Patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received durvalumab and tremelimumab in combination with chemotherapy had positive progression-free survival results compared with chemotherapy alone, according to recent research from the phase III POSEIDON trial.

“The POSEIDON trial provides evidence of the efficacy of [durvalumab] in patients with stage IV non-small-cell lung cancer,” José Baselga, MD, PhD, executive vice president of Oncology R&D at the drug's manufacturer, stated in a press release. “Clinical benefit was observed in a trial population that included a high proportion of patients with squamous disease and multiple choices of chemotherapy regimens.”

White tablets. Source: Getty

In the POSEIDON trial, patients at 153 centers in 18 countries with metastatic NSCLS were randomized to receive Imfinzi in combination with chemotherapy, durvalumab plus tremelimumab and chemotherapy, or chemotherapy alone as a first-line treatment. Patients were included if they had non-squamous or squamous disease and all programmed death-ligand 1 levels, and excluded if they had an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) or ALK gene mutation.

In the durvalumab plus chemotherapy group, patients received a dose of 1,500 mg with four cycles of chemotherapy every 3 weeks. Patients in the durvalumab plus tremelimumab and chemotherapy received either 1,500 mg of durvalumab, 75mg of tremelimumab and durvalumab maintenance therapy or durvalumab and tremelimumab every 4 weeks. The control group received up to six cycles of chemotherapy, and patients received pemetrexed maintenance therapy in all groups if they had non-squamous disease.

The results showed a statistically significant and clinically meaningful progression-free survival among patients treated with durvalumab and chemotherapy compared with patients who received chemotherapy alone, and there was also a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in progression-free survival for patients with NSCLC who received durvalumab plus tremelimumab and chemotherapy compared with the control group.

With regard to safety, there were no changes in the known safety profile for durvalumab, and there were similar safety results seen in the durvalumab, tremelimumab and chemotherapy group compared with patients who received durvalumab and chemotherapy.

“Additionally, the potential to add tremelimumab to durvalumab and chemotherapy may present an important treatment approach in this challenging setting, especially taking into consideration the favorable safety profile,” said Baselga.

The manufacturer said they plan to submit the POSEIDON data to health authorities and hope to present it at an upcoming medical meeting.