Finally, a boost for Astra cancer trial

ASTRAZENECA received a welcome boost as one of its lung cancer drugs was recognised as a ‘breakthrough’ by US regulators.

Bosses said they hoped to make Imfinzi available for patients as soon as possible after the successful ‘Pacific’ trial, which treated those with lung cancer that hasn’t yet spread.

The designation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) means regulators see the drug as promising and will help to fast-track further assessments of it.

It is also a shot in the arm for Astra. Shares plunged 17pc in a day last week after the company revealed one of its combination injection therapies – which included Imfinzi – had not been successful in its trial treating patients with advanced lung cancer.

But speaking yesterday about the approval, Astra chief medical officer Sean Bohen said: ‘Following the breakthrough designation, we hope to bring it to patients as soon as possible.’