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LONDON, Nov 10 (Reuters) - AstraZeneca said onThursday it had given up on the idea of seeking an earlyapproval of its immunotherapy drug durvalumab in head and neckcancer using mid-stage Phase II clinical trials data.
The move follows recent changes in the competitivelandscape, which has seen Merck's similar Keytrudaapproved for the condition, reducing the case for specialregulatory treatment of durvalumab.
The decision to drop early filing plans in head and neckcancer follows a similar outcome in lung cancer, whereAstraZeneca was also too late because Keytruda and Bristol-MyersSquibb's Opdivo had already won approval.
The drugmaker's main hopes for durvalumab, however, areunaffected, since its big potential lies in helping previouslyuntreated lung cancer patients, where it has shown promise whengiven as part of a combination therapy. (Reporting by Ben Hirschler; editing by Jason Neely)
