AstraZeneca announces positive results from FLAURA2 phase III trial of Tagrisso in combo with chemotherapy to treat EGFR-mutated advanced lung cancer

Positive results from the FLAURA2 phase III trial showed AstraZeneca’s Tagrisso (osimertinib) in combination with chemotherapy demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival (PFS), compared to Tagrisso alone for patients with locally advanced (Stage IIIB-IIIC) or metastatic (Stage IV) epidermal growth factor receptor-mutated (EGFRm) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

These results were presented in a Presidential Symposium at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) (abstract #PL03).

Results showed Tagrisso plus chemotherapy reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 38% compared to Tagrisso alone (based on a hazard ratio [HR] of 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.49-0.79; p<0.0001). By investigator assessment, the combination extended median PFS by 8.8 months versus Tagrisso alone. PFS results from blinded independent central review (BICR) were consistent, showing Tagrisso plus chemotherapy extended median PFS by 9.5 months (based on HR of 0.62; 95% CI 0.48-0.80; p=0.0002). Importantly, a clinically meaningful PFS benefit was observed across all prespecified subgroups, including sex, race, type of EGFR mutation, age at time of diagnosis, smoking history and central nervous system (CNS) metastases status at baseline.

At the time of this analysis, the overall survival (OS) data were immature however, a favourable trend was observed for Tagrisso plus chemotherapy.

Pasi A. Jänne, MD, PhD, medical oncologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and principal investigator for the FLAURA2 trial, said: “Patients received nearly nine additional months before their EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer progressed as a result of the addition of chemotherapy to standard-of-care osimertinib, building on the strong efficacy we have already seen with osimertinib monotherapy. With these convincing data, patients may soon have a choice of two highly effective osimertinib-based treatment options in this advanced disease setting.”

Susan Galbraith, executive vice president, oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, said: “The compelling FLAURA2 results add to the extensive evidence supporting Tagrisso as the backbone therapy in EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer and establish a new benchmark for progression-free survival in this setting. We look forward to bringing this potential treatment regimen to patients with advanced lung cancer to further delay disease progression, especially for patients with the greatest unmet need including those with central nervous system metastasis at diagnosis.”

Safety results and discontinuation rates due to adverse events (AEs) were consistent with the established profiles of each medicine and no new safety concerns were reported. Grade 3 or higher AEs from all causes occurred in 64% of patients in the Tagrisso plus chemotherapy arm versus 27% in the Tagrisso monotherapy arm.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women, accounting for about one-fifth of all cancer deaths. Lung cancer is broadly split into NSCLC and small cell lung cancer. Each year, there are an estimated 2.2 million people diagnosed with lung cancer globally with 80-85% of patients diagnosed with NSCLC, the most common form of lung cancer. Approximately 70% of people are diagnosed with advanced NSCLC.

Approximately 10-15% of NSCLC patients in the US and Europe, and 30-40% of patients in Asia have EGFRm NSCLC. Patients with EGFRm NSCLC are particularly sensitive to treatment with an EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) which blocks the cell-signalling pathways that drive the growth of tumour cells.

FLAURA2 is a randomised, open-label, multi-centre, global phase III trial in the 1st-line treatment of patients with locally advanced (Stage IIIB-IIIC) or metastatic (Stage IV) EGFRm NSCLC. Patients were treated with Tagrisso 80mg once daily oral tablets in combination with chemotherapy (pemetrexed (500mg/m2) plus cisplatin (75mg/m2) or carboplatin (AUC5)) every three weeks for four cycles, followed by Tagrisso with pemetrexed maintenance every three weeks.

The trial enrolled 557 patients in more than 150 centres across more than 20 countries, including in the US, Europe, South America and Asia. This is the analysis of the primary endpoint of PFS. The trial is ongoing and will continue to assess the secondary endpoint of OS.

Tagrisso (osimertinib) is a third-generation, irreversible EGFR-TKI with proven clinical activity in NSCLC, including against central nervous system (CNS) metastases. Tagrisso (40mg and 80mg once-daily oral tablets) has been used to treat nearly 700,000 patients across its indications worldwide and AstraZeneca continues to explore Tagrisso as a treatment for patients across multiple stages of EGFRm NSCLC.

Tagrisso, the only targeted therapy to improve survival in both early- and late-stages of EGFRm NSCLC, is approved as monotherapy in more than 100 countries including in the US, EU, China and Japan. These include for 1st-line treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic EGFRm NSCLC (FLAURA), locally advanced or metastatic EGFR T790M mutation-positive NSCLC, and adjuvant treatment of early-stage (IB, II and IIIA) EGFRm NSCLC (ADAURA), where Tagrisso recently demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful OS benefit.

AstraZeneca also has several ongoing phase III trials focused on earlier stages of lung cancer including a trial in the Stage IA2-IA3 adjuvant resectable setting (ADAURA2), and in the Stage III locally advanced unresectable setting (LAURA).

The company is also researching ways to address tumour mechanisms of resistance through the SAVANNAH and ORCHARD Phase II trials, and the SAFFRON Phase III trial, which test Tagrisso plus savolitinib, an oral, potent and highly selective MET TKI, as well as other potential new medicines.

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 datopotamab deruxtecan in collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo; Orpathys (savolitinib) 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.

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