Novel small molecule drugs approved by FDA in 2024 for cancer therapy

Cancer remains a leading cause of mortality each year and is increasingly emerging as a significant threat to public health due to its rising incidence rates Various types of cancers, prioritized for treatment, are managed through distinct therapeutic approaches. Small molecule-based drugs, which target various receptors in cancer cells, rank among the leading therapeutic options alongside immunotherapeutics and cell-based therapies. As extensive research is going on small molecules designed for different cancer related diseases, and based on new molecules studies deposited, the FDA has approved 50 new molecular drugs for different cancers. Among these, six novel molecules have been approved for oncological applications. The approved drugs include: Tovorafenib for pediatric low-grade glioma, Vorasidenib for Grade 2 astrocytoma, Lazertinib for non-small cell lung cancer, Inavolisib for HR+/HER2-breast cancer, Revumenib for R/R acute leukemia, Ensartinib for ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer. This note delves in the development, structural properties and applications of the anticancer drugs recently approved by the FDA.