Tremelimumab

AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/NYSE: AZN) is discontinuing the eVOLVE-Lung02 Phase III trial after an Independent Data Monitoring Committee (IDMC) concluded that volrustomig plus chemotherapy was unlikely to meet either of its dual primary endpoints — progression-free survival (PFS) or overall survival (OS) — in patients with PD-L1-negative metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC). The trial enrolled 895 patients across 25 countries and was designed to beat Merck's Keytruda (pembrolizumab) plus chemotherapy in a population where immunotherapy delivers its least durable benefit. The failure is a direct setback for AstraZeneca's ambition to establish volrustomig as a superior first-line option for the mNSCLC patients with low or absent PD-L1 expression. The PD-L1 <1% subgroup — the primary analysis population — is widely regarded as the hardest to treat with existing checkpoint inhibitors, and the rationale for testing a dual-checkpoint bispecific in this setting was mechanistically coherent: volrustomig is engineered to simultaneously block PD-1 and CTLA-4 on the same activated T cell, concentrating CTLA-4 inhibition where it is most needed while sparing resting peripheral T cells. The IDMC's futility call suggests that coordinated dual blockade on the same T cell did not translate into a survival advantage over pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy in this population. No numerical efficacy data were disclosed. AstraZeneca said the safety profile of volrustomig plus chemotherapy was consistent with the known profiles of the individual agents, with no new safety signals identified. The 895-patient trial randomized patients to volrustomig plus chemotherapy or pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy, followed by maintenance with the respective checkpoint inhibitor. Secondary endpoints covered PFS and OS in the broader intent-to-treat population (PD-L1 <50%), but the IDMC's recommendation was based on futility in the PD-L1 <1% primary analysis population. The result adds to recent difficulty in improving on pembrolizumab-based regimens in first-line NSCLC. Immutep discontinued the Phase III TACTI-004 trial of LAG-3 agonist eftilagimod alfa plus pembrolizumab and chemotherapy in first-line NSCLC in March 2026 after an interim futility analysis. Bristol Myers Squibb's Opdivo (nivolumab) plus Yervoy (ipilimumab) with chemotherapy remains approved in this population, as does AstraZeneca's own Imjudo (tremelimumab) plus Imfinzi (durvalumab) plus chemotherapy — the latter approved in November 2022 under the POSEIDON regimen. The eVOLVE-Lung02 result raises questions about whether a bispecific format delivering simultaneous PD-1/CTLA-4 blockade on the same T cell offers a clinically meaningful advantage over sequential or separate checkpoint combinations in the chemotherapy-combination setting. AstraZeneca said three other Phase III volrustomig trials continue as planned: eVOLVE-Cervical in high-risk locally advanced cervical cancer, eVOLVE-HNSCC in unresected locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma following chemoradiotherapy, and eVOLVE-Meso in unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma. Volrustomig is also being evaluated in combination with Arcus Biosciences' casdatifan in first-line clear cell renal cell carcinoma under the eVOLVE-RCC02 study, which AstraZeneca is operationalizing. Access the AllSci platform to explore the science behind the news. Spot something wrong? Report an issue with this article

Positive high-level results from the DESTINY-Lung04 Phase III trial showed Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) versus global standard of care (platinum-pemetrexed doublet chemotherapy plus pembrolizumab) as 1st-line treatment of patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic HER2-mutant non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The trial will continue as planned to evaluate secondary endpoints including overall survival. The global standard of care for patients with HER2-mutant NSCLC in the 1st-line metastatic setting is a combination of immunotherapy and platinum-based chemotherapy.1-3 However, many patients do not respond to 1st-line treatment and experience disease progression, underscoring the need for additional treatment options.3-7 Approximately 2-4% of patients with NSCLC have tumours with a HER2 mutation.8-10 Susan Galbraith, Executive Vice President, Oncology Haematology R&D, AstraZeneca, said: “Our oncology pipeline continues to advance with DESTINY-Lung04 becoming the first Phase III trial to demonstrate a progression-free survival benefit versus the global standard of care in this first-line setting, supporting the potential for Enhertu to move earlier in the treatment of HER2-mutant non-small cell lung cancer. This aggressive lung cancer often affects younger patients and has historically had limited first-line targeted treatment options, making these positive results an important step forward in bringing additional effective therapies to patients at metastatic diagnosis when there is the greatest opportunity to improve outcomes.” John Tsai, Global Head, R&D, Daiichi Sankyo, said: “Enhertu is already established as the first and only antibody drug conjugate for the second-line treatment of HER2-mutant metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. The positive results seen in DESTINY-Lung04 show that treatment with Enhertu in the first-line setting delays disease progression compared to the global standard of care, highlighting its potential to improve outcomes for patients earlier in the treatment of metastatic disease.” The safety profile of Enhertu observed in DESTINY-Lung04 was generally consistent with its known profile, with no new safety concerns identified. The DESTINY-Lung04 data will be presented at a forthcoming medical meeting and shared with global regulatory authorities. Enhertu is currently approved to treat patients with previously treated metastatic NSCLC whose tumours have activating HER2 (ERBB2) mutations, and to treat patients with HER2-positive solid tumours, including HER2-overexpressing metastatic NSCLC, who have received prior treatment and who have no satisfactory treatment options. Enhertu is a specifically engineered HER2-directed DXd antibody drug conjugate (ADC) discovered by Daiichi Sankyo and being jointly developed and commercialised by AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo. Notes HER2-mutant NSCLC Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer globally and remains the leading cause of cancer-related death in both men and women.11 In 2024, approximately 2.6 million new lung cancer cases were reported worldwide, with an estimated 1.8 million deaths.11 NSCLC is the most common type of lung cancer, accounting for approximately 85% of cases.12 Prognosis is particularly poor for patients with metastatic NSCLC as only approximately 10% will live beyond five years after diagnosis.13-15 HER2 is a tyrosine kinase receptor protein involved in cell growth and differentiation and expressed on the surface of multiple tumour types. HER2 mutations have been identified in NSCLC as distinct molecular targets and have been reported in approximately 2-4% of patients with non-squamous NSCLC.8-10 These HER2 mutations are predominantly seen in younger women and people with no smoking history and have been independently associated with cancer cell growth and poor prognosis, with an increased incidence of brain metastases.8,16-20 The global standard of care in the 1st-line metastatic setting for patients with HER2-mutant NSCLC is a combination of immunotherapy and platinum-based chemotherapy.1-3 While these treatment regimens have been shown to improve survival in NSCLC, many patients do not respond to 1st-line treatment and experience disease progression, underscoring the need for additional treatment options.3-7 DESTINY-Lung04 DESTINY-Lung04 is a global, randomised, open-label, Phase III trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) compared to standard of care (platinum-pemetrexed doublet chemotherapy in combination with pembrolizumab) in patients with unresectable, locally advanced or metastatic, non-squamous NSCLC harbouring a HER2 exon 19 or 20 mutation. Patients were randomised 1:1 to receive either Enhertu or standard of care. Randomisation was stratified by smoking history and presence or history of brain metastasis. The primary endpoint of DESTINY-Lung04 is PFS as assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR). Secondary endpoints include OS, investigator-assessed PFS, overall response rate and duration of response as assessed by BICR and investigator, pharmacokinetics and safety. DESTINY-Lung04 enrolled 454 patients across multiple sites in Asia, Europe and North America. For more information about the trial, visit ClinicalTrials.gov. Enhertu Enhertu is a HER2-directed ADC. Designed using the proprietary DXd ADC Technology of Daiichi Sankyo, Enhertu is the lead ADC in the oncology portfolio of Daiichi Sankyo and the most advanced programme in AstraZeneca’s ADC scientific platform. Enhertu consists of a HER2 monoclonal antibody attached to a number of topoisomerase I inhibitor payloads (an exatecan derivative, DXd) via tetrapeptide-based cleavable linkers. Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) followed by THP is approved in the US, China, Singapore and India as a neoadjuvant treatment for adult patients with HER2-positive (IHC 3+ or ISH+) Stage II or III breast cancer based on the results from the DESTINY-Breast11 trial. Continued approval in China for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial. Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) is approved in Brazil and the US as an adjuvant treatment for adult patients with HER2-positive (IHC 3+ or ISH+) breast cancer who have residual invasive disease following trastuzumab (with or without pertuzumab) and taxane-based treatment based on the DESTINY-Breast05 trial. Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) in combination with pertuzumab is approved in more than ten countries as a 1st-line treatment for adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive (IHC 3+ or ISH+) breast cancer based on the results from the DESTINY-Breast09 trial. Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) is approved in more than 75 countries worldwide for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-low (IHC 1+ or IHC 2+/ ISH-) or HER2-ultralow (IHC 0 with membrane staining) breast cancer, as determined by a locally or regionally authorised test, that have progressed on one or more endocrine therapies in the metastatic setting based on the results from the DESTINY-Breast06 trial. Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) is approved in more than 100 countries worldwide for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive (IHC 3+ or ISH+) breast cancer who have received a prior anti-HER2-based regimen, either in the metastatic setting or in the neoadjuvant or adjuvant setting, and have developed disease recurrence during or within six months of completing therapy based on the results from the DESTINY-Breast03 trial. Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) is approved in more than 100 countries worldwide for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-low (IHC 1+ or IHC 2+/ISH) breast cancer who have received a prior systemic therapy in the metastatic setting or developed disease recurrence during or within six months of completing adjuvant chemotherapy based on the results from the DESTINY-Breast04 trial. Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) is approved in more than 80 countries worldwide for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumours have activating HER2 (ERBB2) mutations, as detected by a locally or regionally approved test, and who have received a prior systemic therapy based on the results from the DESTINY-Lung02 and/or DESTINY-Lung05 trials. Continued approval in China and the US for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial. Enhertu (6.4mg/kg) is approved in more than 90 countries worldwide for the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic HER2-positive (IHC 3+ or IHC 2+/ISH+) gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma who have received a prior trastuzumab-based regimen based on the results from the DESTINY-Gastric01, DESTINY-Gastric02 and/or DESTINY-Gastric04 trials. Enhertu (5.4mg/kg) is approved in more than 45 countries/regions worldwide for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HER2-positive (IHC 3+) solid tumours who have received prior systemic treatment and have no satisfactory alternative treatment options based on efficacy results from the DESTINY-PanTumor02, DESTINY-Lung01, DESTINY-CRC02 and/or HERALD trials. Continued approval in the US for this indication may be contingent upon verification and description of clinical benefit in a confirmatory trial. Enhertu clinical development programme A comprehensive global clinical development programme is underway evaluating the efficacy and safety of Enhertu as a monotherapy, in combination or sequentially with other cancer medicines across multiple HER2-targetable cancers. Daiichi Sankyo collaboration AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo entered into a global collaboration to jointly develop and commercialise Enhertu in March 2019 and Datroway (datopotamab deruxtecan) in July 2020, except in Japan where Daiichi Sankyo maintains exclusive rights for each ADC. Daiichi Sankyo is responsible for the manufacturing and supply of Enhertu and Datroway. AstraZeneca in lung cancer AstraZeneca is working to bring patients with lung cancer closer to cure through the detection and treatment of early-stage disease, while also pushing the boundaries of science to improve outcomes in the resistant and advanced settings. By defining new therapeutic targets and investigating innovative approaches, the Company aims to match medicines to the patients who can benefit most. The Company’s comprehensive portfolio includes leading lung cancer medicines and the next wave of innovations, including Tagrisso and Iressa (gefitinib); Imfinzi (durvalumab) and Imjudo (tremelimumab); Enhertu (trastuzumab deruxtecan) and Datroway in collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo; Orpathys in collaboration with HUTCHMED; as well as a pipeline of potential new medicines and combinations across diverse mechanisms of action. AstraZeneca is a founding member of the Lung Ambition Alliance, a global coalition working to accelerate innovation and deliver meaningful improvements for people with lung cancer, including and beyond treatment. AstraZeneca in oncology  AstraZeneca is leading a revolution in oncology with the ambition to provide cures for cancer in every form, following the science to understand cancer and all its complexities to discover, develop and deliver life-changing medicines to patients. The Company's focus is on some of the most challenging cancers. It is through persistent innovation that AstraZeneca has built one of the most diverse portfolios and pipelines in the industry, with the potential to catalyse changes in the practice of medicine and transform the patient experience. AstraZeneca has the vision to redefine cancer care and, one day, eliminate cancer as a cause of death. AstraZeneca AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/NYSE: AZN) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Disease, and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca’s innovative medicines are sold in more than 125 countries and used by millions of patients worldwide. Please visit astrazeneca.com and follow the Company on Social Media @AstraZeneca. Contacts For details on how to contact the Investor Relations Team, please click here. For Media contacts, click here. References Matthew Bowden Company Secretary AstraZeneca PLC Oncology Corporate and financial