AstraZeneca PLC on Friday said its Imfinzi treatment has demonstrated statistically significant results in a trial testing survival rates in stomach cancers.

The Cambridge, England-based pharmaceuticals firm said Imfinzi, or durvalumab, in combination with standard-of-care chemotherapy using fluorouracil, leucovorin, oxaliplatin and docetaxel, demonstrated clinically meaningful improvement in the event-free survival of patients with resectable early-stage gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers.

The Matterhorn phase 3 trial compared the use of Imfinzi with standard-of-care chemotherapy alone.

Gastric, or stomach, cancer is the fifth most common cancer worldwide, and has common disease recurrence among patients. One in four patients do not survive beyond two years, and less than half of patients are alive after five years.

‘Matterhorn is the first phase III trial of an immunotherapy to show a statistically significant improvement in event-free survival in patients with resectable gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers,’ said AstraZeneca’s Chief Medical Officer & Oncology Chief Development Officer Cristian Massacesi.

‘This perioperative approach with Imfinzi underscores our commitment to moving into earlier stages of cancer where novel therapies can have the biggest impact on patients’ lives.’

Shares in AstraZeneca were down 0.6% at 11,954.00 pence in London on Friday morning. The stock has risen 17% over the past year.

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