AstraZeneca shares positive results from Imfinzi trial

Pharma giant AstraZeneca has shared positive results from a phase 3 trial on Imfinzi, its resectable non-small cell lung cancer treatment, having shown a “significantly improved” event-free survival.

The company shared results from the phase 3 AEGEAN trial which demonstrated that treatment with Imfinzi, either before or after surgery, “significantly increased” the time patients continued to live without recurrence or progression events. Pathologic response analyses were consistent with previous positive results from prior trials.

The trial will continue to assess secondary endpoints, such as disease-free survival and overall survival, as initially planned.

John V Heymach MD PhD, professor and chair thoracic/head and neck medical oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, commented: “Treating patients early with durvalumab both before and after surgery delivers a significant and clinically meaningful benefit in resectable non-small cell lung cancer, where new options are urgently needed to offer patients the best chance of long-term survival. The AEGEAN results provide compelling evidence that this novel durvalumab regimen can drive improved outcomes in this curative-intent setting.”

Susan Galbraith, executive vice president of Oncology R&D at AstraZeneca, added: “Patients with resectable non-small cell lung cancer face unacceptably high rates of recurrence, despite treatment with chemotherapy and surgery. We have shown that adding Imfinzi both before and after surgery significantly increased the time patients live without recurrence or progression events. We will continue to follow patients for overall survival.”

Betsy Goodfellow