AstraZeneca halts late-stage volrustomig lung cancer trial after committee review

August 17, 2026 at 11:28 AM2 min

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AstraZeneca discontinues a Phase III trial of volrustomig plus chemotherapy in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer after an independent data monitoring committee found the combination unlikely to meet its primary endpoints. The drugmaker also reported positive readouts from two other late-stage lung cancer trials, with Tagrisso-Orpathys and Daiichi Sankyo-partnered Enhertu both meeting key goals.

Key Facts

AstraZeneca is discontinuing the Phase III volrustomig plus chemotherapy trial in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer after an independent data monitoring committee found it unlikely to meet its primary endpoints.
The drugmaker reported positive results from two other late-stage lung cancer trials — Tagrisso-Orpathys and Daiichi Sankyo-partnered Enhertu.
AstraZeneca reiterated its July forecast of $80 billion in annual revenue by 2030 and expects up to 20 new drug launches to help reach that target.
Other Phase III volrustomig trials in cervical cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and mesothelioma will continue as planned.

Trial Termination

AstraZeneca said Monday it is discontinuing the Phase III volrustomig plus chemotherapy trial in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. An independent data monitoring committee recommended the halt after concluding the combination was unlikely to meet either primary endpoint of progression-free survival or overall survival in patients whose tumours lacked the PD-L1 protein. The company said the safety profile of volrustomig in combination with chemotherapy was consistent with known profiles of the individual medicines, with no new safety signals identified. Other Phase III trials of volrustomig in cervical cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and mesothelioma will continue as planned.

Pipeline Outlook

AstraZeneca reported positive readouts from two other late-stage lung cancer trials, with the Tagrisso-Orpathys combination and the Daiichi Sankyo-partnered Enhertu both meeting key goals. Investor confidence has been dented by the surprise failure of Wainua in a late-stage heart disease trial, the U.S. rejection of camizestrant on trial design grounds, and a late-stage failure for Ultomiris. In July, AstraZeneca stood by its forecasts, including a target of $80 billion in annual revenue by 2030, and said it expects up to 20 new drug launches to help reach that target. AstraZeneca oncology R&D head Susan Galbraith said the company was disappointed but would learn from the trial.