Hernexeos (zongertinib)

NSCLCs harboring ECD-ERBB2 mutations are associated with a unique clinico-genomic phenotype and improved outcomes with first-line chemoimmunotherapy. These findings have implications for optimizing treatment strategies in this disease.

Three metabolites were identified and structurally characterized based on accurate mass and fragmentation patterns, revealing metabolic pathways such as oxygenation, demethylation, and epoxide hydrolysis. This is the first report on the method validation for the measurement of zongertinib in biological matrices, which enables clinical development of zongertinib and can be applied for clinical pharmacokinetics and therapeutic drug monitoring in future clinical practice.

P2, N=60, Not yet recruiting, Boehringer Ingelheim

P3, N=400, Recruiting, Boehringer Ingelheim

In the past few years, targeted therapeutic modalities such as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), particularly trastuzumab deruxtecan (the first agent to be granted FDA approval for HER2-mutant NSCLC), alongside selective tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), including zongertinib and sevabertinib, have demonstrated robust systemic efficacy and notable intracranial penetration. This comprehensive review delineates the molecular landscape and clinical phenotypes of HER2-altered NSCLC, synthesizes interim and mature data from ongoing clinical trials evaluating anti-HER2 therapies, and critically examines efficacy and safety results from different classes of targeted agents. Further research is crucial to uncover potential mechanisms of resistance in NSCLC with HER2 mutations and define sequencing or combinatorial strategies pertinent to optimizing individualized patient management.

P1, N=608, Active, not recruiting, Boehringer Ingelheim | Recruiting --> Active, not recruiting

A number of drugs are in development for the treatment of ERBB2(HER2)-mutated NSCLC, including antibody-drug conjugates such as trastuzumab-deruxtecan and tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as zongertinib and sevabertinib. Herein, we report a case of relapsed advanced ERBB2-mutant NSCLC with acquired resistance to zongertinib potentially mediated through ERBB2 amplification and HER2 3+ immunohistochemistry overexpression with subsequent durable response to fifth-line trastuzumab-deruxtecan. We propose this as a mechanism for zongertinib resistance, one that may underpin a biological rationale for future ERBB2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor-antibody-drug conjugate combination therapy.

Secondary endpoints include duration of response, progression-free survival, disease control, occurrence of treatment-emergent adverse events, and health-related quality of life. Recruitment is ongoing in 13 countries globally.Clinical trial registration http://www.clinicaltrials.gov identifier is NCT06581432.

P2/3, N=93, Not yet recruiting, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Boehringer Ingelheim Espana S.A.

Zongertinib is the first oral TKI approved for HER2-mutant NSCLC and will provide patients with a convenient, tolerable and effective treatment option in an area of significant unmet need. Next steps include its potential transition to a first-line setting, identification of additional indications, and development of novel combination regimens.

The following ten drugs received FDA approval in 2025 - avutometinib (inhibiting MEK1/2 in serous ovarian carcinomas), defactinib (blocking FAK in low grade serous ovarian carcinomas), delgocitinib (antagonizing the JAK family in hand eczema), mirdametinib (inhibiting MEK1/2 in type I neurofibromatosis), remibrutinib (blocking BTK in chronic spontaneous urticaria), rilzabrutinib (antagonizing BTK in chronic immune thrombocytopenia), sunvozertinib (blocking mutant exon 21 insertion EGFR NSCLC), taletrectinib (inhibiting mutant ROS1 in NSCLC), vimseltinib (blocking CSF1R in tenosynovial giant cell tumors), and zongertinib (antagonizing mutant HER2 in NSCLC). This article summarizes the physicochemical properties of all 94 FDA-approved small molecule protein kinase inhibitors including the molecular weight, number of hydrogen bond donors/acceptors, ligand efficiency, lipophilic efficiency, polar surface area, and solubility. A total of 45 of the 94 FDA-approved drugs have a least one Lipinski rule of five violation.