AstraZeneca to Share New Data on Oncology Treatment Landscape

AstraZeneca recently announced that it will present new data underscoring its oncology treatment landscape through diverse early pipelines and novel drug combinations. 

The company’s next wave of potential cancer medicines spans its immuno-oncology (IO), DNA Damage Response (DDR), and Antibody Drug Conjugate (ADC) scientific platforms. Overall, AstraZeneca will design molecules that address key challenges in treating cancer, including targeting different mechanisms. 

First, the company will share clinical trial results from MEDI5752, a novel bispecific antibody that simultaneously targets the immune checkpoints proteins PD-1 and CTLA-4 in solid tumors. The company engineered MEDI5752 to improve the therapeutic index compared to targeting these proteins using two different medicines.  

Additionally, four presentations from the NeoCOAST randomized Phase 2 trial in resectable, early-stage non-small cell lung cancer will highlight improved disease response with Imfinzi combinations, including oleclumab and monalizumab.  

At the end of January, AstraZeneca announced that Imfinzi combined with standard-of-care chemotherapy significantly improved overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC). 

Next, AstraZeneca will present data from the PETRA Phase 1 clinical trial investigating AZD5305, a next-generation PARP1-selective inhibitor in patients with tumors harboring specific homologous recombination repair gene mutations. 

AZD5405 selectively targets PARP1 and kills cancer cells by targeting tumor cell DNA damage repair mechanisms. This approach could allow PARP inhibitors to expand into new settings and present new opportunities for DNA damage pathway activating agents combinations.  

Furthermore, four presentations will describe the discovery of a novel PARP1 selective inhibitor, AZD9574, designed to cross the blood barrier to target primary and secondary brain malignancies.  

Finally, AstraZeneca will share preclinical data on AZD8205, a novel ADC targeting B7-H4, a protein overexpressed in a range of solid tumors. AZD8205 is the first ADC to incorporate the company’s linker technology.  

“We are serious about leading a revolution in oncology, which is why we continue to pioneer new ways to target cancer earlier and with greater precision, for the benefit of patients,” Susan Galbraith, executive vice president of oncology research and development at AstraZeneca, said in the announcement.  

“Our data at AACR from next-wave Immuno-Oncology medicines, PARP inhibitors, and antibody–drug conjugates demonstrate the potential of our diverse portfolio and reflect our vision to target cancer from every angle,” Galbraith continued.