Amgen’s Imdelltra in Combination with AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi Significantly Reduces Mortality in Extensive‑Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer

Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN) announced that its investigational drug Imdelltra (tarlatamab‑DLLE) combined with AstraZeneca Plc’s immunotherapy Imfinzi (durvalumab) reduced the risk of death by 58 % in patients with extensive‑stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The data, presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) meeting in Madrid on 24 October 2026, were also reported by Reuters and PRNewswire. The study involved patients whose tumors had progressed after standard chemotherapy.

Key clinical findings include:

  • Overall survival (OS) – Patients receiving the combination therapy had a median OS exceeding 37 months, compared with 20 months for Imfinzi alone.
  • One‑year overall survival – 80 % of patients treated with the combination were alive at one year, versus 53 % for Imfinzi monotherapy.
  • Progression‑free survival (PFS) – PFS was more than tripled in the combination group, with a median of 10 months versus 3 months for Imfinzi alone.
  • Risk of death – The relative risk reduction of death was 58 %, a level described as unprecedented for first‑line therapy in extensive‑stage SCLC.

The trial, named DeLLphi‑305, is a late‑stage Phase 3 study. Interim results were published concurrently in The New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the ESMO Presidential Symposium. The data suggest that adding Imdelltra to the current standard of care can provide a substantial survival benefit in a disease that historically has a poor prognosis.

Amgen’s senior management highlighted the potential impact of these findings on the therapeutic landscape for SCLC. The company’s website, www.amgen.com , provides additional information on the drug’s mechanism of action and ongoing clinical development.

Market Context

Amgen’s stock, which closed at $439.26 on 22 October 2026, has reached a 52‑week high of $450.98. The company’s market capitalization stands at approximately $237 billion, with a price‑earnings ratio of 27.38. The positive clinical data may influence short‑term market sentiment and support the stock’s recent rally following a prior dip caused by a competitor’s setback in September.

Comparison With Other Lung‑Cancer Therapies

While Roche’s divarasib outperformed Amgen’s sotorasib in a separate study on non‑small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with KRAS G12C mutations, the Amgen–AstraZeneca combination remains a leading option for extensive‑stage SCLC. The clinical advantage in SCLC may reinforce Amgen’s position as a key player in oncology drug development.

This article summarizes publicly available information from company announcements and press releases dated 24 October 2026. All data are presented as reported by the sources.