AstraZeneca said Tuesday that its cancer drug Imfinzi significantly improved overall survival when combined with Amgen’s Imdelltra. The combination was tested in patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer during a late-stage clinical trial.
The trial involved patients whose disease had not progressed after initial treatment with Imfinzi, platinum chemotherapy and etoposide.
AstraZeneca said the findings strengthen Imfinzi’s growing role in treating small-cell lung cancer.
Imfinzi Combination Shows Survival Benefit
Susan Galbraith, AstraZeneca’s Executive Vice President for Oncology Haematology R&D, said the results demonstrated an unprecedented improvement in overall survival.
She added that the findings reinforced Imfinzi’s position as the backbone immunotherapy for small-cell lung cancer.
Jacob Sands, an oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, described the findings as among the most compelling survival results he had seen in extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer.
He said the results could help reshape treatment outcomes for patients with the aggressive disease.
The safety and tolerability profile of the drug combination remained consistent with the established profiles of both medicines.
AstraZeneca reported no new safety concerns during the trial.
Imfinzi Already Approved in Major Markets
Imfinzi is already approved in the United States, European Union, Japan, China and several other markets. The drug is used as a standard treatment for both extensive-stage and limited-stage small-cell lung cancer. Small-cell lung cancer represents a relatively small proportion of overall lung cancer cases. However, it remains one of the most aggressive and deadly forms of the disease.
Most patients receive a diagnosis after the cancer has already spread extensively. Consequently, survival rates remain low despite advances in treatment.
The latest trial results could therefore strengthen the case for combining immunotherapy approaches in patients with extensive-stage disease.
AstraZeneca said the findings support the continued development of Imfinzi as an important treatment option for small-cell lung cancer patients.
