In its continuing thrust to revolutionize cancer care in the Philippines and Asia, AstraZeneca presented pivotal data for lung, gastrointestinal (GI), and breast cancers at the recent ESMO Asia Congress 2024.
Included in this are data from AstraZeneca’s innovative antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) and comprehensive immuno-oncology (IO) platforms. These demonstrates how the company is harnessing the breadth of its scientific platforms to attack cancer from all angles with the aim of transforming outcomes for people with lung, GI and breast cancers.
Ti Hwei How, vice president, International Oncology, AstraZeneca, said: “We are excited about the data presented at ESMO Asia 2024, which showcases our developments in oncology precision medicine and targeted therapies. These advancements provide additional data for cancer treatment options for patients across Asia, where there is a significant disease burden, and we are committed to makie these therapies accessible to all who need them.”
The TROPION-Lung05 Phase II and the TROPION-Lung01 Phase III trials showed datopotamabderuxtecan (Dato-DXd) demonstrated clinically meaningful and durable responses. Dato-DXd is a specifically engineered TROP2-directed DXd antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), which was discovered by Daiichi Sankyo and is being jointly developed with AstraZeneca.
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in women in the Philippines and across Asia, accounting for 39 percent of global cases and with a rising incidence and a higher proportion of patients presenting with metastatic disease compared to the US and Europe. New data from the TROPION-Breast01 Phase III showed Dato-DXd improved progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate, and time to first subsequent therapy.
Results from the HIMALAYA Phase III trial demonstrated that the STRIDE regiment (tremelimumab plus durvalumab) achieved a robust five-year overall survival (OS) rate in patients with a type of liver cancer called unresectable HCC. This emphasizes the need for targeted therapies in Asia, where the disease’s incidence and mortality are highest.
AstraZeneca is also committed to eliminating cancer as a cause of death through early detection, personalized treatment, and innovative therapies. This includes exploring the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance screening accuracy and efficiency in resource-constrained settings.
In the Philippines, an AI-assisted program was recently rolled out in Healthway hospitals to assist in early detection of lung cancer as a joint project with AstraZeneca. In addition to its commitment to research and development, AstraZeneca aims to ensure that patients, regardless of their location or socio-economic status, have access to the latest advancements in cancer care.