AstraZeneca’s latest breakthrough in the field of cancer treatment has sent ripples through the pharmaceutical industry, with analysts hailing it as a significant development that could set a high standard for rival Johnson & Johnson. The results from a late-stage clinical trial known as FLAURA2, which combines AstraZeneca’s blockbuster cancer drug Tagrisso with chemotherapy to treat a specific type of lung cancer, were unveiled at the World Conference on Lung Cancer in Singapore.
The initial summary of the Phase 3 trial, released in May, hinted at promising outcomes. Still, it was the detailed data presentation on Monday that truly captured the attention of experts and market observers. FLAURA2 demonstrated that when chemotherapy is added to Tagrisso, it reduces the risk of disease progression or death by a remarkable 38% compared to Tagrisso administered as a standalone therapy.
One of the most striking findings of the trial was the improvement in median progression-free survival (PFS), which stood at 29.4 months, representing a substantial 9.5-month boost for patients receiving the combination treatment. Progression-free survival, in essence, measures the duration during which a patient remains free from disease worsening following treatment.
Barclays and UBS, two prominent financial institutions, issued separate reports lauding the strength of these results and the potential implications for AstraZeneca and its competitors, particularly Johnson & Johnson. Notably, J&J is currently conducting its own head-to-head trial, MARIPOSA, to compare Tagrisso as a standalone therapy with its own drug, Rybrevant, in combination with another medication.
The UBS report described AstraZeneca’s FLAURA2 data as a “bit of a clearing event” that diminishes the risk for the company, given that industry analysts widely perceive Tagrisso as a crucial driver of short- and medium-term growth. In fact, Tagrisso recorded a remarkable $5.4 billion in sales the previous year, reinforcing its status as a blockbuster drug.
However, despite these promising developments, AstraZeneca’s stock experienced a 3.3% drop recently. This decline followed the circulation of a report that AstraZeneca’s CEO, Pascal Soriot, had confided in close associates and advisors about his potential departure from the company as early as the next year. It’s essential to note that AstraZeneca has opted not to comment on the report.
Soriot’s commitment to the company had been when he expressed his eagerness to collaborate with the newly appointed Chairman, Michel Demare, in April, implying his continued association with the company in the years ahead. These speculations may affect investor sentiment and contribute to the fluctuations in AstraZeneca’s stock value.
Barclays analysts noted that the FLAURA2 trial data, unveiled earlier this week included feedback from doctors and patients, revealing a strong preference for the convenience of a single therapy over combination treatments. This preference could further raise the bar for Johnson & Johnson’s MARIPOSA trial since it directly contrasts Tagrisso as a single therapy with J&J’s combination treatment.
