AstraZeneca's MEDI4736 For Lung Cancer Enters Phase III Trials
By Cyndi Root
AstraZeneca announced in a press release that MEDI4736 has entered Phase III trials. MEDI4736 is an immunotherapy agent to treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and other cancers. The first study, the PACIFIC trial, will evaluate survival compared to a placebo.
Briggs Morrison, CMO at AstraZeneca, said, “Lung cancer is still the leading cancer killer; there is a clear need for more treatment options to provide patients with a better chance of beating the disease. We believe MEDI4736, and immunotherapies more broadly, hold the potential to shape the future of cancer treatment."
MEDI4736
MEDI4736 is a human monoclonal antibody targeting programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1). PD-L1 helps tumors hide from the immune system. MEDI4736 blocks the signals from PD-L1, exposing the tumor to the immune system response. Using the immune system to target and eliminate cancer holds promise as the network of cell responses to invaders may be more powerful than medicine. Immunotherapy also offers the advantages of low toxicity and specificity to target. Additionally, the immune system has a long memory and may provide extended cancer remission.
Phase III Trials
The PACIFIC trial is the first in AstraZeneca’s Phase III program. It follows earlier studies on the clinical activity and safety profile of MEDI4736. The company will present these findings at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting. The PACIFIC trial will investigate survival outcomes in patients with locally advanced, unresectable NSCLC (Stage III) following completion of treatment with chemoradiotherapy and no evidence of tumor progression. Investigators will evaluate progression free survival and overall survival. The company expects over 700 participants at 100 sites worldwide.
MedImmune
MedImmune, AstraZeneca’s biologics research and development arm, is responsible for the immuno-oncology program. Agents include MEDI4736, tremelimumab, MEDI0680, and MEDI6469. The program is studying these agents for monotherapy or in combination with other drug products. MedImmune focuses on cancer, inflammation and autoimmunity, infection, vaccines, cardiovascular, and metabolic disease. MedImmune is headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., one of AstraZeneca’s three global R&D centers.
NSCLC
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) causes 20 percent of all cancer deaths and is the most common type of lung cancer. The disease is difficult to treat as about a third of patients are not diagnosed until Stage III and those who benefit from chemotherapy eventually stop responding.