IMFINZI® Boosts Survival Rates in Limited-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients

A recent Phase III clinical trial known as ADRIATIC has reported positive results for a medication called IMFINZI® (durvalumab), developed by AstraZeneca. The trial focused on patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) who had not experienced disease progression after concurrent chemoradiotherapy (cCRT). The study demonstrated that IMFINZI, when compared to a placebo, significantly improved both overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), which are the two primary endpoints.

Small cell lung cancer is recognized for its aggressive nature and high recurrence rate, even after patients initially respond to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The five-year survival rate for LS-SCLC patients is estimated to be between 15-30%. The ADRIATIC trial, led by Dr. Suresh Senan, a Clinical Experimental Radiotherapist at the Amsterdam University Medical Center, marks a significant advancement as it is the first to show a substantial improvement in survival outcomes for LS-SCLC patients.

Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President of Oncology R&D at AstraZeneca, highlighted the importance of these results, indicating that IMFINZI has the potential to become a curative-intent immunotherapy treatment for early-stage small cell lung cancer. This aligns with the drug's current status as a standard of care for unresectable, Stage III non-small cell lung cancer, based on the PACIFIC trial results.

The safety profile of IMFINZI remained consistent with previous findings, with no new safety concerns identified in the trial. The data will be presented at an upcoming medical conference and will be shared with global regulatory authorities for review.

IMFINZI is a human monoclonal antibody that targets the PD-L1 protein, thereby blocking its interaction with PD-1 and CD80 proteins, which in turn helps to overcome the tumor's immune evasion tactics. The drug is currently approved in several countries for treating extensive-stage SCLC and unresectable, Stage III non-small cell lung cancer.

The trial also tested an experimental arm combining IMFINZI with another drug, IMJUDO® (tremelimumab-actl), which targets the CTLA-4 protein to activate T-cells and enhance the immune response against cancer. However, this part of the trial remains blinded and will proceed to the next planned analysis.

AstraZeneca is committed to advancing the treatment of lung cancer through early detection and innovative approaches, with IMFINZI playing a key role in their immuno-oncology portfolio. The company aims to redefine cancer care and is dedicated to exploring combination therapies to prevent treatment resistance and extend patient survival.