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LONDON (Alliance News) - AstraZeneca PLC said Monday it has presented new data from its oncology pipeline at the European Society of Medical Oncology congress in Madrid, which it said demonstrates the strength and rapid progression of the pipeline.
In its immuno-oncology pipeline the company's biologics research and development arm MedImmune presented eight abstracts to show the activity and tolerability of its MEDI4736 compound on its own and in combination with tremelimumab.
This included data from its ongoing Phase I study of the combined treatment in non-small cell lung cancer patients who have already received previous cancer treatments. The company said the tolerability profile of the product was "encouraging." It has begun additional Phase I immunotherapy combination trials.
Data from a Phase I trial of the treatment on its own were also presented, and MedImmune said this data combined with pre-clinical data support the development of MEDI4736 into Phase III trials.
From its small molecules pipeline AstraZeneca presented updates on key assets, including non-small cell lung cancer medicine AZD9291, IRESSA, and olaparib.
AstraZeneca is currently investigating combinations of AZD9291 with MEDI4736, and with other investigational drugs.
The company expects the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use to provide its opinion of olaparib in the EU October 23, and the US Food and Drug Administration Prescription Drug User Free Act date for olaparib is set for January 3, 2015.
"We are encouraged by the results we are seeing and look forward to providing further updates as we continue to work at pace to get these potentially life-changing medicines to patients," said Briggs Morrison, executive vice president of global medicines development and chief medical officer in a statement.
Shares in AstraZeneca were trading up 0.7% at 4,438.46 pence Monday morning.
By Hana Stewart-Smith; hanassmith@alliancenews.com; @HanaSSAllNews
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