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Durvalumab plus chemotherapy
Durvalumab blocks PD-L1 to restore anti-tumor immunity, while chemotherapy directly kills cancer cells and enhances immune activation.
Durvalumab blocks PD-L1 to restore anti-tumor immunity, while chemotherapy directly kills cancer cells and enhances immune activation. Used for Unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, Advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma.
At a glance
| Generic name | Durvalumab plus chemotherapy |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | AstraZeneca |
| Drug class | PD-L1 inhibitor plus chemotherapy combination |
| Target | PD-L1 |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Oncology |
| Phase | Phase 3 |
Mechanism of action
Durvalumab is a PD-L1 inhibitor that prevents tumor cells from suppressing T-cell responses, thereby reinvigorating anti-tumor immunity. Chemotherapy acts as a cytotoxic agent that kills cancer cells and can promote immunogenic cell death, making tumor antigens more available to the immune system. The combination leverages both direct cytotoxic effects and immune checkpoint blockade for enhanced therapeutic benefit.
Approved indications
- Unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
- Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer
- Advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma
Common side effects
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Decreased appetite
- Immune-mediated pneumonitis
- Immune-mediated hepatitis
- Anemia
- Neutropenia
- Diarrhea
Key clinical trials
- Durvalumab in Combination With Chemotherapy in Treating Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors, DURVA+ Trial (PHASE2)
- Durvalumab as Consolidation for Patients LS-SCLC (PHASE2)
- Testing the Addition of an Individualized Vaccine to Durvalumab and Tremelimumab and Chemotherapy in Patients With Metastatic Triple Negative Breast Cancer (PHASE2)
- Testing the Addition of an Anti-Cancer Drug, TRC102, to the Usual Chemotherapy Treatment (Pemetrexed, Cisplatin or Carboplatin) During Radiation Therapy for Stage III Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (PHASE2)
- MP0317 in Combination With Chemoimmunotherapy in First Line Treatment for Patients With Advanced Biliary Tract Carcinoma (PHASE2)
- Thoracic Radiotherapy Plus Durvalumab in Elderly and/or Frail NSCLC Stage III Patients Unfit for Chemotherapy (PHASE2)
- Testing the Addition of MEDI4736 (Durvalumab) to Chemotherapy Before Surgery for Patients With High-Grade Upper Urinary Tract Cancer (PHASE2, PHASE3)
- Durvalumab With or Without Tremelimumab in Advanced Incurable Solid Malignancies Given With or Without Standard Chemotherapy Regimens (PHASE1)
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Durvalumab plus chemotherapy CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Durvalumab plus chemotherapy updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- AstraZeneca portfolio CI