Imfinzi (durvalumab) in combination with etoposide plus either carboplatin or cisplatin has been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for adults with untreated extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). [1]NICE's decision was informed by positive results from the CASPIAN Phase III trial, which showed that adding durvalumab to standard chemotherapy provides a clinically significant and sustained overall survival (OS) benefit at three years. [2]Tagrisso (osimertinib) has been recommended by NICE as an adjuvant treatment option after complete tumour resection in adult patients with stage IB-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumours have epidermal growth factor (EGFR) exon 19 deletions or exon 21 (L858R) substitution mutations. [3]NICE’s decision was informed by positive results from the ADAURA Phase III trial, which demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival (OS), compared to placebo in the adjuvant treatment of patients with early-stage (IB, II and IIIA) EGFRm NSCLC after complete tumour resection with curative intent. [4]The UK has one of the worst five-year survival rates for lung cancer in Europe and 70% of lung cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage (stages III-IV), which is associated with significantly poorer outcomes.[5],[6]London, UK, Wednesday 22 January 2025 – AstraZeneca announced that this week it has received two positive recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for the treatment of lung cancer patients across England and Wales.1,3Tagrisso (osimertinib) received a positive recommendation from NICE for NHS use as an adjuvant treatment option after complete tumour resection in adult patients with stage IB-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) whose tumours have epidermal growth factor (EGFR) exon 19 deletions or exon 21 (L858R) substitution mutations.3 Following a three-year period within the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF), this recommendation means that osimertinib has successfully exited the CDF, enabling full baseline commissioning within NHS England for this patient population.[7]Imfinzi (durvalumab) was recommended by NICE for NHS use in combination with etoposide plus either carboplatin or cisplatin for adults with untreated extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC).1Durvalumab in lung cancerLung cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in the UK, accounting for 21% of all cancer deaths.[8],[9] Nearly 50,000 people, more than 130 each day, are diagnosed with lung cancer each year in the UK.8 SCLC is a highly aggressive and fast-growing form of lung cancer that typically recurs and progresses rapidly.[10],[11] ES-SCLC occurs when the cancer has spread to the second lung or other parts of the body.[12]Dr Meenali Chitnis, Consultant Thoracic Medical Oncologist, Oxford University, said: “Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) is a devastating diagnosis with a poor prognosis – with fewer than 5% of patients surviving beyond two years. Positive data from the CASPIAN Phase III trial marks an important breakthrough, providing clinicians with an effective treatment option of durvalumab with etoposide plus carboplatin or cisplatin.”The positive determination from NICE was based on results from the pivotal CASPIAN Phase III trial.[13],[14] Results of a two-year follow-up analysis, published in 2020, showed that first-line treatment with durvalumab plus platinum chemotherapy met the primary endpoint of the trial and demonstrated significant and clinically meaningful improvements in overall survival (OS) in patients with ES-SCLC versus chemotherapy alone (based on a hazard ratio [HR] of 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.59-0.91; p=0.0047).13 The safety findings from the trial were consistent with the known safety profiles of durvalumab and chemotherapy.13Updated results from the CASPIAN Phase III trial presented at the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Congress 2021, showed that durvalumab plus platinum chemotherapy reduced the risk of death by 29% compared with chemotherapy alone (HR of 0.71; 95% CI 0.60-0.86; nominal p=0.0003) at three years.2,14 The updated median OS was 12.9 months versus 10.5 for chemotherapy.2,14Tom Keith-Roach, President, AstraZeneca UK, said: “This is fantastic news for lung cancer patients

Dame Sharon White is to take on the role of chairman of economic consultancy Frontier Economics, replacing Gus O'Donnell, who has held the post for the last 11 years.