The dynamic partnership that brought Enhertu to the forefront of cancer treatment is poised for yet another groundbreaking moment. AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo have just unveiled exciting high-level Phase III results for their novel TROP2-directed antibody-drug conjugate, and the implications are profound.
In the pivotal TROPION-Breast01 Phase III trial, datopotamab deruxtecan, affectionately known as Dato-DXd, delivered a significant boost to progression-free survival (PFS) in patients battling HR-positive, HER2-low, or HER2-negative breast cancer, surpassing the efficacy of traditional chemotherapy. While the data on overall survival (OS) is still maturing, early signs point to a promising trend of improvement, sparking a sense of hope in the medical community.
It’s worth noting that the trial participants were individuals who had previously endured the frustration of failed remission attempts following systemic and endocrine-based therapies. The full scoop on these game-changing results will soon be unveiled at an upcoming meeting and shared with health authorities. Moreover, additional Phase III trials are in full swing, targeting various disease subtypes, including the formidable triple-negative breast cancer.
But what makes Dato-DXd truly revolutionary? This antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) merges the precision of monoclonal antibodies with the potency of chemotherapy. It’s a formidable duo with a singular mission: to seek out and obliterate cancer cells while sparing their innocent counterparts. The potential here is enormous.
AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo embarked on this journey together, sealing a monumental $6 billion deal in 2020. Their prior success with Enhertu laid the foundation for this ambitious venture. Daiichi Sankyo will exclusively oversee operations in Japan, while the rest of the world will witness a collaborative effort, with development costs and profits shared.
In an earlier trial targeting non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), Dato-DXd demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in PFS, though the spotlight was on the secondary endpoint, OS, which showed a trend toward improvement but fell just short of significance. These mixed results weighed on AstraZeneca’s stock in July 2023, but the recent release of the TROPION-Breast01 trial data has already boosted the company’s stock price by approximately 2%—a testament to the significance of this breast cancer breakthrough.
If granted approval, Dato-DXd will find itself in a thrilling showdown with Gilead’s Trodelvy, the first-ever TROP2-directed ADC approved back in 2020. Trodelvy, originally intended as a third-line treatment, expanded its reach to precisely the same breast cancer population targeted in the TROPION-Breast01 trial. It made history by demonstrating an overall survival benefit in HR-positive, HER2 metastatic breast cancer patients who had previously undergone endocrine-based therapy and at least two rounds of chemotherapy.
Gilead’s Trodelvy is on track to become a blockbuster in 2023, with first-half sales totaling a staggering $460 million. Gilead secured its place in this exciting arena with a $21 billion acquisition of Immunomedics in 2020.
Breast cancer, the most prevalent cancer globally, finds its most common subtype in HR-positive, HER2-low, or HER2-negative cases. According to GlobalData analysts, Daiichi Sankyo is poised to maintain its dominant position in the ADC market for cancer, with global sales forecasted to reach a remarkable $10.8 billion by 2029. The battle against cancer has never looked more promising.