News|Articles|April 23, 2026

Taletrectinib Displays Durable Efficacy in TKI-Naive ROS1+ NSCLC

Author(s)Kyle Doherty
Fact checked by: Courtney Flaherty
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Key Takeaways

  • Integrated efficacy in 157 TKI-naive patients yielded ORR 89.8% and median PFS 46.1 months, with median OS not reached.
  • Among 17 patients evaluable for CNS disease, intracranial ORR was 76.5%, supporting meaningful CNS penetration despite enrollment limited to stable brain metastases.
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With approximately 3 years of follow-up, TKI-naive patients with ROS1+ NSCLC experienced long-term benefits with taletrectinib.

Taletrectinib (Ibtrozi) demonstrated high and durable response rates in TKI-naive patients with ROS1-positive non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), according to data from a pooled analysis of the phase 2 TRUST-I (NCT04395677) and TRUST-II (NCT04919811) trials presented during the 2026 AACR Annual Meeting.1

At the August 31, 2025, data cutoff, patients included in the pooled analysis (n = 157) achieved a confirmed overall response rate (ORR) of 89.8% (95% CI, 84.0%-94.1%) and an intracranial ORR (IC-ORR) of 76.5% (95% CI, 50.1%-93.2%) in evaluable patients (n = 17). At a median follow-up of 35.5 months, the median duration of response (DOR) in the pooled efficacy population (n = 141) was 49.7 months (95% CI, 38.6-not reached [NR]). The median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) among TKI-naive patients (n = 157) were 46.1 months (95% CI, 31.8-NR) and NR (95% CI, 47.8-NR), respectively.

“These data support taletrectinib as an effective, durable, and tolerable treatment option for patients with advanced ROS1-rearranged NSCLC who have not received a prior ROS1 TKI,” Lyudmila A. Bazhenova, MD, a medical oncologist and professor of medicine at UC San Diego Health, said during the presentation.

In June 2025, the FDA approved taletrectinib for the treatment of patients locally advanced or metastatic, ROS1-positive NSCLC.2 The regulatory decision was supported by prior data from TRUST-I and TRUST-II.

Updated Data From TRUST-I and TRUST-II: Key Takeaways

  • The confirmed ORR in the pooled analysis (n = 157) was 89.8% (95% CI, 84.0%-94.1%) and the IC-ORR of 76.5% (95% CI, 50.1%-93.2%) in 17 evaluable patients.
  • The median PFS and OS were 46.1 months (95% CI, 31.8-NR) and NR (95% CI, 47.8-NR), respectively.
  • No new safety signals were reported and safety data were consistent between the integrated safety population and TKI-naive patients.

How was the pooled analysis conducted?

TRUST-I was conducted in China and TRUST-II was a global study.1 In order to be included in the studies, patients needed to have locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC with a ROS1 fusion, be at least 18 years old, and have an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1. Patients with brain metastases were permitted to enroll if the metastases were stable.

Both studies included TKI-naive and TKI-pretreated cohorts. All patients received taletrectinib at 600 mg every day. The efficacy population that was reported in the presentation included TKI-naive patients from TRUST-I and TRUST-II with at least 1 measurable baseline lesion per RECIST 1.1 criteria per independent review committee (IRC) who received taletrectinib at 600 mg. The safety population included patients in both the TKI-naive and TKI-pretreated cohorts of the 2 studies (n = 363).

The primary end point was ORR per IRC. Key secondary end points included DOR, PFS, OS, IC-ORR, and safety.

At baseline, the median age in the pooled efficacy population was 57 years (range, 26-83). Most patients were female (55.4%), Asia (87.9%), had stage IV disease (91.1%), had an ECOG performance status (73.9%), were never smokers (65.0%). Patients who received prior chemotherapy (19.1%) and those with brain metastases (23.6%) were also reported.

What were the additional efficacy and safety data shared during the AACR Annual Meeting?

The confirmed ORRs among TKI-naive patients in TRUST-I (n = 103) and TRUST-II (n = 54) were 90.3% (95% CI, 82.9%-95.3%) and 88.9% (95% CI, 77.4%-95.8%), respectively. The median PFS values were 49.6 months (95% CI, 34.5-NR) and NR (95% CI, 15.9-NR), respectively. The respective median OS values were NR (95% CI, 41.6-NR) and NR (95% CI, NR-NR).

In terms of safety, the most common any-grade treatment-emergent adverse effects (TEAEs) included increased aspartate aminotransferase levels (71.9%), increased alanine aminotransferase levels (68.3%), and diarrhea (64.5%). The rates of neurologic TEAEs were low and these events were primarily grade 1 or 2. TEAEs leading to dose interruptions (42.7%), reductions (31.3%), and discontinuation (8.5%) were all reported.

“With longer follow-up, we did not see any new safety signals, and safety was consistent between the integrated safety population and TKI-naive patients,” Bazhenova said. “To the best of our knowledge, this represents the highest ORR [as well as] the longest DOR and PFS reported to date for an FDA-approved ROS1 TKI in this patient population. This presentation adds 10 months of additional follow up since the last report, and taletrectinib continues to demonstrate management a manageable safety profile and low rate of neurologic adverse event.

Disclosures: Bazhenova is an independent contractor for AbbVie, AnHeart Therapeutics, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, Genentech, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Natera, Nuvalent, Pfizer, Revolution Medicines, Summit, and Taiho Oncology.

References

  1. Bazhenova L, Nieva J, Nagasaka M, et al. Taletrectinib in tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)-naïve patients with ROS1+ non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): updated data from TRUST-I and TRUST-II. Cancer Res. 2026;86(suppl 8):CT300. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2026-CT300
  2. FDA approves taletrectinib for ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer. FDA. June 11, 2025. Accessed April 23, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-approves-taletrectinib-ros1-positive-non-small-cell-lung-cancer

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