AstraZeneca's Imfinzi Steals March Into Untapped IO Lung Cancer Territory

12 May 2017

While most eyes were on AstraZeneca's keenly awaited MYSTIC lung cancer study of Imfinzi, its PACIFIC trial has ducked under the radar and hit investors with the nicest kind of surprise. The results could have wider implications for IO in earlier-stage cancers.

AstraZeneca PLC surprised the market with the unexpectedly early and positive results from its Phase III PACIFIC study of the newest PD-L1 blocker on the market, Imfinzi (durvalumab), in Stage III lung cancer. Its shares were up by more than 4.6% on the London Stock Exchange on the morning of May 12 as the added commercial opportunity sank in.

Not only do the results provide a fillip to AstraZeneca's immuno-oncology franchise by potentially securing first dibs on an NSCLC...