Imfinzi in Combination with Standard-of-Care Chemotherapies Improves Survival in Lung Cancer

Imfinzi (durvalumab), in combination with a select few standard-of-care chemotherapies, showed a sustained and clinically meaningful overall survival benefit in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, according to final analysis of the phase 3 CASPIAN trial.

“We are pleased to see the sustained and meaningful survival benefit of Imfinzi for patients with small cell lung cancer after more than two years median follow up,” Jose Baselga, executive vice president of oncology research and development at AstraZeneca, said in a company-issued press release. “We have already received the first global regulatory approval for Imfinzi with etoposide plus either carboplatin or cisplatin and remain on track for more approvals soon as we provide patients an important new first-line treatment option.”

Imfinzi — a human monoclonal antibody that binds to PD-L1 and blocks the interaction of PD-L1 with PD-1 and CD80 — counters the tumor's immune-evading tactics and releases the inhibition of immune responses.

Previous results of the trial showed that Imfinzi plus etoposide and either carboplatin or cisplatin chemotherapy improved overall survival — defined by the start of treatment until the time of patient death — versus standard-of-care chemotherapy alone.

Safety and tolerability data for Imfinzi were similar to previous safety results and will be presented at a future medical conference.