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"Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Market Insight, Epidemiology and Market Forecast report"DelveInsight's latest report highlights the transformative impact of the FDA's accelerated approval of HERNEXEOS (zongertinib) by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals. This landmark approval on August 8, 2025, marks the first targeted therapy specifically approved for non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with HER2 tyrosine kinase domain activating mutations, offering new hope for patients suffering from this aggressive form of lung cancer with limited targeted treatment options.

Key Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Market Highlights

• HERNEXEOS's FDA approval is expected to be a key NSCLC market driver, given its first-in-class status as a selective HER2 TKD inhibitor for this specific mutation.

• NSCLC Epidemiology: NSCLC affects approximately 540K patients across the 7MM in 2024, with the US accounting for approximately 205K new cases annually.

• Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Companies: Boehringer Ingelheim, AstraZeneca (NASDAQ: AZN), Roche (OTC: RHHBY), Merck (NYSE: MRK), Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY), Novartis (NYSE: NVS), Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), Takeda (NYSE: TAK), Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine (NYSE: JNJ), Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY), and others.

• According to DelveInsight's NSCLC market analysis , the market size is estimated to be ~USD 30 billion in the 7MM in 2024 and is anticipated to grow with a significant CAGR in the coming decade.

Market Impact and HER2-Mutant NSCLC Patient Population

According to DelveInsight's Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Market Insight, Epidemiology and Market Forecast report , there is a critical unmet medical need in HER2-mutant NSCLC, representing approximately 1-4% of all NSCLC cases. NSCLC accounts for 80-85% of all lung cancers, with about 60% of all lung cancers being adenocarcinomas in the US. HER2 mutations occur predominantly in the tyrosine kinase domain and represent a distinct molecular subset from HER2 amplifications seen in breast cancer.

The condition is characterized by aggressive tumor growth and poor prognosis when treated with conventional chemotherapy. HER2 TKD activating mutations create unique vulnerabilities that distinguish these tumors from other NSCLC subtypes, making them ideal candidates for precision targeted therapy. Prior to HERNEXEOS FDA approval, treatment options for HER2 TKD-mutant NSCLC were limited to ENHERTU (fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki), which received approval in August 2022 for HER2-mutant NSCLC, though it targets a broader spectrum of HER2 alterations.

The NSCLC diagnosis typically occurs at advanced stages, with patients experiencing symptoms including persistent cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, and weight loss. Advanced non-squamous NSCLC patients may experience breathing difficulties, bone pain, abdominal or back pain, headaches, and weakness due to disease progression.

Furthermore, the report highlights that the NSCLC treatment market is increasingly becoming biomarker-driven, with targeted therapies revolutionizing patient outcomes. HERNEXEOS's approval is expected to be a key driver of growth in the precision oncology segment, given its first-in-class status and differentiated mechanism specifically targeting HER2 TKD mutations.

Download the NSCLC Market report to understand which other factors are driving the therapeutic market @ NSCLC Market Trends .

HERNEXEOS Treatment Approach

HERNEXEOS represents a first-in-class, highly selective, brain-penetrant HER2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor designed specifically for HER2 TKD activating mutations. Unlike broader HER2-targeting agents that may affect multiple HER2 pathways, HERNEXEOS selectively inhibits the specific mutant HER2 kinase while sparing wild-type HER2, potentially reducing off-target effects and improving tolerability.

The therapy is administered orally once daily, offering non-squamous NSCLC patients a convenient targeted treatment option that addresses the underlying molecular driver of their cancer rather than relying solely on cytotoxic chemotherapy. This precision medicine approach represents a significant advancement in personalized lung cancer care.

"The HERNEXEOS approval addresses a critical unmet medical need in HER2-mutant NSCLC treatment," said Prof. Dr. Caicun Zhou, Director of the Department of Medical Oncology at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital. "This represents a paradigm shift toward precision oncology, offering patients the first treatment specifically designed to target HER2 TKD activating mutations with enhanced selectivity and improved therapeutic index."

HERNEXEOS Clinical Validation and Efficacy

The HERNEXEOS FDA accelerated approval was based on compelling clinical evidence demonstrating meaningful anti-tumor activity in patients with advanced non-squamous NSCLC harboring HER2 TKD activating mutations. The approval was supported by objective response rate and duration of response data from clinical trials, representing significant clinical benefit in this molecularly defined patient population.

Key clinical outcomes include substantial tumor shrinkage, durable responses, and improved progression-free survival compared to historical controls treated with conventional chemotherapy. The therapy demonstrated a manageable safety profile with adverse events primarily consisting of gastrointestinal and dermatologic toxicities typical of HER2 inhibitors, but with reduced severity compared to less selective agents.

The accelerated approval pathway reflects the FDA's recognition of the significant unmet need and the meaningful clinical benefit observed in this rare molecular subset of NSCLC patients.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Competitive Landscape and Market Positioning

HERNEXEOS enters a treatment landscape that has seen revolutionary changes in the last decade owing to targeted therapies and immune checkpoint inhibitors. The HER2-targeted NSCLC segment currently includes ENHERTU, which has shown strong uptake in HER2-mutant NSCLC, though it targets a broader spectrum of HER2 alterations including amplifications and mutations.

The broader NSCLC competitive ecosystem includes established targeted therapies for various molecular drivers: TAGRISSO (osimertinib) dominates the EGFR market with nearly $6 billion in annual sales; ALECENSA and ALUNBRIG are preferred first-line ALK inhibitors; LUMAKRAS and KRAZATI target KRAS G12C mutations; and TAFINLAR + MEKINIST combination leads the BRAF V600E segment.

Key players, including AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, AbbVie, Roche, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Takeda, Eli Lilly, and others, are actively developing therapies across multiple molecular targets. HERNEXEOS's selective HER2 TKD targeting provides competitive differentiation in the precision oncology landscape, potentially offering improved efficacy and tolerability compared to less selective HER2-targeting approaches.

Explore the NSCLC Drug Battle: HERNEXEOS vs. other emerging therapies. Discover how these breakthrough NSCLC therapies compare in efficacy, safety, cost, and market impact @ NSCLC Drugs Market .

Emerging Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Pipeline Therapies

Several companies are actively developing next-generation therapies for various NSCLC molecular subsets. In the HER2 space, Bayer is advancing sevabertinib (BAY 2927088), which received FDA Priority Review in May 2025 for advanced NSCLC patients with HER2 mutations who have had prior systemic therapy.

The broader NSCLC pipeline includes Datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) from AstraZeneca/Daiichi Sankyo, which received Breakthrough Therapy Designation for EGFR-mutant NSCLC and is advancing across multiple trials; Telisotuzumab vedotin from AbbVie targeting c-MET overexpressing tumors; and various ADCs, bispecific antibodies, and novel targeted therapies addressing different molecular drivers.

Furthermore, the NSCLC pipeline demonstrates increasing focus on overcoming resistance mechanisms, targeting rare mutations, and developing combination therapies. Companies are leveraging dual and multispecific targeting strategies to address tumor heterogeneity and resistance pathways that limit single-agent approaches.

Discover more NSCLC pipeline therapies and the clinical development progress they are making @ NSCLC Clinical Pipeline .

Broader HERNEXEOS Therapeutic Pipeline

Beyond non-squamous NSCLC, Boehringer Ingelheim is likely investigating zongertinib's potential in other HER2 TKD-mutant solid tumors, including gastric cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. The company's expertise in kinase inhibitor development and precision oncology positions them well to expand HERNEXEOS's indications to other malignancies with similar molecular drivers.

The FDA's accelerated approval pathway provides regulatory precedent for potential label expansions in other HER2 TKD-mutant cancers, potentially expanding the addressable patient population and market opportunity significantly.

Industry Expert Perspective

Leading thoracic oncologists emphasize the significance of molecularly-targeted approaches in NSCLC. "The approval of HERNEXEOS represents another milestone in precision lung cancer medicine," commented experts in the field. "By specifically targeting HER2 TKD activating mutations with enhanced selectivity, this therapy exemplifies how detailed molecular characterization can guide the development of highly effective targeted treatments for even rare molecular subsets."

Learn more about what other Industry experts are saying about HERNEXEOS FDA Approval and how it will impact the NSCLC treatment market @ Key Opinion Leaders on the NSCLC Market .

Looking Forward

The HERNEXEOS approval represents continued progress in precision oncology for NSCLC and demonstrates the potential for highly selective targeted therapies to address specific molecular drivers. DelveInsight's analysts emphasize that NSCLC is increasingly becoming a biomarker-driven market, with success dependent on identifying and targeting specific molecular alterations.

As the pharmaceutical industry continues advancing toward comprehensive molecular profiling and precision medicine approaches in lung cancer, HERNEXEOS's success validates the strategy of developing highly selective inhibitors for rare but clinically meaningful molecular subsets. This approach may accelerate the development of similar precision therapies targeting other rare actionable mutations in NSCLC and beyond.

Table of Contents

1. Key Insights

2. Executive Summary of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

3. Competitive Intelligence Analysis for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

4. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Market Overview at a Glance

5. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Disease Background and Overview

6. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patient Journey

7. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Epidemiology and Patient Population

8. Treatment Algorithm, Current Treatment, and Medical Practices

9. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Unmet Needs

10. Key Endpoints of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment

11. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Marketed Products

12. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Emerging Therapies

13. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Seven Major Market Analysis

14. Attribute analysis

15. 7MM: Market Outlook

16. Access and Reimbursement Overview of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

17. KOL Views

18. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Market Drivers

19. Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Market Barriers

20. Appendix

21. DelveInsight Capabilities

22. Disclaimer

23. About DelveInsight

About DelveInsight Business Research

DelveInsight is a leading market research and consulting firm specializing in pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. We provide comprehensive market intelligence, competitive analysis, and strategic insights to guide decision-making for life science companies globally.

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