Summary
Patients with ROS1 lung cancer have a new option. On July 22, 2026, the FDA approved zidesamtinib, sold as Jideytro. The maker is Nuvalent, Inc.
This drug treats adults with advanced or metastatic ROS1-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Specifically, it helps people who already tried at least one ROS1 targeted drug.
ROS1 lung cancer starts when the ROS1 gene fuses with a nearby gene. As a result, the cancer keeps growing. It affects about 1% to 2% of NSCLC patients. Notably, many of them are younger and never smoked.
The approval came from a study called ARROS-1. First, researchers enrolled 117 patients who had earlier treatment. About half had tried one ROS1 drug. Meanwhile, the rest had tried two or more.
Tumors shrank in 44% of all patients. Furthermore, 82% of those patients kept that benefit for six months or longer. In addition, nearly 7 in 10 kept it past a year.
Results looked stronger in patients with less prior treatment. For example, 49% responded in that group. However, only 38% responded among heavily treated patients.
Doctors will also watch for side effects. These can include brain and nerve reactions, heart rhythm changes, lung inflammation, bone fractures, muscle pain, and pancreas problems. Moreover, the drug can harm a developing baby.
Patients take one 100 mg pill each day, either with or without food.
Therefore, ask your oncologist about biomarker testing. After all, zidesamtinib for ROS1 lung cancer only helps if your tumor carries that gene change.
