AstraZeneca's cancer drug, Tagrisso, has shown significant potential in reducing the risk of death for patients with early-stage lung cancer. Data from a trial showed that Tagrisso reduced the risk of death by over 50% for patients with non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have a mutation of the EGFR gene and had their tumours surgically removed. The drug, which is already a key component of AstraZeneca's portfolio and generated $5.4 billion in revenue last year, is approved in multiple regions for treating NSCLC patients with the EGFR mutation.
According to Susan Galbraith, executive VP of oncology R&D at AstraZeneca, the latest results establish Tagrisso as the backbone of EGFR-mutated lung cancer therapy. In the clinical trial called ADAURA, Tagrisso was given to patients following surgery, in an attempt to keep the cancer from returning.
While a large number of NSCLC patients experience cancer recurrence even after surgery and chemotherapy, the trial showed that Tagrisso can help reduce the risk of cancer returning. Patients who were given Tagrisso showed a 51% reduced risk of death compared to those who received a placebo. Additionally, data revealed that after five years, 88% of Tagrisso-treated patients survived compared to 78% on placebo.
Dave Fredrickson, executive VP of oncology at AstraZeneca, called the results a "pretty dramatic and remarkable improvement" and highlighted that there are currently no alternatives to Tagrisso that can help EGFR-mutated lung cancer patients live longer. He estimated that there are still many patients who have not yet received the treatment.
AstraZeneca plans to provide more details on the impact of combining Tagrisso with chemotherapy in advanced EGFR-mutated lung cancer patients later this year. The promising results underscore the potential of Tagrisso in treating certain types of lung cancer and could offer hope for patients worldwide.