WILMINGTON, Del. - AstraZeneca (NASDAQ:AZN) has announced updated results from the HIMALAYA Phase III trial, indicating that its immunotherapy regimen, combining durvalumab (IMFINZI®) and tremelimumab-actl (IMJUDO®), extended the survival of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who had not received prior systemic therapy. The findings will be presented today at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2024.
The study, which examined the STRIDE regimen (Single Tremelimumab-actl Regular Interval Durvalumab), showed a 24% reduction in the risk of death compared to sorafenib, a standard treatment. The five-year survival rate was 19.6% for patients treated with STRIDE, versus 9.4% with sorafenib. An exploratory analysis further revealed that patients who achieved disease control experienced a higher five-year survival rate of 28.7% with STRIDE, against 12.7% with sorafenib.
Lorenza Rimassa, MD, one of the lead investigators, highlighted the doubling of the overall survival rate at five years, marking a significant improvement over sorafenib. Sarah Manes from the Global Liver Institute praised the progress, emphasizing the clinical and emotional significance of the five-year survival milestone for patients and their families.
The safety profile of the STRIDE regimen was consistent with previous findings, with no new safety signals observed. Serious treatment-related adverse events were higher in the STRIDE group (17.5%) compared to sorafenib (9.9%).
IMFINZI in combination with IMJUDO is approved for the treatment of advanced or unresectable HCC in the US, EU, Japan, and several other countries. The companies emphasize that these results underscore the regimen's potential as a new standard for treating this form of liver cancer, which has historically had poor prognosis.
This news is based on a press release statement and has not been independently verified.
In other recent news, AstraZeneca has experienced several noteworthy developments. The company's Non-Executive Chair of the Board, Michel Demaré, purchased 2,000 shares, demonstrating personal investment in the company's future. In the medical arena, AstraZeneca's ENHERTU, developed in collaboration with Daiichi Sankyo, showed significant progression-free survival rates in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer who have brain metastases.
Additionally, AstraZeneca and SOPHiA GENETICS plan to extend the reach of their liquid biopsy test MSK-ACCESS® to 20 global locations within the next year, aiming to enhance cancer diagnostics and treatment. AstraZeneca's IMFINZI received FDA approval for treating adults with resectable early-stage non-small cell lung cancer and gained Priority Review status for treating limited-stage small cell lung cancer.
In terms of financials, AstraZeneca secured €1.4 billion through a bond offering managed by notable financial institutions. However, Deutsche Bank downgraded AstraZeneca stock from Hold to Sell due to concerns over the company's TROP2 asset datopotamab. On the other hand, BMO Capital, Erste Group, TD Cowen, and BofA Securities have maintained positive outlooks on AstraZeneca shares, citing the company's strong financial structure and above-average growth projection. These are all recent developments in AstraZeneca's ongoing advancements in the pharmaceutical industry.
InvestingPro Insights
As AstraZeneca continues to make strides in the oncology field with promising results from its HIMALAYA Phase III trial, the company's financial health remains a critical factor for investors. According to the latest InvestingPro data, AstraZeneca boasts a substantial market capitalization of $245.37 billion, underlining its significant presence in the pharmaceutical industry.
The company's Price to Earnings (P/E) ratio currently stands at 38.05, which is relatively high, indicating that investors may expect continued growth and are willing to pay a premium for its earnings. This aligns with one of the InvestingPro Tips, which notes that AstraZeneca's net income is expected to grow this year. Additionally, with a Price to Book (P/B) ratio of 6.19, the stock trades at a higher valuation compared to its book value, which could reflect the market's confidence in its future performance.
Despite a challenging market, AstraZeneca's revenue growth over the last twelve months as of Q2 2024 has been impressive at 10.45%, with gross profit margins standing strong at 82.62%. This financial stability is further supported by another InvestingPro Tip highlighting that the company has maintained dividend payments for 32 consecutive years, demonstrating its commitment to returning value to shareholders.
For investors seeking more in-depth analysis, there are additional InvestingPro Tips available on the AstraZeneca page (https://www.investing.com/pro/AZN), offering insights into the company's financials, stock performance, and industry position.
This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.