/ Updated January 26th, 2024

Imfinzi Is Proving To Be An important Drug In The Fight Against Cancer – AstraZeneca’s Shubh Goel

AstraZeneca’s Shubh Goel discusses how the drug Imfinzi is extending survival and improving lives in multiple types of cancer.

: Dr. James Taylor Written by: Liz Neporent

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Cancer treatment has seen significant advancements in recent years with the introduction of innovative therapies. AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi (durvalumab) has emerged as a key contributor in this evolution.

“Imfinzi’s journey reflects our commitment to bringing forth treatments that can change patient outcomes significantly,” VP, Head of Immuno-Oncology and GI Tumors Franchise for US Oncology at AstraZeneca, Shubh Goel, tells SurvivorNet. “Imfinzi has shown a remarkable ability to increase survival rates in patients.”

Offering New Hope in Oncology

Imfinzi is a type of immunotherapy drug known as a checkpoint inhibitor. It works by helping the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.

Normally, cancer cells can evade the immune system by activating a protein called PD-L1, which turns off immune cells. Imfinzi works by blocking PD-L1, preventing this ‘turn-off’ signal and revving up the immune system to target and destroy cancer cells.

“We are seeing combinations with Imfinzi really make a difference in terms of long-term survival across multiple tumors,” Goel says.

Approved in 2017, Imfinzi has broadened its applications in cancer treatment. It now includes:

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC): Enhances survival in advanced stages.
Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC): Imfinzi improves chemotherapy efficacy and improves overall survival.
Advanced bladder cancer: In some cases where the disease progressed after chemotherapy, Imfinzi plus chemotherapy helped increase survival.
Gastric Cancer: For some patients with stomach or esophagus cancers that are surgically removable, combining Imfinzi with pre-surgery chemotherapy has been more effective in eliminating cancer cells than chemotherapy alone.
Head and Neck Cancer: Effective in certain cases, particularly in combination with other treatments.

“This combination with chemotherapy has been a game-changer, especially in gastric cancers,” Goel notes. “It has led to higher pathologic complete response rates and improved long-term survival outcomes.”

The Future of Immunotherapy

“The future of cancer treatment is increasingly personalized, with immunotherapy at its forefront. Tailoring treatment combinations to individual patient types is not just a goal, it’s a necessity in today’s oncology landscape,” Goel explains.

Goel goes on to emphasize that this targeted approach, especially with drugs like Imfinzi, is central to making cancer treatment more effective. And it’s driving meaningful improvements in patient outcomes.

‘By understanding the unique characteristics of each cancer type and patient, we can make more informed decisions about their treatment plans,’ she says.

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Liz Neporent is a writer and reporter for SurvivorNet. Read More