AstraZeneca to demonstrate new cancer drug research at ASCO 2015

AstraZeneca has announced that it will be presenting its latest cancer drug research findings at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

A total of 61 data abstracts, with six oral presentations, will be featured from across AstraZeneca's broad pipeline during the conference, which runs from May 29th to June 2nd.

Immuno-oncology will be a key focus of the company's presentations, with positive data to be discussed on the potential of the anti-PD-L1 MEDI4736 to be used as a combination therapy.

Updated data will be presented on the safety and clinical activity of MEDI4736 plus tremelimumab in patients with non-small cell lung cancer, as well as information on the compound's use alongside EGFR inhibitors gefitinib and AZD9291, and in triple combination with trametinib and dabrafenib.

In terms of small molecule combinations, data will be presented on AZD9291 with savolitinib or selumetinib as potential treatments for overcoming newly-identified forms of resistance in EGFR-mutated lung cancer.

Briggs Morrison, executive vice-president for global medicines development and chief medical officer at AstraZeneca, said: "We are pleased to update on the breadth and depth of our oncology pipeline at ASCO. Our small molecule and biologic treatments target multiple areas of tumour biology across a diverse range of cancers, alone or in combination."