New data across diverse innovative therapeutic options showcase commitment to redefining lung cancer outcomes.
AstraZeneca advances its lung cancer portfolio and pipeline at the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) 2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC), held in Singapore from 9 to 12 September 2023.
More than 40 abstracts feature eight approved and potential new medicines from AstraZeneca, including results from studies of innovative therapeutic options, such as targeted therapies for common mutations in lung cancer, including EGFR and HER2, as well as antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) in combination with immunotherapy.
At AstraZeneca, we are advancing our commitment to increase lung cancer screening and timely diagnosis and bring treatment to earlier lung cancer settings. This includes thinking differently about the underlying biology of lung cancer, from early stages – where we aim to help patients live longer and cancer-free – to late stages, where we look to meaningfully extend survival.
“With the latest data in hand, we’re taking a pivotal step in shaping the future of lung cancer treatment. It offers compelling evidence of the potential our diverse therapy pipeline has in enhancing patient outcomes across various disease stages. Such advancements further drive our unwavering global efforts, including in Vietnam, to combat lung cancer. Our commitment spans raising awareness, boosting screening and early diagnosis rates, and facilitating patient access to healthcare through initiatives like “Healthy Lung” and “Love your Lungs”. Moreover, we are constantly pushing scientific boundaries to introduce transformative medicines. I am confident that, with unified efforts, we can significantly better the lives of innumerable lung cancer patients in Vietnam and globally,” states Nitin Kapoor, AstraZeneca Vietnam Chairman and General Director.
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, with an estimated 1.8 million deaths in 2020.1 Environmental factors, including air pollution, aggravated by climate change, may also play a role in the development of lung cancer globally.2 The diverse disease epidemiology worldwide requires a differentiated treatment approach. In Asia, an increasing number of non-smokers are diagnosed with lung cancer, especially young women.3,4,5 Additionally, the prevalence of well-characterised genomic drivers is different compared to Western populations. Asian populations have higher rates of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and lower rates of Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene (KRAS) mutations.5,6
Prof. Pan-Chyr Yang, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, said: “The expert consensus calls for urgent changes to initiate low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening programs for people who could be at risk of lung cancer across Asia. This is important to introduce more sensitive screening across the region, and drive earlier detection of lung cancer, when there is a greater potential for cure.”
AstraZeneca is committed to addressing some of the biggest healthcare challenges facing humankind and improving the lives of billions of people. Collaboration in the scientific community is critical to improving outcomes for patients. AstraZeneca collaborates with key stakeholders and decision-makers to ensure innovative solutions can reach patients, no matter where they live. By leveraging the latest technologies and insights, AstraZeneca is dedicated to providing new options for patients and clinicians that allow them the opportunity to achieve improved survival.
Supporting our ambition to eliminate cancer as a cause of death, AstraZeneca is investing in early screening, which is essential to early detection and reducing lung cancer mortality. Published in 2023, a first-of-its-kind consensus paper for the Asian population was developed by the Lung Ambition Alliance to provide recommendations on lung cancer screening in Asia.7 AstraZeneca is a founding member of the Lung Ambition Alliance, a global coalition working to accelerate innovation and deliver meaningful improvements for people with lung cancer, including and beyond treatment.
In Vietnam, AstraZeneca has cooperated with 6 hospitals across the country to support artificial intelligence (AI) application software on lung X-rays. The program is part of AstraZeneca’s global lung cancer screening and early diagnosis project in Vietnam. With good results of FIT study published in WCLC and some pilots of qXR in 2023, from 2024 onward, the company will expand our pilot to more hospitals/institutions across the countries and aim to detect more and more patients through pre-screening with AI-assisted chest Xray.
Additionally, AstraZeneca is also implementing Healthy Lung programme which is a multi-national initiative that aims to improve the quality of outpatient management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer in 9 Asian countries. Vietnamese lung cancer patients will benefit from the “Vietnam Healthy Lung” programme period 2021-23, of which MOU was signed between the Medical Services Administration (MSA), MOH and AstraZeneca, following the success of the first phase in 2017-2020.
Most recently, in August 2023, Ministry of Health, the Bright Future Fund in collaboration with AstraZeneca launched a 5-years lung cancer awareness campaign called “Love your Lungs” with the key message “Prompt screening, early healing.” The campaign aims to raise public awareness about lung cancer, promote screening programs for high-risk populations and increase early diagnosis rates to improve patients’ outcomes.
Recognising the interconnection between climate and health, AstraZeneca is working with governments and policymakers worldwide to advance sustainable healthcare solutions that protect patient outcomes while reducing the environmental footprint of care. Together, everyone involved in healthcare delivery has a collective responsibility to reduce emissions and deliver more sustainable, resilient healthcare – for the health of people, society and the planet./.
Press release distributed by EloQ Communications.