AstraZeneca Secures Big Wins in Cancer Drug Data Release

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After attending the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Chicago, I have returned to New York City.

Over 5,000 research abstracts were presented or published at ASCO, covering topics such as existing drugs, experimental treatments, AI tools, and strategies for enhancing patient care.

The larger companies I monitor have provided some data highlights and executive commentary.

wins big:

• In patients with stage three non-small cell lung cancer caused by mutations in the EGFR gene, the company's second-best-selling drug, Tagrisso, reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 84% compared to placebo, according to new late-stage trial results. The treatment kept the disease under control for a median of over three years – or 39 months – while patients who received a placebo had a median progression-free survival of around five months.
• According to Dave Fredrickson, executive vice president of AstraZeneca's oncology business unit, patients are experiencing an average of three years more time before their disease progresses, with half of them not having received any news about their condition yet. This suggests that the study's long-term results could indicate cures.
• During a press briefing last week, David Spigel, the chief scientific officer at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute in Nashville, stated that the data on Tagrisso would significantly alter clinical practice.
• Imfinzi, AstraZeneca's immunotherapy, reduced the risk of death by 27% compared to placebo in patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer following chemoradiotherapy, as shown in another late-stage trial. Both Tagrisso and Imfinzi presentations received standing ovations at ASCO.
• In women with a specific type of metastatic breast cancer who have low expression of the protein HER2, Enhertu, a targeted cancer treatment developed by AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo, reduced the risk of progression or death by 38% compared to chemotherapy in a late-stage trial. All patients in the trial had previously received at least one line of endocrine therapy.
• AstraZeneca's positive data at ASCO supports its $80 billion revenue target by 2030, according to TDCowen analyst Steve Scala.

shows off its bet on cancer:

• In a late-stage trial, Pfizer's drug Lorbrena helped patients live longer without their cancer progressing and most experienced that benefit for over five years. Additionally, the medicine cut the risk of cancer progression in patients' brains.
• Chris Boshoff, Pfizer's chief oncology officer, stated that in cancer medicine, it is crucial to provide the best treatment initially. Therefore, they believe the data will make Lorbrena the standard first-line treatment for this specific type of lung cancer.
• In patients with a specific type of lymphoma, a treatment regimen that incorporated Pfizer's targeted cancer treatment Adcetris decreased the likelihood of death by 37% compared to chemotherapy alone, as demonstrated by comprehensive data from a late-stage trial.

, impress with additional cancer vaccine data:

• In a mid-stage study, Merck and Moderna's personalized cancer vaccine combined with Keytruda improved survival and showed long-lasting efficacy in patients with severe forms of melanoma. The overall survival rate of patients who took the vaccine in combination with Keytruda was 96% after 2½ years, compared to 90.2% among those who took Keytruda alone.
• Seeing the durability of the data is what excites Marjorie Green, Merck's head of global clinical development of oncology, when looking at the three-year updates.
• According to Stephane Bancel, CEO of Moderna, the progress of the phase three trial on the combination as a treatment for late-stage melanoma is currently "ahead of our plans."

's treatment combo shows promise as first-line treatment for liver cancer:

• Patients with previously untreated advanced liver cancer who received treatment with the company's immunotherapies Opdivo and Yervoy had a lower risk of death compared to those who received standard treatments (Lenvima from Merck and Eisai or Nexavar from Bayer), according to late-stage clinical trial data. The median overall survival for patients who took the combination was 23.7 months, compared to 20.6 months for those who received either of the other two drugs.
• In a late-stage clinical trial, Bristol Myers Squibb's lung cancer pill Krazati slowed tumor growth by nearly two months. Patients who received the drug lived a median of 5.5 months before their cancer progressed or they died, compared to 3.8 months for those who received chemo.

showcases a more convenient version of Rybrevant:

• J&J unveiled new late-stage trial data for an injectable version of its lung cancer treatment Rybrevant, which was combined with lazertinib. The study demonstrated that the injectable form is equivalent to the approved version in patients with a specific type of non-small cell lung cancer. The approved form of the drug is given through intravenous infusion, which can be time-consuming and uncomfortable for patients. J&J intends to submit a request for approval of the injectable version of Rybrevant in the U.S.

presents revamped oncology pipeline:

• Eli Lilly presented updates on its oncology pipeline, including both late-stage and early-stage experimental drugs, during an event at ASCO. This was five years after the company acquired Loxo Oncology and underwent a reorganization of its cancer unit, which resulted in the termination of much of Eli Lilly's pipeline at the time.
• Jake Van Naarden, Loxo@Lilly president, stated that Eli Lilly's popular obesity and diabetes drugs have resulted in a rising tide that benefits the company's oncology business. He emphasized that the success of the incretin portfolio has positioned Lilly to invest in other areas.

Rewritten sentence: Please provide any tips, suggestions, story ideas, and data to Annika at [email protected].

Latest in health-care technology

Digital physical therapy tools provide clinical benefits, report finds

On Wednesday, patients with musculoskeletal conditions who prefer to remain in their pajamas received good news from the Peterson Health Technology Institute: They can receive significant care from the comfort of their homes, as per a new report.

PHTI, a nonprofit organization, conducted an independent evaluation of virtual musculoskeletal tools from several companies, including Hinge Health, Sword Health, Omada Health, DarioHealth, Kaia Health, RecoveryOne, Limber Health, and Vori Health, for its latest report.

Disorders affecting joints, bones, and muscles can limit a patient's mobility and cause pain. These musculoskeletal conditions can be treated with medication, surgery, or physical therapy.

Musculoskeletal conditions affect approximately one in three individuals in the U.S., accounting for nearly 10% of total medical expenditure, as stated in a release on Wednesday.

The organization aimed to assess whether virtual tools reduce healthcare expenses or offer significant advantages to patients. According to the release, several of the solutions "deliver clinical benefits to patients that are equivalent to in-person physical therapy."

PHTI evaluated the clinical and economic effectiveness of the tools by examining over 2,000 scientific articles and obtaining feedback from experts and patients.

The solutions were divided into three categories: physical therapist-guided solutions (Sword, Hinge, Omada, Vori, and RecoveryOne), app-based exercise therapy with minimal physical therapist involvement (Dario, Kaia), and remote therapeutic monitoring solutions that complement in-person care (Limber).

According to PHTI, physical therapist-guided solutions are as effective as in-person physical therapy in improving patients' functionality and pain. Therefore, patients who use these solutions from home can expect similar results to those who receive their care in person.

The report suggests that while app-based exercise therapy can improve patients' pain and function, it is not enough to replace in-person care. Furthermore, PHTI states that although evidence for remote therapeutic monitoring tools is limited, they provide better clinical results when used in conjunction with in-person physical therapy compared to in-person therapy alone.

According to the report, net spending can be reduced through physical therapist-guided solutions, while remote therapeutic monitoring tools increase net spending. However, pricing data was not available for app-based exercise therapy.

Virtual musculoskeletal tools have been found to provide "meaningful improvements in pain and function compared with usual care," according to PHTI. These tools can also increase access to care, particularly for older patients, those living in rural areas, or those who have difficulty traveling to an in-person clinic, PHTI stated.

You can read the full report from PHTI here.

Rewritten sentence: Please provide any tips, suggestions, story ideas, and data to Ashley at [email protected].