Drug combo cuts lung cancer death risk by 58%, extends survival
Amgen's Imdelltra plus AstraZeneca's Imfinzi cut death risk by 58% in small cell lung cancer, extending median survival to 21.1 months.
A combination of two immunotherapy drugs has shown striking results in aggressive small cell lung cancer. In a late-stage trial released Saturday, patients who received Amgen's Imdelltra alongside AstraZeneca's Imfinzi survived a median of 21.1 months, compared with 12.7 months on Imfinzi alone, cutting death risk by 58 per cent.
Nearly 80 per cent of patients taking both drugs were alive at one year, versus 53 per cent on one drug. The benefit held across subgroups including patients whose cancer had spread to the brain or liver.
Small cell lung cancer is notoriously hard to treat. There are roughly 31,000 new cases each year in the US, with 60 to 70 per cent diagnosed at the advanced stage.
Amgen's chief medical officer said the findings could transform standard treatment. The drug generated $627 million in global sales in 2025 and is on track to become a blockbuster medicine.
- 58 percent
- Death risk reduction
- 21.1 months vs 12.7 months
- Median survival gain
- Roughly 31,000
- Annual US cases
- 627 million dollars
- 2025 Imdelltra sales
Why it mattersFor patients facing aggressive lung cancer, the combination offers months longer to live and a way to turn a fast-killing disease into something more manageable.
AustraliaAustralian cancer patients may eventually gain access to this combination through Medicare approval, though any listing would depend on TGA evaluation and PBS consideration.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
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