Efficacy Outcomes and Long-Term Survival Data from PHAROS

Efficacy results of encorafenib + binimetinib from the PHAROS study are analyzed, focusing on both progression-free survival (PFS) and overall response rates (ORR). Dr. Dagogo-Jack highlights that the regimen demonstrated robust clinical activity across both treatment-naïve and previously treated cohorts, consistent with expectations for high-value targeted therapy in an oncogenic-driver setting.

The standout result is the median PFS of approximately 30 months in treatment-naïve patients, far exceeding prior benchmarks for BRAF-mutant NSCLC. Dr. Rotow emphasizes how striking this figure is compared with other targeted therapies: while EGFR inhibitors typically yield ~18 months of PFS, PHAROS demonstrates nearly double that duration. This, she notes, is an important advancement for a mutation long considered difficult to treat.

The segment also reviews response rates, which were high and durable. A substantial proportion of patients remained on therapy at later follow-up points, suggesting deep and sustained responses. Both clinicians stress that these results reinforce the importance of initiating targeted therapy upfront rather than sequencing it after chemotherapy or immunotherapy.

The discussion addresses cross-trial comparisons, acknowledged as imperfect but necessary in real-world decision-making. When contextualizing PHAROS against historical dabrafenib/trametinib data, encorafenib/binimetinib’s PFS and durability appear favorable. However, Dr. Dagogo-Jack reminds viewers that the real-world population is heterogeneous, so clinicians should interpret results in light of patient fitness, comorbidities, and disease burden.

Finally, the presenters reflect on the implication of long-term survival projections. The relatively close gap between median PFS and median overall survival (only about 10 months) suggests that sequencing strategies still need refinement and that resistance mechanisms in BRAF-mutant disease remain complex.