AstraZeneca, Daiichi Sankyo's Experimental Drug Dato-DXd Shows Promise in Extending Life for Some Lung Cancer Patients

By Madz Dizon

May 27, 2024 06:30 PM EDT

AstraZeneca, Daiichi Sankyo's Experimental Drug Dato-DXd Shows Promise in Extending Life for Some Lung Cancer Patients — Signboards of Anglo-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca are pictured in Macclesfield in northwest England, on November 20, 2008. Anglo-Swedish pharmaceuticals giant AstraZeneca said Thursday it will slash 1,400 jobs by 2013 as it shuts factories in Belgium, Spain and Sweden. AFP PHOTO/ANDREW YATES
(Photo : ANDREW YATES/AFP via Getty Images)

In a recent late-stage study, AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo reported promising results with their experimental drug, Dato-DXd, showing potential to extend the lives of certain lung cancer patients.

Last year, the drug demonstrated its ability to prevent the progression of cancer.

AstraZeneca, Daiichi Sankyo's Dato-DXd Shows Promising Result for Lung Cancer Treatment

Now, researchers have analyzed the data to assess whether it had a positive impact on the patients' life expectancy - a crucial measure known as overall survival.

According to Bloomberg, groundbreaking medicine known as datopotamab deruxtecan is revolutionizing cancer treatment. This antibody drug-conjugate delivers potent chemotherapy directly to cancer cells, effectively eliminating them while leaving healthy cells unharmed.

AstraZeneca reported on Monday that the survival benefit observed in the trial did not reach statistical significance for all patients involved in the study.

Dato-DXd Proven to Prolong Cancer Patient's Life

A significant finding emerged from the study: the drug proved to be effective in prolonging the lives of patients diagnosed with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer, which comprised the majority of the participants. The patients had previously undergone alternative forms of treatment.

Datopotamab deruxtecan showed better results compared to docetaxel in the overall trial population. However, it is important to note that the difference did not reach statistical significance.

The safety profile of Datopotamab deruxtecan was consistent with previous analyses, demonstrating a lower incidence of dose reductions or discontinuations due to adverse events compared to docetaxel.

In addition, the trial did not uncover any new safety concerns or instances of drug-related interstitial lung disease. Datopotamab deruxtecan, co-developed by AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo, was discovered by Daiichi Sankyo.

The most recent trial data will provide support for regulatory applications that are currently being reviewed worldwide, including in the United States and European Union, for this particular indication.