LAURA Trial Shows TAGRISSO® Superiority in Treating Stage III EGFR-mutated Lung Cancer

New findings from the LAURA Phase III trial have indicated that AstraZeneca's drug TAGRISSO® (osimertinib) significantly improves progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with unresectable, Stage III EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Compared to a placebo group, TAGRISSO demonstrated a substantial clinical benefit, which could potentially make it the first targeted therapy for this stage of the disease.

Lung cancer is a prevalent and often fatal disease, with NSCLC being the most common form, accounting for 80-85% of cases. EGFR mutations are found in 10-15% of NSCLC patients in the US and Europe, and up to 40% of patients in Asia. Unresectable Stage III NSCLC affects approximately 15% of patients diagnosed with the disease.

Dr. Suresh Ramalingam, the principal investigator of the LAURA trial and Executive Director of Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, emphasized the significance of these results for patients with Stage III EGFR-mutated lung cancer, who often face rapid disease progression and a lack of targeted treatment options.

Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President of Oncology R&D at AstraZeneca, highlighted the importance of early diagnosis and treatment in lung cancer management. The positive results from the LAURA trial reinforce TAGRISSO's role as a foundational therapy for EGFR-mutated lung cancer.

The safety profile of TAGRISSO in the LAURA trial was consistent with its known effects, with no new safety issues arising from its use post-CRT. The data from the trial will be presented at an upcoming medical conference and will be shared with regulatory bodies worldwide.

Furthermore, TAGRISSO in combination with chemotherapy has recently gained approval in the US based on the FLAURA2 Phase III trial results. AstraZeneca continues to explore TAGRISSO's potential in the neoadjuvant setting through the NeoADAURA Phase III trial and in early-stage adjuvant resectable settings in the ADAURA2 Phase III trial.

TAGRISSO is a third-generation, irreversible EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has shown effectiveness against NSCLC, including brain metastases. It has been used to treat over 800,000 patients globally and is approved in more than 100 countries for various stages of EGFR-mutated NSCLC.

AstraZeneca is dedicated to advancing lung cancer treatment by focusing on early detection and innovative approaches to improve patient outcomes. The company's extensive portfolio includes leading medicines and a pipeline of potential new treatments, aiming to match therapies to patients who can benefit the most.

AstraZeneca is also a founding member of the Lung Ambition Alliance, a coalition working to accelerate lung cancer innovation and improve patient outcomes. The company's oncology division is at the forefront of a revolution in cancer treatment, with the goal of providing cures and redefining cancer care to ultimately eliminate it as a cause of death.