AstraZeneca PLC - AZN STOCK NEWS

AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo's ENHERTU demonstrated substantial clinical activity in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer and brain metastases in the DESTINY-Breast12 Phase IIIb/IV trial. Key findings include:

- 61.6% progression-free survival rate at 12 months in patients with brain metastases
- 58.9% CNS progression-free survival rate at 12 months
- 62.7% objective response rate in patients without brain metastases
- Safety profile consistent with previous trials

The results support ENHERTU's potential role in treating patients with active or stable brain metastases, addressing a significant unmet need in HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer treatment.

SOPHiA GENETICS (Nasdaq: SOPH) and AstraZeneca have announced a partnership to expand global access to liquid biopsy testing. They aim to deploy MSK-ACCESS® powered with SOPHiA DDM™ to 20 locations worldwide over the next 12 months. This liquid biopsy test, developed by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, offers a less invasive alternative to solid tumor testing.

The collaboration seeks to understand how liquid biopsy testing can complement or surpass solid tissue testing. A real-world evidence study will evaluate operational benefits, including result speed and data quality. Since April 2024, 14 leading healthcare institutions have adopted the application. The partnership is expected to generate valuable real-world data for advancing cancer research and drug development.

The TROPION-Lung01 phase 3 trial evaluating datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd) in advanced nonsquamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) showed promising results. In the nonsquamous NSCLC subgroup, Dato-DXd demonstrated a 2.3-month improvement in overall survival (OS) compared to docetaxel (14.6 vs 12.3 months; HR=0.84). The safety profile was consistent with previous analyses, with lower rates of dose reduction and discontinuation compared to docetaxel. Additionally, the NeoCOAST-2 trial showed promising response rates for Dato-DXd in combination with durvalumab and chemotherapy in early-stage resectable NSCLC, with a pathological complete response rate of 34.1%.

Innate Pharma SA announced interim results from AstraZeneca's NeoCOAST-2 Phase 2 study presented at the 2024 World Conference on Lung Cancer. The study evaluates neoadjuvant durvalumab alone or combined with novel agents and chemotherapy in resectable, early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Preliminary data from Arm 2 showed that monalizumab added to durvalumab plus platinum-based chemotherapy induced a pathological complete response rate of 26.7% and a major pathological response rate of 53.3%, numerically higher than the approved regimen. The treatment demonstrated a manageable safety profile with no impact on surgical rate. Innate Pharma's Chief Medical Officer expressed excitement about the potential of extending durvalumab's clinical benefit with monalizumab in NSCLC patients.

An exploratory analysis of the TROPION-Lung01 phase 3 trial revealed that TROP2, measured by quantitative continuous scoring (QCS), was predictive of clinical outcomes in patients with advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with datopotamab deruxtecan (Dato-DXd). In TROP2-QCS biomarker positive patients, Dato-DXd showed a significantly greater efficacy compared to docetaxel than in the overall trial population.

Key findings include:

• 60% of the biomarker evaluable population was TROP2-QCS positive
• Dato-DXd reduced disease progression or death risk by 43% vs. docetaxel in TROP2-QCS positive patients
• Median PFS was 6.9 months for Dato-DXd vs. 4.1 months for docetaxel in TROP2-QCS positive patients
• No new safety concerns were identified in the biomarker evaluable population

AstraZeneca aims to revolutionize cancer care with new data presented at the 2024 IASLC World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) and the ESMO Congress. Key highlights include:

• IMFINZI® (durvalumab) shows statistically significant and clinically meaningful survival benefits in muscle-invasive bladder cancer in the NIAGARA Phase III trial.
• The TROPION-Lung01 Phase III trial results indicate datopotamab deruxtecan's potential to replace traditional chemotherapy for advanced nonsquamous NSCLC.
• Several presentations will emphasize early intervention in lung cancer, including the AEGEAN Phase III trial of perioperative IMFINZI for resectable NSCLC.
• Novel antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) like datopotamab deruxtecan and ENHERTU® show promising efficacy and safety data in various cancer settings.
• Advancements in the bispecific antibody program and new combination treatment approaches aim to improve patient outcomes.

ENHERTU® (fam-trastuzumab deruxtecan-nxki) has been granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation (BTD) in the U.S. for treating certain HER2 low or HER2 ultralow metastatic breast cancer patients. This is ENHERTU's eighth BTD, based on results from the DESTINY-Breast06 phase 3 trial. The FDA's BTD aims to accelerate development and review of potential new medicines for serious conditions with unmet medical needs.

ENHERTU, jointly developed by Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca (AZN), is a HER2-directed antibody-drug conjugate. If approved, it could expand treatment options for breast cancer patients previously ineligible for HER2-directed therapies. This designation marks Daiichi Sankyo's eleventh BTD across its oncology pipeline, highlighting the company's commitment to innovative cancer treatments.

Daiichi Sankyo announced that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has validated the Type II Variation application for ENHERTU® (trastuzumab deruxtecan) as a monotherapy for treating adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2 low or HER2 ultralow breast cancer who have received at least one endocrine therapy in the metastatic setting. The application is based on data from the DESTINY-Breast06 phase 3 trial, which showed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival compared to standard chemotherapy. ENHERTU is a HER2 directed DXd antibody drug conjugate jointly developed by Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca. This submission aims to expand ENHERTU's existing indication in HER2 low metastatic breast cancer to include earlier disease stages and a broader patient population.

AstraZeneca’s IMFINZI® (durvalumab) has been approved by the FDA for treating resectable early-stage (IIA-IIIB) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in adults without EGFR mutations or ALK rearrangements. This approval is based on the AEGEAN Phase III trial, which showed a 32% reduction in the risk of recurrence, progression, or death compared to neoadjuvant chemotherapy alone.

The trial results indicated an EFS hazard ratio of 0.68 (95% CI 0.53-0.88, P=0.003902) and a pCR rate of 17.2% for the IMFINZI regimen versus 4.3% for chemotherapy alone. The regimen includes IMFINZI with neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery and as adjuvant monotherapy post-surgery.

IMFINZI is also approved in the UK, Switzerland, and Taiwan based on AEGEAN results, with reviews ongoing in other regions. Notably, the regimen did not compromise surgical outcomes and was well tolerated with no new safety signals.