AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi and Tremelimumab Helped NSCLC Patients Live Longer

Results from a phase 3 trial of the combination of AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi (durvalumab), the monoclonal antibody tremelimumab and platinum-based chemotherapy demonstrated better overall survival vs. chemotherapy alone for patients with stage IV (metastatic) nonsmall-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the company said.  

Patients were treated with a short course of tremelimumab over 16 weeks in addition to Imfinzi and standard chemotherapy. The immunotherapy combination also demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival vs. chemotherapy alone.

“We’ve seen encouraging uptake of novel combinations in this setting and believe this new approach will add a further option for patients with high unmet medical need,” said Dave Fredrickson, executive vice president of AstraZeneca’s oncology business unit.

The combination of Imfinzi and tremelimumab is also being tested for treatment of bladder cancer and liver cancer.