MHRA approves imlunestrant tosylate (Inluryo) for breast cancer – Eli Lilly

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK has approved imlunestrant tosylate (Inluriyo), a new treatment for adult patients with a certain type of breast cancer that is locally advanced or has spread to other parts of the body (metastatic) and hasn’t responded, or has progressed further, following at least one line of hormonal treatment.

It is used when the cancer cells have oestrogen receptors (ER-positive) and do not have many receptors called human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2-negative). Inluriyo can only be used in patients who have certain changes (mutations) in a gene called ESR1.  Oestrogen receptors are proteins in cells that activate when the hormone oestrogen binds to them. By binding to these receptors, oestrogen can, in some cases, cause cancer cells to grow and multiply. Imlunestrant binds to oestrogen receptors in the cancer cells, which breaks them down and stops them from working. By blocking and destroying oestrogen receptors, imlunestrant can slow down the growth and spread of breast cancer and help to kill cancer cells.

Imlunestrant tosylate is taken as a daily tablet.