Lung Cancer Pill Cuts Risk of Death by Half, Says ‘Thrilling’ Study

A new study has found that a pill used to treat lung cancer can cut the risk of death for patients by half. The pill, known as Tagrisso, was developed by pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and is intended for use in certain post-surgery lung cancer patients. The study, conducted by researchers in the United Kingdom, looked at nearly 700 patients over a three-year period.

The study’s lead author, Dr. Sanjay Popat, described the results as “thrilling.” He said that “To see a significant improvement in survival in an area where progress has been difficult is an extraordinary thing.”

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. According to the American Cancer Society, there will be an estimated 235,760 new cases of lung cancer in the United States in 2021, and an estimated 131,880 people will die from the disease.

Tagrisso is a targeted therapy that blocks a specific protein that drives the growth of cancer cells in the lungs. It is currently approved for use in certain patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer who have a specific genetic mutation.

AstraZeneca’s Chief Medical Officer, Sean Bohen, said in a statement that the study “reinforces the significant clinical benefit Tagrisso provides for patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer.”

The study’s findings are seen as a boost for AstraZeneca, which has faced setbacks in recent years with other drugs in its pipeline. Tagrisso is one of AstraZeneca’s top-selling drugs, with sales of over $3 billion in 2020.