UK-based pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca (AZ, NASDAQ: AZN) has announced positive results from the PACIFIC-5 III study for its programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitor, Imfinzi (durvalumab). The study focused on patients with unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who did not experience disease progression after receiving synchronous or sequential chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Imfinzi improved progression-free survival (PFS) with both statistical and clinical significance and showed an overall survival benefit trend.
Design and Significance of the PACIFIC-5 Study
The PACIFIC-5 study is a China-leading, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multi-center Phase III trial designed to assess the efficacy of Imfinzi as a consolidation therapy for locally advanced, unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (stage III NSCLC). The study evaluates the PFS and safety of Imfinzi compared to placebo in patients who have not progressed after completing concurrent (cCRT) or sequential (sCRT) chemoradiation therapy. With nearly 60% of the enrolled patients coming from China (including Hong Kong and Taiwan), and the rest from Türkiye, South Korea, Russia, and other countries, the study’s findings have global implications for the treatment of NSCLC.
Implications for NSCLC Treatment
The positive results from the PACIFIC-5 study reinforce the potential role of Imfinzi in improving outcomes for patients with unresectable stage III NSCLC. The drug’s ability to significantly improve PFS and its overall survival benefit trend highlight its potential as an important treatment option in the fight against lung cancer.-Fineline Info & Tech
