AZ’s Imfinzi and tremelimumab fails in Phase 3 trial

Astra Zeneca recently declared that their Imfinzi (durvalumab) and tremelimumab, tested in a Phase 3 DANUBE trial, have failed to help newly diagnosed patients with metastatic bladder cancer to live longer compared to standard chemotherapy.

Imfinzi monotherapy was studied in patients whose tumours had elevated biomarker expression, whereas the combination with tremelimumab was trialled in all-comer patients, regardless of their PD-L1 status.

Furthermore, the setback also postponed further competition with Roche’s Tecentriq, which is a first-of-its-kind to be approved for first-line bladder cancer patients who were unable to undergo first-line chemotherapy three years ago.

Executive Vice President for Oncology Research and Development, José Baselga, stated: “AstraZeneca remains committed to addressing unmet needs in bladder cancer and the potential for immunotherapy to improve outcomes for these patients. The results from this trial will inform our comprehensive Phase 3 development programme in bladder cancer. We look forward to the results of the Phase 3 NILE trial also in the first-line metastatic setting and we continue to advance clinical trials for patients at earlier stages of the disease.”