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Pharmaceutical industry

AstraZeneca Conducts Clinical Trial of New Lung Cancer Drug in China

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca is conducting trials of a new lung cancer drug in China as part of a worldwide research effort. The trial aims to compare the efficacy and safety of the drug, known as Iressa, in treating late-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with established drugs. Iressa has already been approved for marketing in China for the treatment of NSCLC and has shown promising results in clinical trials. The multinational trial will involve participants from China and other countries, and is expected to take several years to complete.

Key Takeaways:

  • AstraZeneca is conducting clinical trials of a new lung cancer drug, Iressa, in China as part of a worldwide research effort.
  • The trial aims to compare the efficacy and safety of Iressa with established drugs in treating late-stage NSCLC patients.
  • Iressa has been approved for marketing in China for the treatment of NSCLC since February 2005.
  • The drug has shown promising results in clinical trials, with a 27% remission rate and a 10-month median survival time.
  • Iressa produces anti-tumor effects without systemic adverse reactions like nausea and vomiting, but may cause mild skin reactions and diarrhea.
  • The company has applied for another clinical trial for the drug, called IPASS, which will be the first targeted therapy trial chaired and conducted by Asian experts.
  • Lung cancer is a malignant tumor with a poor prognosis, with 80% of cases being non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  • Traditional radiotherapy and chemotherapy can only achieve limited efficacy and produce damaging side effects.

Statistics:

  • 27% of patients achieved remission in the Iressa China Registration Trial.
  • Half of patients lived for more than 10 months in the Iressa China Registration Trial.
  • 5.5-6.7% was the median tumor remission rate before Iressa became clinically available.
  • Iressa allows half of all patients to live for five-and-half to 7-and-a-half months longer.
  • 10 months was the median survival time achieved by patients on a placebo in a clinical trial in November 2005.
  • 9.5 months was the median survival time achieved by patients on Iressa in a clinical trial in November 2005, which is 4 months longer than that on a placebo.

Sources:

  • Xie Hua, product PR manager from AstraZeneca.
  • Press release from AstraZeneca.
  • "China Lung Cancer Clinical Guidelines 2005".
  • "Iressa China Registration Trial" results reported in August 2005.
  • Clinical trial in November 2005.
  • Meta-analysis combined 16 trials in Japan, 7 trials in the Chinese mainland, 6 trials in Korea, and 2 in Taiwan.

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