AstraZeneca boasts positive results of drug trial involving patients with advanced endometrial cancer
- AstraZeneca made over $4 billion in revenue from Imfinzi and Lynparza last year
- Endometrial cancer is one of the most common cancers in women worldwide
A late-stage drug trial involving patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer has shown positive results, AstraZeneca said.
The pharmaceutical giant said people treated with the drugs Imfinzi and Lynparza, when combined with chemotherapy, saw a “statistically significant and clinically meaningful” gain in progression-free survival.
“Greater clinical benefit” was noted when Imfinzi and Lynparza were part of a combination treatment rather than when the drugs were used separately, he added.
AstraZeneca revealed the positive results of a phase three
Imfinzi – also known as Durvalumab – is generally used to treat certain cancers of the lung, bile duct and gallbladder, while Lynparza, generically called Olparib – is used for particular forms of lung cancer. ovary, prostate, breast and pancreas.
AstraZeneca made more than $4 billion in revenue from the two drugs last year, equivalent to more than half of all sales in its oncology division.
Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President of Oncology Research and Development at AstraZeneca, said: “These results underscore our ambition to redefine cancer care, and we hope to bring this innovative Imfinzi and Lynparza combination to patients with cancer. endometrial cancer as soon as possible.”
Endometrial cancer is one of the most common cancers in women worldwide, with more than 417,000 patients diagnosed and 97,000 dying in 2020.
It is the most common form of uterine cancer, mainly affecting postmenopausal women over the age of 60.
Diagnoses of the disease are expected to increase by almost 40% by the end of the next decade, according to the World Health Organization.
AstraZeneca shares rose 0.33% to £116.80 just after midday on Friday, remaining just above their value at the start of the year.
In first-quarter results released last month, the FTSE 100 company revealed sales of cancer drugs rose 19%, with Imfinzi’s revenue hitting $900 million, far beating estimates of around $735 million. of dollars.
However, total revenue fell 4% to $10.9 billion due to a fall in Covid-19 vaccine orders as governments ease travel restrictions.
Following the performance, AstraZeneca confirmed its revenue growth outlook of low to mid single digits, but low double digits excluding coronavirus-related sales.
