AstraZeneca IMFINZI combo cuts liver cancer progression risk by 30%

AstraZeneca (NASDAQ: AZN) reported that its EMERALD-3 Phase III trial met its primary endpoint, showing that IMFINZI (durvalumab) combined with IMJUDO (tremelimumab-actl), lenvatinib and transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 30% compared to TACE alone in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma eligible for embolization.

The planned interim analysis demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival with a hazard ratio of 0.70 (95% confidence interval 0.57-0.86; p=0.0007). Median progression-free survival was 13.0 months for the combination regimen versus 9.8 months for TACE alone.

The trial enrolled 760 patients randomized across three arms: TACE with IMFINZI, IMJUDO and lenvatinib; TACE with IMFINZI and IMJUDO; and TACE alone. The study was conducted at 171 centers across 22 countries.

For overall survival, a positive trend favored the STRIDE regimen with lenvatinib and TACE versus TACE alone, with a hazard ratio of 0.84 (95% confidence interval 0.65-1.09; p=0.1814). The median overall survival was 39.5 months for the combination versus 34.7 months for TACE alone.

The safety profile aligned with known profiles of each medicine. Grade 3 or higher adverse events occurred in 71.4% of patients receiving the STRIDE plus lenvatinib and TACE combination, compared to 28.6% in the TACE-only arm.

Results were presented at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting in Chicago. The trial will continue to assess overall survival and other secondary endpoints.

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