According to a story from us.acrofan.com, the biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca recently announced the release of positive results for a clinical trial testing the company’s drug durvalumab (marketed as IMFINZI) in combination with tremelimumab and chemotherapy for patients with non-small cell lung cancer that has reached stage IV and has not been previously treated. In this clinical trial, the treatment combination was able to produce improvements in progression-free survival.
About Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common type of lung cancer and comprises about 85 percent of all lung cancer cases in total. The disease is characterized by its relative lack of response to chemotherapy when compared to other types of lung cancer. There are several different sub types of non-small cell lung cancer. Smoking tobacco is overwhelmingly the strongest risk factor for this disease, with risk increasing the longer a person smokes. Other factors include exposure to radon, tar, air pollution, secondhand smoke, soot, chromium, and nickel. Family history also increases risk. Symptoms include frequent coughing (sometimes with blood), weight loss, appetite loss, chest pain, shortness of breath, hoarseness, wheezing, fatigue, weakness, facial swelling, nausea, infections, and difficulty swallowing. Treatment may include surgery, radiation, chemo, and targeted therapies. For early stage disease, five year survival rate is 47 percent. To learn more about non-small cell lung cancer, click here.
About The Clinical Trial
The phase 3 trial found that IMFINZI was able to produce improved progression-free survival results both on its own with chemo and when used in combination with tremelimumab and chemo. Five different commonly used chemotherapy regimens were used on patients during the trial; the study included patients with both squamous and non-squamous cases. The drug was dosed at 1500mg and was administered every three weeks with chemo; this was then reduced to every four until progression occurred.
About IMFINZI (Durvalumab)
IMFINZI will further be tested on its own (without chemo or any other drugs) for stage IV disease in a different, ongoing trial. The drug is currently approved for patients with stage III disease following treatment with chemo and radiation. It is classified as a monoclonal antibody that inhibits the activity of PD-L1. Non-small cell lung cancer utilizes the activity of PD-L1 with CD80 and PD-1 in order to circumvent the immune system.
