Japan-based Daiichi Sankyo has dosed the first patient in a phase one trial assessing its AXL inhibitor DS-1205 in combination with gefitinib in patients with metastatic or unresectable epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have progressed on therapy with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), it was reported on Friday.

Research suggests that inhibition of AXL, a receptor tyrosine kinase, is likely to help delay or overcome the onset of resistance to the tyrosine kinase inhibitors that long-term patients often experience.

Daiichi Sankyo oncology research and development oncology translational development head, Eric Slosberg, said: "This first-in-human trial will build upon preclinical research to evaluate the potential of our AXL inhibitor, DS-1205, in combination with gefitinib in EGFR-mutated NSCLC that has progressed on TKI therapy. We are evaluating for the first time in a clinical setting whether inhibition of the AXL pathway with DS-1205 may help prevent, delay or overcome the onset of resistance to EGFR TKIs, as we continue to research and develop new targeted therapy approaches for patients with metastatic NSCLC."