AstraZeneca's Tagrisso Combo Shows Survival Benefit in Lung Cancer, Countering J&J Challenge

AstraZeneca has announced significant progress in the treatment of EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), bolstering its position against emerging competition from Johnson & Johnson. The pharmaceutical giant revealed that its combination therapy of Tagrisso (osimertinib) with chemotherapy demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in overall survival compared to Tagrisso monotherapy in first-line advanced EGFR-mutated NSCLC patients.

Tagrisso Combination Therapy Demonstrates Life-Extension Benefit

The latest results from the final overall survival analysis of the phase 3 Flaura2 trial have reinforced Tagrisso's efficacy in treating EGFR-mutated lung cancer. This combination therapy had previously shown a 38% reduction in the risk of disease progression or death compared to Tagrisso alone. While specific figures remain undisclosed, AstraZeneca confirmed that the survival benefit was consistent with earlier interim analysis findings, which had indicated a 25% reduction in the risk of death at 41% data maturity.

Dr. Susan Galbraith, AstraZeneca's oncology R&D chief, emphasized the significance of these results, stating, "These exciting overall survival results add to the extensive evidence supporting Tagrisso as the backbone therapy in EGFR-mutated lung cancer." She further noted that the combination's strong survival benefit and tolerable safety profile could potentially help patients live longer while maintaining their quality of life during treatment.

Competitive Landscape in EGFR-Mutated NSCLC Treatment

The announcement comes amid intensifying competition in the EGFR-mutated NSCLC space. Johnson & Johnson's combination of Rybrevant (amivantamab) and Lazertinib has shown promising results, with a similar 25% reduction in death risk compared to Tagrisso monotherapy in the phase 3 Mariposa trial. This development has posed a significant challenge to Tagrisso's dominance in the field.

Despite J&J's advancements, AstraZeneca maintains confidence in Tagrisso's position. Dr. Pasi Jänne from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the principal investigator of the Flaura2 trial, affirmed that the updated results support Tagrisso "either as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy, as standard of care" in the first-line setting.

The competitive landscape is further reflected in recent sales figures. J&J reported $320 million in sales from their combination therapy in the first half of 2025, a significant increase from $116 million in the same period last year. Meanwhile, AstraZeneca's Tagrisso generated $1.68 billion in worldwide sales in the first quarter of 2025, marking a 5% increase driven partly by increased demand in stage 3 unresectable EGFR-mutated NSCLC.

As the pharmaceutical industry continues to advance treatments for lung cancer, the competition between AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson highlights the ongoing efforts to improve patient outcomes in this critical area of oncology.