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A new KRAS inhibitor just leapfrogged the competition. In the phase 3 Krascendo 1 trial, divarasib significantly outperformed sotorasib and adagrasib in previously treated KRAS G12C–mutated non-small cell lung cancer, cutting the risk of disease progression or death by 42% and the risk of death by 44%. Researchers say divarasib is now the new standard of care for this patient population.
A new KRAS inhibitor just leapfrogged the competition in lung cancer treatment. The phase 3 Krascendo 1 trial showed that divarasib significantly outperformed the existing KRAS G12C inhibitors — sotorasib and adagrasib — in patients with previously treated, advanced or metastatic KRAS G12C–mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Results were published simultaneously in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the 2026 ESMO Congress, with lead author Dr. Ferdinandos Skoulidis declaring divarasib "a new standard of care" for this patient population.
The trial enrolled 338 patients who had received 1–3 prior lines of therapy. Divarasib was dosed once daily, compared to the twice-daily regimen required for adagrasib — a potential convenience advantage. The safety profile was also favorable, with fewer serious treatment-related adverse events and lower discontinuation rates than the control arm.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: KRAS G12C mutations are among the most common oncogenic drivers in NSCLC, and until now, no inhibitor had proven superior to another in a head-to-head trial. Divarasib's clear survival benefit sets a new benchmark and opens the door to next-generation combination strategies currently being explored in earlier treatment settings.
