Positive Lung Cancer Trial Results for Amgen's Imdelltra and AstraZeneca's Imfinzi
Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ:AMGN) and AstraZeneca PLC (NYSE:AZN) reported positive results from a late-stage trial of their combination therapy involving Amgen’s Imdelltra and AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi for treating extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer. The treatment significantly improved overall survival, progression-free survival, and response rates without introducing new safety concerns. For Amgen, the result could expand Imdelltra's role in oncology beyond its current use, potentially increasing sales of a drug that already generated $513 million last year. This development supports diversification away from older products as cancer therapies represent 23% of Amgen’s revenue base. AstraZeneca also benefits by reinforcing Imfinzi’s position across multiple indications and providing evidence of strength in its oncology pipeline, which had faced recent setbacks like the discontinuation of a lung-cancer trial. However, both companies face challenges including competition and uncertain adoption rates among physicians.
Topics: Amgen AstraZeneca Imdelltra Imfinzi lung cancer