AstraZeneca, along with its global biologics research and development arm, MedImmune, will demonstrate how it is rapidly delivering on the Company’s science-led strategy for transformational cancer medicine development at the 2017 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting in Chicago, US, 2-6 June 2017.
With three new oncology medicines addressing the unmet needs of patients with ovarian, lung, and bladder cancers approved in under three years, AstraZeneca is now halfway to delivering on its promise to launch six new medicines for cancer by 2020.
This progress is reflected in the 100 company-sponsored and supported abstracts, including five Best-of-ASCO presentations, 11 oral presentations and eight poster discussions, accepted for the meeting. These include new data on approved and potential new medicines from the Company’s pipeline across multiple scientific platforms and tumour types.
Jamie Freedman, Executive Vice President, Oncology at AstraZeneca, said: “2017 is a pivotal year for our oncology portfolio as global launch and development programmes for Lynparza, Tagrisso and Imfinzi gain momentum, with further pivotal data anticipated in the coming months, in particular in 1st-line non-small cell lung cancer. We are excited to demonstrate the strength of our rapidly-expanding portfolio at ASCO, including the positive OlympiAD results for Lynparza in BRCA-mutated metastatic breast cancer.”
Growing confidence in DNA Damage Response (DDR) approach emphasised by OlympiAD results
‘Late-breaker’ data from the OlympiAD trial of Lynparza (olaparib) versus chemotherapy in BRCA-mutated metastatic breast cancer (Abstract #LBA4) are the first positive Phase III results for a poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor beyond ovarian cancer. They are an important next step in the development of AstraZeneca’s DDR approach to selectively targeting of tumours through deficiencies in cancer cell DNA repair mechanisms.
Additional Lynparza data will include:
- SOLO-2: Oral presentation of Phase III data on the relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and patient-centred and clinical outcomes with Lynparza maintenance following chemotherapy in patients with BRCA-mutated platinum-sensitive relapsed serous ovarian cancer (Abstract #5507)
- Study 19: Randomised Phase II overall survival and updated progression-free survival data for the combination of Lynparzaand cediranib versus Lynparza alone in recurrent platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer (Abstract #5535)
AstraZeneca’s unique DDR pipeline will also be illustrated through an oral presentation of Phase I data on the WEE1 inhibitor, AZD1775, in combination with radiation therapy and temozolomide in patients with newly-diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and evaluation of intratumoural drug distribution in patients with recurrent GBM (Abstract #2005). Additional information will also be presented from a Phase I trial of AZD1775 in combination with neoadjuvant weekly cisplatin and docetaxel in borderline-resectable head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) (Abstract #6034).
Extended evidence of the effect of Tagrisso (osimertinib) on CNS metastases
Latest Tagrisso data from the AURA3 trial to be released during an oral presentation will provide further evidence of the response to treatment in patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) T790M mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and CNS metastases (Abstract #9005).
Further insights into the ability of Tagrisso to cross the blood-brain barrier will be provided through updated results from the BLOOM trial of Tagrisso in patients with EGFR mutation-positive NSCLC and leptomeningeal disease (Abstract #2020).
New data on Imfinzi (durvalumab) as monotherapy and in combination
Building on exciting recent milestones for its Immuno-Oncology programme, AstraZeneca will be presenting updated data from the NSCLC and bladder cancer cohorts of the Phase I/II Study 1108 of durvalumab in patients with advanced solid tumours. New data in locally-advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (mUC) (Abstract #4525) reinforce the May 2017 US FDA approval of Imfinzi for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or mUC who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy, or whose disease has progressed within 12 months of receiving platinum-containing chemotherapy before (neoadjuvant) or after (adjuvant) surgery.
Updated durvalumab monotherapy Study 1108 results in Stage IIIB/IV NSCLC (Abstract #9085) will also be presented. These data underline AstraZeneca’s forward momentum in lung cancer following the positive top-line results of the Phase III PACIFIC trial of durvalumab as sequential treatment in patients with locally-advanced, unresectable (Stage III) NSCLC. In an oral presentation, MedImmune will present data on a novel relationship in NSCLC between EGFR pathway activation and the immunosuppressive molecule CD73 (Abstract #11505).
