Amgen's immunotherapy drug Imdelltra has shown remarkable results when combined with AstraZeneca's Imfinzi in treating extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, a fast-growing and aggressive form of the disease. Full results from a late-stage trial released Saturday reveal that the combination reduced the risk of death by 58% in patients, extending their median overall survival to 21.1 months compared with 12.7 months for those taking Imfinzi alone.
Dr. Paul Burton, Amgen's chief medical officer, described the findings as transformative, suggesting the combination could convert this aggressive cancer into a chronic disease. The trial tested the combo as a maintenance therapy in patients who had initially responded to Imfinzi and chemotherapy. The benefits were observed across various patient subgroups, including those with cancer that had spread to the brain or liver.
The results also highlight a significant commercial opportunity for Imdelltra, which posted $288 million in sales during the second quarter, up 115% year over year. The drug generated $627 million in global sales in 2025 and is on track to become a blockbuster medicine, surpassing the $1 billion sales threshold. The study was presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology Congress.
Amgen suggests that using Imdelltra earlier in treatment could meaningfully alter the disease's trajectory. Currently, Imdelltra is approved for patients whose cancer has progressed after platinum-based chemotherapy. The trial found that nearly 80% of patients taking both drugs were alive at one year, compared with 53% receiving Imfinzi alone.