Lung cancer drug combination extends survival in trial

A new lung cancer trial offers a meaningful survival result, not a cure. It enrolled patients with extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer whose disease had not worsened after initial treatment. They received either Imfinzi alone or Imfinzi plus Amgen's Imdelltra. Interim phase 3 results showed median survival of 12.7 months with Imfinzi alone and 21.1 months with the combination. The results were presented Saturday and published in a medical journal.

The study also reported a 58% lower risk of death over the follow-up period for the combination. That does not mean 58% more patients were cured. Severe treatment-related side effects were reported in about 21% of combination patients versus about 11% on Imfinzi alone.

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The next step is for regulators and clinicians to review the full benefit and risk. The result is promising for an aggressive cancer. But this particular first-line maintenance use is not yet a routine approved treatment.