{"id":4443,"date":"2025-12-19T11:07:30","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T16:07:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/happylungsproject.org\/?p=4443"},"modified":"2026-03-02T10:52:35","modified_gmt":"2026-03-02T15:52:35","slug":"2025-ret-cancer-research-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happylungsproject.org\/2025-ret-cancer-research-update\/","title":{"rendered":"2025 RET Cancer Research Update"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” row_position_desktop=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” flex_gap_desktop=”10px” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”padding-3-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” flex_gap_desktop=”10px” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color=”#f68d28″ background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” font_color=”#ffffff” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”10px” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

Your investment in The Happy Lungs Project has resulted in very exciting advances over the past year. Check out the RET Research Update webinar recording and recaps of the research presentations.<\/span><\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” flex_gap_desktop=”10px” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

\"2025<\/a>In the 4th Annual End-of-Year RET Research Webinar<\/strong>, industry partners and leading researchers shared the latest insights into RET biology, treatment resistance, and emerging strategies aimed at improving outcomes for patients with RET-driven cancers.<\/p>\n

We are deeply grateful to all of the presenters for sharing their insightful and compelling perspectives on RET-positive cancer research and future directions. We also thank our sponsors – Lilly, Ellipses, and Rigel – and the nearly 130 participants<\/strong> and members of the broader RET lung cancer community who joined us for the 2025 RET Research Update.<\/p>\n

Your continued support of The Happy Lungs Project<\/strong> is helping drive meaningful research progress. We invite you to watch the webinar recording and read the recap below.[\/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html css=””]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[\/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text css=”” text_direction=”default”]\n

Research Presentations:<\/span><\/h4>\n

Rigel Pharmaceuticals:<\/b><\/h3>\n

Dr. Cynthia Villarimo<\/strong> from Rigel Pharmaceuticals, shared updates on Rigel’s RET research pipeline, highlighting pralsetinib (Gavreto) and ongoing efforts to improve outcomes for patients with RET fusion\u2013positive cancers. Rigel is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company with three FDA-approved therapies across hematology and oncology, including Gavreto, for RET fusion\u2013positive metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and RET positive thyroid cancer. Approval of pralsetinib was supported by results from the ARROW trial, which demonstrated durable responses across RET-positive solid tumors.<\/p>\n

Dr. Villarimo shared Rigel\u2019s ongoing research that focuses on overcoming resistance through combination strategies, evaluating intracranial efficacy, and exploring RET fusions in additional tumor types, including pancreatic and colorectal cancers. Dr. Villarimo also highlighted challenges in biomarker testing, including long turnaround times of 2 or 3 weeks. These delays may contribute to some patients receiving chemotherapy instead of targeted therapy.<\/p>\n

To support timely access, Rigel offers patient assistance programs, copay support, and free drug supply coordination. More information is available at RigelOneCare.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ellipses Pharma:<\/h3>\n

On behalf of Ellipses Pharma, Dr. Alex Drilon<\/strong>, Medical Oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, presented an overview of the evolving treatment landscape for RET fusion\u2013driven cancers, with a focus on lunbotinib (EP0031), a next-generation RET inhibitor currently in global clinical development by Ellipses Pharma.<\/p>\n

For patients with RET fusion\u2013positive NSCLC, first-line treatment typically involves selective RET inhibitors such as pralsetinib or selpercatinib, which provide durable benefit for many patients. However, once resistance develops, treatment options are limited and often shift to non-targeted chemotherapy. This unmet need has driven the development of newer RET inhibitors designed to extend benefit and overcome resistance.<\/p>\n

Dr. Drilon emphasized that not all investigational RET inhibitors are truly next generation. Key differentiators include the activity against RET resistance mutations, particularly the RET G810, improved brain penetration, and clinical activity in patients previously treated with selective RET inhibitors<\/p>\n

Dr. Drilon mentioned that while many RET inhibitors are in development globally, particularly in Asia, few demonstrate these features. Lunbotinib is currently the only next-generation RET inhibitor in active clinical development across Asia, Europe, and the United States,<\/strong> with more than 500 patients treated worldwide. Early-phase studies have shown:<\/p>\n