March 31, Kathmandu – Medical professionals have achieved a historic breakthrough in cancer treatment. A new injection, capable of completely eliminating tumors in some patients previously deemed untreatable, has undergone successful trials. Developed by Johnson & Johnson, this syringe named “Amivantamab” was clinically tested across 11 countries. The trials particularly targeted patients whose cancer had either spread to other parts of the body or recurred after previous treatments had failed.
Over one-third of the patients showed tumor shrinkage, with significant effects observed within just a few weeks of treatment. According to Professor Kevin Harrington of the London-based Institute of Cancer Research, 15 patients experienced complete disappearance of their tumors. He emphasized that achieving such strong results in patients where both chemotherapy and immunotherapy had failed is highly significant.
He further stated that the benefits seen in patients with no remaining treatment options are remarkable and this drug could potentially save thousands of lives annually. The trial involved 102 patients with head and neck cancers, which rank as the sixth most common type worldwide. Among them, 43 patients had tumor shrinkage or complete removal, 28 showed reduced tumor size, and 15 experienced full cancer eradication.
Beyond head and neck cancers, the drug has also demonstrated similarly positive effects in lung cancer patients. It acts by blocking proteins that promote cancer spread and activates the body’s immune system to fight tumors. Carl Walls, 56, who was diagnosed with tongue cancer in 2024 and began participating in the trial in 2025, expressed his satisfaction with the drug’s effect. Previously, seizures and pain had made speaking and eating difficult for him, but he is now leading a normal life.
Currently, approximately 60 clinical trials worldwide are ongoing to evaluate the effectiveness of this drug, focusing mainly on lung, brain, stomach, and colorectal cancers. The results of this groundbreaking research will be presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago.
