AstraZeneca on Monday confirmed that a major late-stage lung cancer trial did not achieve its primary goal of improving overall survival, marking a setback in the company’s efforts to expand treatment options for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The Phase III LATIFY study evaluated whether combining the experimental drug ceralasertib with immunotherapy Imfinzi could help patients live longer after standard therapies ceased working, but results fell short.
The trial enrolled 594 adults with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC whose disease had progressed following earlier immunotherapy and platinum-based chemotherapy. Participants were drawn from more than 20 countries. Researchers compared the combination therapy to the standard chemotherapy drug docetaxel, aiming to show a statistically meaningful survival advantage. When the data were analyzed, overall survival did not improve with the experimental regimen.
AstraZeneca’s chief oncology researchers expressed disappointment but reiterated that innovation in cancer treatment remains a top priority. Susan Galbraith, the company’s executive vice-president for oncology haematology research and development, said the goal was to revive immune responses in patients whose tumors stopped responding to current therapies. Although the results were not what the team hoped for, AstraZeneca stressed its ongoing commitment to developing new treatment approaches.
Ceralasertib targets ATR kinase, a protein that helps cancer cells survive DNA damage, while Imfinzi (durvalumab) is a well-known PD-L1 inhibitor that boosts immune action against tumors. The scientific rationale behind the trial was that blocking DNA repair pathways could make tumors more vulnerable to immune attack, potentially overcoming resistance to immunotherapy. Despite strong theoretical backing, this synergy did not translate into longer survival for patients in this setting.
One positive takeaway from the study was safety. Patients receiving the ceralasertib-Imfinzi combination generally tolerated treatment well, and no new safety concerns surfaced. The safety profile remained consistent with what is already known about the individual drugs. AstraZeneca plans to share more detailed trial data at upcoming scientific meetings.
The disappointment underscores the challenge of finding effective therapies for NSCLC after first-line treatments stop working. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death worldwide, and NSCLC accounts for the majority of cases. Patients with disease progression after immunotherapy and chemotherapy have limited options and typically face poor outcomes, making new approaches urgently needed.
AstraZeneca’s shares dipped slightly in early trading following the announcement, reflecting investor concerns about future revenue prospects tied to the drug’s commercial potential. The company’s oncology pipeline has been a key driver of growth in recent years, and setbacks in high-profile trials can weigh on market sentiment.
The result also comes amid intense competition in the cancer drug landscape. Other major pharmaceutical companies, including Merck and Bristol-Myers Squibb, are advancing their own immunotherapy and combination treatments aimed at overcoming resistance and extending survival in similar patient populations. These efforts range from new immune modulators to targeted therapies and innovative drug platforms.
Despite the trial miss, AstraZeneca remains active in lung cancer research. The company’s existing Imfinzi immunotherapy continues to be used in multiple cancer types and settings, and new strategies combining immunotherapy with different agents remain under investigation. Analysts note that failures like LATIFY are not uncommon in oncology, where complex tumor biology can defy even promising scientific hypotheses.
Looking ahead, AstraZeneca will likely lean on other parts of its oncology portfolio while refining future combination strategies. The company’s broader research programs are designed to address unmet needs in cancer care, even as this particular approach did not deliver the hoped-for survival benefit.
