Ripretinib (switch-control KIT/PDGFRA TKI) matches sunitinib on survival in second-line GIST

Phase 3 INTRIGUE (NCT03673501) randomized 453 imatinib-refractory GIST patients to continuous-dose ripretinib 150 mg vs intermittent sunitinib 50 mg (4 wk on/2 wk off); after 211 deaths, median OS was 35.5 mo vs 31.5 mo overall and 35.5 mo vs 32.8 mo in KIT-exon 11 (no significant HR reported), while median PFS on subsequent third-line therapy was similar (7.7 mo vs 7.4 mo). Grade ≥3 toxicities remained lower with ripretinib—earlier data showed hand–foot skin reaction 7% vs 26% and hypertension 5% vs 14%—and no new safety signals emerged.