AstraZeneca's FLAURA2 Study Shows 25% OS Improvement in NSCLC Patients

AstraZeneca (AZN.US) has announced positive results from the final overall survival (OS) analysis of its Phase III FLAURA2 study. The study evaluated the combination of osimertinib with pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy compared to osimertinib monotherapy in first-line treatment of locally advanced or metastatic epidermal growth factor receptor mutated (EGFRm) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. The results showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in the key secondary endpoint of OS.

The final OS analysis results are consistent with the previously reported interim OS results, confirming sustained survival benefits. These findings are built upon the previously published primary endpoint data, which demonstrated the longest reported median progression-free survival (PFS) period in this treatment setting. The study's design, which allowed for flexibility in subsequent treatment choices, adds to the robustness of the findings, demonstrating that the benefits of the combination therapy are not dependent on specific post-progression treatments.

Pasi A. Jänne, the principal investigator of the FLAURA2 trial, commented, "The goal in treating lung cancer is to extend survival while improving the patient experience, especially in first-line treatment, as the treatment duration can be lengthy and many patients need to maintain an active lifestyle. These positive results support osimertinib, whether as a monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy, as a standard of care for first-line treatment of advanced EGFR-mutated lung cancer patients. They also reinforce the significant benefits of this combination therapy in the current clinical environment. Given that the FLAURA2 trial did not impose any restrictions on subsequent treatment choices after disease progression, the observed survival benefits are particularly noteworthy."

The FLAURA2 study's findings underscore the potential of osimertinib in combination with chemotherapy to improve outcomes for patients with EGFR-mutated NSCLC. The results highlight the importance of combination therapies in enhancing both survival and quality of life for patients with this type of cancer. The study's design, which allowed for flexibility in subsequent treatment choices, adds to the robustness of the findings, demonstrating that the benefits of the combination therapy are not dependent on specific post-progression treatments.