Amgen and AstraZeneca Drug Combination Significantly Extends Survival in Late-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer Trial

NEW YORK—Amgen and AstraZeneca said Tuesday that a combination of their cancer drugs significantly extended survival in patients with an aggressive form of lung cancer, a result that could reshape treatment for a disease that kills more people worldwide than any other cancer.

The companies reported that Amgen's targeted immunotherapy Imdelltra, when combined with AstraZeneca's cancer drug Imfinzi, improved overall survival in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. The findings came from a late-stage clinical trial testing the drug pairing as a maintenance therapy.

The trial compared the combination against Imfinzi alone in patients whose disease had not progressed following standard induction treatment. Beyond extending overall survival, the combination therapy also improved progression-free survival and response rates, according to the companies. No new safety concerns were identified.

Small cell lung cancer accounts for roughly 15% of all lung cancer diagnoses and is among the most deadly forms of the disease, with most patients diagnosed after it has spread widely throughout the body. The five-year survival rate for extensive-stage disease remains below 5%.

The results represent a potential breakthrough for patients who have few effective treatment options after initial therapy. Maintenance treatment aims to keep the cancer at bay following induction therapy, and the combination approach appears to offer meaningful benefits over the current standard of care.

Thousand Oaks, California-based Amgen markets Imdelltra as a targeted immunotherapy, while London-based AstraZeneca's Imfinzi has become a cornerstone treatment across multiple cancer types. The collaboration underscores how major pharmaceutical companies are increasingly pairing their existing drugs to extend patient benefit.

The companies did not disclose specific survival data or timeline for regulatory submissions.