Last reviewed 2026-04-22 · How we verify

Durvalumab + SoC chemotherapy

Durvalumab blocks PD-L1 on tumor cells to restore immune recognition and killing, combined with standard chemotherapy to enhance anti-tumor activity.

Durvalumab blocks PD-L1 on tumor cells to restore immune recognition and killing, combined with standard chemotherapy to enhance anti-tumor activity. Used for Unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after concurrent chemoradiotherapy, First-line treatment of advanced or metastatic NSCLC in combination with chemotherapy.

At a glance

Mechanism of action

Durvalumab is a PD-L1 inhibitor that prevents the interaction between PD-L1 on tumor cells and PD-1/PD-L2 on immune cells, thereby releasing the brake on T-cell-mediated immunity. When combined with standard-of-care chemotherapy, the chemotherapy provides direct cytotoxic effects and immunogenic cell death, while durvalumab amplifies the resulting anti-tumor immune response. This combination approach targets both tumor cells directly and the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment.

Approved indications

• Unresectable stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after concurrent chemoradiotherapy
• First-line treatment of advanced or metastatic NSCLC in combination with chemotherapy

Common side effects

• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Decreased appetite
• Immune-mediated pneumonitis
• Immune-mediated hepatitis
• Immune-mediated colitis
• Infusion-related reactions

Key clinical trials

• Adding an Immunotherapy Drug, MEDI4736 (Durvalumab), to the Usual Chemotherapy Treatment (Paclitaxel, Cyclophosphamide, and Doxorubicin) for Stage II-III Breast Cancer (PHASE3)
• Neoadjuvant Inhaled Azacytidine With Platinum-Based Chemotherapy and Durvalumab (MEDI4736) - a Combined Epigenetic-Immunotherapy (AZA-AEGEAN) Regimen for Operable Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) (PHASE1, PHASE2)
• Phase 3 Study of T-DXd and Rilvegostomig Versus SoC in Advanced HER2-expressing Biliary Tract Cancer (PHASE3)
• I-SPY TRIAL: Neoadjuvant and Personalized Adaptive Novel Agents to Treat Breast Cancer (PHASE2)
• Study of Durvalumab + Tremelimumab With Chemotherapy or Durvalumab With Chemotherapy or Chemotherapy Alone for Patients With Lung Cancer (POSEIDON). (PHASE3)
• Study of Durvalumab Alone or Chemotherapy for Patients With Advanced Non Small-Cell Lung Cancer (PEARL) (PHASE3)
• Phase III Open Label First Line Therapy Study of MEDI 4736 (Durvalumab) With or Without Tremelimumab Versus SOC in Non Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) (PHASE3)
• Study of Durvalumab With Tremelimumab Versus SoC as 1st Line Therapy in Metastatic Non Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) (NEPTUNE) (PHASE3)

Primary sources

Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.