(Alliance News) - AstraZeneca PLC late Tuesday reported that its monoclonal antibody Imfinzi, in combination with anti-CTLA4 antibody tremelimumab showed robust results as treatment for unresectable liver cancer in a recent study.
The Himalaya global phase three trial tested 1,324 patients with the combined dose versus the standard-of-care multi-kinase inhibitor sorafenib, with the primary endpoint being overall survival for STRIDE and secondary endpoints being objective response rate and progression-free survival.
Liver cancer, of which unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type, is the third leading cause of death by cancer.
AstraZeneca said the combined dose, known as the Stride regimen, results in a 22% reduction in the risk of death in patients treated, compared to sorafenib. An estimated 31% of patients were still alive at three years compared to 20% for sorafenib.
In addition, the Stride regimen fostered an increase in the objective response rate at 20.1%, compared to a 5.1% reading for sorafenib.
"The Himalaya trial reinforces our scientific approach for tremelimumab, tapping into the potential of CTLA-4 inhibition and a unique dosing regimen to prime the immune system to help patients live longer and with minimal side effects. We look forward to bringing potential new treatment options to patients with unresectable liver cancer, an area of high unmet need, as quickly as possible," said Susan Galbraith, executive vice president of Oncology R&D at AstraZeneca.
Shares in AstraZeneca were up 0.1% at 8,734.00 pence on Wednesday in London.
By Dayo Laniyan; dayolaniyan@alliancenews.com
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