With a 5-year survival rate of around 20%, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in France, responsible for more than 33,000 deaths each year. Also, expectations surrounding this pathology remain high. From May 31 to June 4, the 60th was held in Chicagoth edition of this unmissable oncology event, during which pharmaceutical laboratories often unveil their most sensational announcements. Bringing together nearly 35,000 specialists, the event was the scene of encouraging advances in oncology, particularly against lung cancer.
And among the laboratories which caused a sensation, AstraZeneca is perhaps the one which aroused the greatest wave of hope, in view of the standing ovation received upon the announcement of the results of the LAURA study, relating to its targeted therapy Tagrisso (osimertinib) in the treatment of advanced forms of lung cancer. And for good reason, the phase III trial evaluating this tyrosine kinase inhibitor in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which cannot be operated on, demonstrated spectacular results. On average, patients with these advanced forms of cancer treated with Tagrisso survived 39.1 months compared to 5.6 months for the placebo group, representing an 84% benefit in progression-free survival for patients.
A revolution for this drug, previously indicated as monotherapy in the treatment of certain early forms of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and which could now become a reference in the treatment of advanced stages of lung cancer. AstraZeneca also considers that the trial “ LAURA represents a potential blockbuster opportunity » for the drug Tagrisso (i.e. the possibility of exceeding one billion dollars in sales). More generally, the laboratory has made this location one of its priorities since it aims to treat, by 2030, more than 50% of patients with lung cancer.
Other promising results
For this, AstraZeneca will be able to count on another product, the immunotherapy Imfinzi (durvalumab) from the British laboratory, until now considered the standard of care in stage 3 NSCLC, is associated with a 9% reduction in the risk of progression. or death, or 27% after chemoradiotherapy. AstraZeneca continues to advance this drug, particularly for locally advanced forms of small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Indeed, the ADRIATIC study showed that administration of the PD-L1 antibody Imfinzi reduced the risk of death by 27%, with overall three-year survival increased by almost 10%. “ ADRIATIC results represent a breakthrough in SCLC and durvalumab is expected to become a new standard of treatment “, said David R. Spigel, scientific director of the Sarah Cannon Institute in Nashville (United States).
Another laboratory to have taken advantage of ASCO to present positive results on lung cancer: Bristol Myers Squibb. Its targeted therapy, Krazati (adagrasib), currently in phase III, has achieved a significant improvement in progression-free survival in patients with pretreated, locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC, compared to standard chemotherapy. An increase in progression-free survival less impressive than that of AstraZeneca’s Tagrisso, but which still reaches 31%. In addition, the American laboratory revealed new analyzes relating to its drug Opdivo. Five-year follow-up data from the CheckMate-9LA study, for example, shows that in combination with chemotherapy and Yervoy (ipilimumab), another BMS drug, Opdivo continued to improve survival in patients with NSCLC. previously untreated metastatic disease, compared to chemotherapy alone.
These results offer great hope to patients with lung cancer, which remains the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide with approximately 1.8 million deaths in 2020.
GSK presented its advances in myeloma
GSK has revealed encouraging results in oncology, a therapeutic area for which the British laboratory has 11 drugs in development in around twenty indications and for 13 types of cancer. The laboratory was keen to highlight the positive phase III results of its DREAMM-8 and DREAMM-7 trials evaluating the intravenous administration of Blenrep (belantamab mafodotin), a first-in-class ADC in the anti-BCMA category.
In combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone, it provided a significant improvement in progression-free survival in the treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma. Evaluating two different treatment regimens, the DREAMM-8 and DREAMM-7 studies showed a reduction in the risk of death of 48% and 58%, respectively. “ The DREAMM-7 and DREAMM-8 trials were cited among the best studies presented at ASCO », According to Xavier Leleu, head of the hematology department at Poitiers University Hospital. GSK plans to quickly submit a marketing authorization application for Blenrep, after obtaining proof of improvement in overall patient survival. “ There is no doubt that the EMA will validate these two regimens, we still have to wait for the drug to be available in France », commented Xavier Leleu who is already planning to soon prescribe the drug developed by GSK to his patients.
