73 abstracts presented at ASCO with 19 related
to olaparib and new potential medicines targeting DNA damage
response in multiple tumor types
Continued momentum of immuno-oncology medicines
including new data on durvalumab in bladder cancer, underpinning
the Breakthrough Drug Designation, and new data in first-line
NSCLC
Further insights on osimertinib’s ability to
penetrate the blood-brain barrier in patients with metastatic lung
cancer, and acalabrutinib in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
AstraZeneca and its global biologics research and development
arm, MedImmune, will provide an update on their extensive
investigational oncology pipeline at the annual meeting of the
American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago, June 3-7,
2016.
Highlights will include new data demonstrating the strength and
versatility of AstraZeneca’s industry-leading line of DNA damage
response (DDR) medicines in multiple types of cancer. New data will
highlight the continued momentum behind AstraZeneca’s numerous
immuno-oncology (IO) programs, and showcase small-molecule
developments including osimertinib in leptomeningeal (brain)
disease and the highly-selective Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK)
inhibitor, acalabrutinib, in chronic lymphocytic leukemia
(CLL).
Sean Bohen, Executive Vice President, Global Medicines
Development and Chief Medical Officer at AstraZeneca, said,
“Oncology is a strategic priority for AstraZeneca because of the
potential of our broad pipeline to offer transformational therapies
in cancer care. At ASCO, we will update on our next-generation
portfolio focusing on DNA damage response as a breakthrough
paradigm in cancer treatment, including new long-term overall
survival data for olaparib. Our increased commitment to DDR
therapies complements developments in our exciting immuno-oncology
pipeline, from which we are expecting clinical results over the
coming year.”
DDR: a promising scientific platform, a leading position for
AstraZeneca
DDR is a term describing the network of cellular pathways that
minimize the daily impact of DNA damage. Currently, many cancers
are known to have defects in DDR pathways, which makes them
dependent on and therefore, highly sensitive to inhibition of the
remaining DDR pathways. Targeting DDR deficiencies to
preferentially help kill cancer cells, while theoretically
minimizing the impact on normal cells, has potential for selective,
reasonably tolerated therapies to hopefully improve survival in
multiple cancers.
AstraZeneca is developing a comprehensive pipeline of compounds
that target molecular pathways across the DDR system. These include
the PARP inhibitor olaparib; WEE1 inhibitor AZD1775; ATM inhibitor
AZD0156; ATR inhibitor AZD6738; and Aurora B Kinase inhibitor
AZD2811. These compounds act on different cell-cycle points to help
prevent tumor cells from replicating.
At the ASCO congress, DDR presentations will highlight:
- The potential for maintenance of DDR
therapies as shown by olaparib overall survival data from Study 19
in ovarian cancer (Abstract # 5501). This abstract has been
selected as a “Best of ASCO” abstract
- Opportunities for combination
approaches with DDR and immuno-oncology therapies as shown in a
Phase I study of the PD-L1 inhibitor, durvalumab, in combination
with olaparib or a VEGFR inhibitor, cediranib, in women's cancers
(Abstract # 3015)
- The importance of selecting patients
with a DDR pathway defect using the right diagnostic tool (Abstract
# 4041)
- The potential of DDR therapies against
multiple biological DDR targets in different tumor types, with
studies of the highly-selective WEE1 inhibitor, AZD1775, in
advanced high-grade serous ovarian cancer (Abstract # TPS5610),
squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) (Abstract #
TPS6106), advanced solid tumors (Abstract # TPS2608) and
glioblastoma (GBM) (Abstract # 2008)
Immuno-Oncology: robust development momentum on track for
read-outs in H1 2017
AstraZeneca is leading in a number of first-line studies with
its IO strategy, where combined PD-L1 and CTLA-4 blockade - through
the combination of durvalumab and tremelimumab - may address a
significant unmet medical need for cancer patients who may not
benefit from PD-1 pathway drugs in monotherapy.
Key updates include presentations covering pre-clinical data,
late-stage trials and biomarker research:
- Early study results of durvalumab
monotherapy in urothelial bladder cancer from Phase Ib Study 1108
(Abstract # 4502)
- Final results from a Phase III study of
tremelimumab in mesothelioma (Abstract # 8502)
- New study results on safety and
clinical activity of durvalumab as first-line treatment in
non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (Abstract # 9029)
- Ongoing investigation of the potential
synergistic effects of durvalumab and the CTLA-4 inhibitor,
tremelimumab, in bladder cancer [DANUBE trial] (Abstract # TPS4574)
and SCCHN [KESTREL trial] (Abstract # TPS6101)
- Enhanced understanding of PD-L1
biomarker expression in relation to primary versus metastatic
tumors and sample age (Abstract # 3025)
Osimertinib in brain metastasis; acalabrutinib in CLL
At ASCO, new data will highlight the importance of osimertinib
activity in leptomeningeal disease through its ability to penetrate
the blood-brain barrier. Further presentations will show the
growing role of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing for diagnosis
and treatment monitoring.
Key updates will also include a presentation on the potential of
our potent, highly selective BTK inhibitor, acalabrutinib, in
chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL):
- Data from the BLOOM study of
osimertinib in patients with leptomeningeal disease as a
complication of EGFRm-metastatic NSCLC (Abstract # 9002)
- Intensive plasma ctDNA profiling in
experimental trials to identify markers of acquired drug resistance
(Abstract # 11530)
- Acalabrutinib – preliminary results
from a first-line study as first-line therapy in CLL (Abstract #
7521) and in a Phase II study in combination with pembrolizumab in
metastatic pancreatic cancer (Abstract # 4130)
NOTES TO EDITORS
A Media Briefing on Saturday, June 4, 2016, 6:00-7:00 PM
CDT, at the Hyatt Regency (room Columbus I-J) will update
journalists on the latest advances in AstraZeneca’s Oncology
portfolio being reported at ASCO. In addition, the briefing will
focus on the potential of DDR therapies as a breakthrough paradigm
in cancer treatment. If you are interested in attending, please
contact:
- Neil Burrows
(neil.burrows@astrazeneca.com; +44 7842 350541)
- Karen Birmingham
(karen.birmingham@astrazeneca.com; +44 7818 524012)
An Investor Science Event on Monday, June 6, 2016,
7:00-8:30 PM CDT, will highlight the continuing momentum behind new
developments in AstraZeneca’s Oncology therapy area.
Investors and analysts wishing to attend are invited to register
here or contact the Investor Relations Team (details below).
About AstraZeneca in Oncology
AstraZeneca has a deep-rooted heritage in Oncology and offers a
quickly growing portfolio of new medicines that has the potential
to transform patients’ lives and the Company’s future. With at
least six new medicines to be launched between 2014 and 2020 and a
broad pipeline of small molecules and biologics in development, we
are committed to advance New Oncology as one of AstraZeneca’s six
Growth Platforms focused on lung, ovarian, breast and blood
cancers. In addition to our core capabilities, we actively pursue
innovative partnerships and investments that accelerate the
delivery of our strategy, as illustrated by our investment in
Acerta Pharma in hematology.
By harnessing the power of four scientific platforms —
immuno-oncology, the genetic drivers of cancer and resistance, DNA
damage response and antibody drug conjugates — and by
championing the development of personalized combinations,
AstraZeneca has the vision to redefine cancer treatment and one day
eliminate cancer as a cause of death.
About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical
business that focuses on the discovery, development and
commercialization of prescription medicines, primarily for the
treatment of diseases in three main therapy areas — respiratory,
inflammation, autoimmune disease (RIA), cardiovascular and
metabolic disease (CVMD) and oncology — as well as in infection and
neuroscience diseases. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries
and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients
worldwide. For more information please visit
www.astrazeneca-us.com.
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