Amgen (AMGN) Combo Therapy Cuts Lung Cancer Death Risk by 58%

Amgen (AMGN) announced that its immunotherapy drug Imdelltra, when combined with AstraZeneca's Imfinzi, reduced the risk of death by 58% in patients with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer. The late-stage trial showed that the combination extended median overall survival to 21.1 months, compared to 12.7 months with Imfinzi alone. This trial tested the combination as maintenance therapy for patients whose cancer had not progressed after initial treatment with Imfinzi and chemotherapy.

Imdelltra's sales were $288 million in the second quarter, rising 115% year over year, and the drug generated $627 million globally in 2025. The combination therapy demonstrated benefits across patient subgroups, including those with cancer that had spread to the brain or liver, which are typically linked to worse outcomes. Lead investigator Dr. Jacob Sands noted that longer-term follow-up may show even further improvements in survival.

This advancement has the potential to transform treatment for aggressive small cell lung cancer, a condition affecting roughly 31,000 new patients annually in the U.S., with 60% to 70% diagnosed at an extensive stage. For investors, the trial results suggest increased commercial growth potential for Amgen’s Imdelltra, underpinned by its significant efficacy in extending patient survival and strong recent sales growth.