Article · Health news

MHRA approves lurbinectedin for lung cancer

Health news Published · sources checked

The MHRA approved lurbinectedin (Zepzelca) on 23 September 2026 for adults with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, as maintenance treatment with atezolizumab.

Key points

  • The MHRA approved lurbinectedin (Zepzelca) on 23 September 2026 for adults with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.
  • It is approved in combination with atezolizumab as maintenance treatment.
  • The MHRA says it will keep the safety and effectiveness of lurbinectedin under close review.

What was announced

The MHRA says it has approved lurbinectedin (Zepzelca) for adults with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. It is approved in combination with atezolizumab as maintenance treatment, for adults whose cancer has not progressed after first-line induction treatment with atezolizumab, carboplatin and etoposide.

The MHRA describes a main study of 483 adults with extensive-stage disease.

What it means

The MHRA explains that lurbinectedin attaches to DNA inside cancer cells, which damages it and blocks cell growth, leading to cell death. The MHRA says it will keep the safety and effectiveness of the medicine under close review.

Approval by the MHRA is a licensing decision. It is separate from decisions on NHS funding. The site's lung cancer page explains the condition.

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