AstraZeneca's stomach cancer drug clears bar for extending overall survival in late-stage study

AstraZeneca's experimental stomach cancer drug, sonesitatug vedotin, showed promising results in a late-stage trial, doubling survival time. The company estimates potential annual sales of $5 billion. (AZN)

AstraZeneca reported Phase III trial results showing its drug sonesitatug vedotin reduced death risk by 42% in CLDN18.2-positive advanced gastric cancers, with median overall survival of 10.6 months vs 6.4 months. The data is potentially registrational and aligns with AstraZeneca's oncology strategy, pending regulatory filings and further readouts.

AstraZeneca's drug Sone-Ve doubled median survival to 10 months in patients with advanced gastric cancer in a trial. The drug reduced the risk of death by 53% in 3rd-line treatment. AstraZeneca plans to expand its use for CLDN18.2-positive cancers. The trial included 545 patients across 19 countries.

AstraZeneca reported Phase III SAFFRON trial results, showing TAGRISSO plus savolitinib reduced progression/death risk by 45% and death risk by 32% vs. chemo in MET-driven EGFRm NSCLC. The company submitted an NDA to the FDA.

AstraZeneca and HUTCHMED reported that a combination of TAGRISSO and savolitinib extended median overall survival by nearly five months in a Phase III trial for EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer. The trial showed a 32% reduction in the risk of death. Results were presented at the ESMO Congress 2026. The companies submitted an NDA to the FDA for this treatment. TAGRISSO is AstraZeneca's drug, while savolitinib is jointly developed by both companies.

Amgen's Imdelltra, combined with AstraZeneca's Imfinzi, reduced death risk by 58% in a lung cancer trial, with median survival increasing to 21.1 months from 12.7. Amgen aims for $2.5B+ annual sales by 2030. Imdelltra's list price is $30K per cycle. Full results were presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology meeting.