AstraZeneca halts eVOLVE-Lung02 trial for volrustomig in lung cancer

AstraZeneca has announced the discontinuation of its eVOLVE-Lung02 Phase III trial, which was investigating the efficacy of volrustomig combined with chemotherapy for treating metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (mNSCLC). The decision came following a recommendation from the Independent Data Monitoring Committee after a planned review of the trial data.

This trial, which included 895 patients across 25 countries, aimed to evaluate volrustomig as a first-line therapy in comparison to pembrolizumab and chemotherapy. The trial specifically targeted patients with mNSCLC whose tumors expressed PD-L1 at 50%. The Independent Data Monitoring Committee concluded that the combination treatment was unlikely to fulfill its primary goals of improving progression-free survival or overall survival, particularly among patients with PD-L1 negative tumors.

Despite the setback with the eVOLVE-Lung02 trial, AstraZeneca continues to investigate volrustomig in other Phase III trials focused on cervical cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and mesothelioma. Volrustomig functions as a dual checkpoint inhibitor, designed to target both PD-1 and CTLA-4 pathways on T cells. AstraZeneca emphasized its commitment to advancing cancer treatment, stating that it will work closely with investigators to ensure ongoing care for patients involved in the discontinued trial.

Susan Galbraith, AstraZeneca’s Executive Vice President for Oncology and Hematology R&D, expressed disappointment over the trial's outcome but reaffirmed the company's dedication to learning from this experience. She highlighted AstraZeneca's broader mission to develop innovative therapies for patients facing challenging cancer diagnoses, underscoring the importance of continuing research in areas with high unmet medical needs.