US FDA approves AstraZeneca’s non-small cell lung cancer treatment

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved AstraZeneca’s  blockbuster cancer drug, Imfinzi, for the treatment of patients with a type of non-small cell lung cancer on Thursday.

The health regulator approved Imfinzi as an additional treatment after surgery in adult patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

The drug is already approved in the U.S. for patients with a late-stage form of the disease, where the cancer cannot be removed through surgery.

Earlier today, the company received a priority review from the FDA for the use of Imfinzi in patients with limited-stage small cell lung cancer, causing shares to hit a record high of 130.48 pounds ($167.69).

Imfinzi is a human monoclonal antibody, which works by blocking a tumour’s ability to evade and dampen the immune system, while also boosting the body’s anti-cancer immune response, offering an alternative to chemotherapy.