AstraZeneca got a shot in the arm after it secured a key approval in the US for a cancer drug.
The pharma giant’s Enhertu drug has become the first of its kind to be approved for use in patients with a form of breast cancer that accounts for over half of all cases diagnosed in the US, but which has limited options for treatment.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s approval followed the results of a Phase III clinical trial in February which showed Enhertu reduced the risk of disease progression or death by 50 per cent compared to existing chemotherapy options.
Boost: Analysts at broker Shore Capital said the drug had the potential to become a ‘key growth driver’ for AstraZeneca, claiming sales could reach £3.7billion by the end of 2026
Analysts at broker Shore Capital said the drug had the potential to become a ‘key growth driver’ for AstraZeneca, claiming sales could reach £3.7billion by the end of 2026.
But the FDA said Enhertu, developed with Japanese firm Daiichi Sankyo, should carry a warning about the risk of lung scarring and foetal toxicity, meaning it is not recommended for pregnant women.
