Durvalumab (IMFINZI®) was approved by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in July 2018, for maintenance therapy after definitive chemoradiation therapy (CRT) in locally-advanced (Stage III), unresectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).[1]
Durvalumab, developed by AstraZeneca via Meddimune, has already been approved in the US for NSCLC (the second indication in this region).[2]
“Non-small cell lung cancer is a leading cause of death in Japan,” said Dave Fredrickson, Executive Vice President, Head of the Oncology Business Unit . He went on to explain that AstraZeneca was “dedicated to bringing new treatment options to patients as quickly as possible. As the only immunotherapy approved in the curative-intent, Stage III lung cancer setting, Imfinzi has the potential to change the treatment paradigm for patients diagnosed with this disease.” [1]
Durvalumab was initially approved in 2017 in the US (May)[3] and subsequently in Canada (November)[4] for use in patients with bladder cancer.
For further information related to the first approval of durvalimab please visit Drugs[5], or to learn more about its overall development across all indications visit AdisInsight.[6]
Image credit: Ivelin Radkov / Fotolia
