AstraZeneca’s blockbuster drug Tagrisso slowed disease progression in patients with advanced lung cancer, according to trial data that is likely to cement the treatment as a cornerstone of the company’s expanding cancer portfolio.
The trial looked at Tagrisso as a reparative treatment for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer and those with a specific gene mutation.
AstraZeneca said the trial showed a statistically significant and highly clinically significant improvement in progression-free survival for patients who did not recover from their cancer through surgery and responded to initial chemotherapy. This happens when patients undergo chemotherapy in addition to radiation therapy, according to what was reported by “Bloomberg”, and reviewed by “Arabic Business”.
The trial results will be a “really important catalyst” for the Tagrisso franchise, Dave Fredrickson, executive vice president of AstraZeneca’s oncology division, said in the company’s full-year earnings release.
CEO Pascal Soriot is reaping the benefits of his bet on cancer, as AstraZeneca has invested heavily in this area, including through collaborations with companies such as Daiichi Sankyo. The two companies said on Monday that one of the drugs under this partnership – Dato-DXd – has been accepted in the United States for regulatory review for sale.
Suresh Ramalingam, the trial’s lead researcher, said the trial results that emerged on Monday “represent a major advance” for patients. Ramalingam said it has shown that Tagrisso could be the first targeted treatment option for patients with stage III disease. The trial data will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting and shared with organizers.
Tagrisso, along with chemotherapy, was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration on February 16 to treat advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
The cancer drug is already AstraZeneca’s largest oncology revenue stream, bringing in 13% of the company’s sales in 2023.
#Bilad #newspaper #drug #AstraZeneca #slows #development #advanced #lung #cancer