Pat Brogan, a 68-year-old from Cowdenbeath, Scotland, is one of the first patients to benefit from a pioneering smart drug that appears to strip cancer cells of their 'invisibility cloak', allowing the immune system to attack them. His tumours have shrunk by almost a third, enabling him to walk his daughter down the aisle and plan a holiday to Spain—milestones he once thought impossible.
Diagnosis and Treatment Journey
Brogan was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in 2021 after losing his voice. Scans revealed tumours affecting his vocal chords. He underwent chemotherapy and immunotherapy for about three years before his tumours began growing again. Faced with more intensive chemotherapy that might not work, he joined a trial in 2025 for the smart drug GRWD5769.
'When I was first diagnosed nearly five years ago, I was getting ready to say my goodbyes. To be here, and to be living a relatively normal life, is a miracle,' Brogan said. 'My mum, sister and dad had all died from cancer, so I thought that the run of awful luck might have ended with me.'
How the Smart Drug Works
The treatment involves GRWD5769, which prevents cancer cells from hiding from the immune system, allowing immunotherapy to find and kill disease cells. Results were presented at the world's largest oncology conference in Chicago.
Patient's Renewed Hope
Describing the treatment as having 'given me my life back', Brogan now enjoys daily walks with his dog, Seamus, and looks forward to his daughter's wedding in June. 'I get up every morning and look forward to the extra time I have to spend with Linda and the rest of my family, including my two grandchildren,' he said.
Brogan expressed gratitude to Prof Stefan Symeonides and his team in Edinburgh, and to other patients who participated in cancer research before him. 'Hopefully, by taking part in research, I can also make things better for people like me in the future,' he added.
