Two new lung cancer medicines offer hope

Late-stage lung cancer patients who have built up a tolerance to some drugs may have new hope thanks to two domestically developed medicines, doctors from Shanghai Chest Hospital said on Thursday.

Clinical trials showed that by using a small molecular, multi-targeted drug called anlotinib hydrochloride, the lives of lung cancer patients could be prolonged an average of 50 percent over patients receiving placebos. They survived another 3.3 months on average, said Han Baohui, who led the clinical trials that involved 437 patients at 34 health centers and hospitals nationwide.

The treatment, which inhibits the growth of tumors and the development of surrounding blood vessels, will be available to the general public this year, he said.