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Expert Interview

Slingshot members are talking to an expert! The topic is:

Understanding the potential of AstraZeneca's (AZN) durvalumab + tremelimumab combo therapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after Phase Ib data readout

Ticker(s): AZN

Who's the expert?

A specialist with significant experience treating patients with both PD-L1 positive and negative NSCLC

Interview Questions
Q1.

How big is the potential market for AZN's combo therapy? How many patients in the US have lung cancer and what percentage of those patients specifically have non-small cell lung cancer? 

Added By: pjloria
Q2.

AZN estimates that "less than half of patients with NSCLC have tumors that are PD-L1 positive," do you think this is an accurate estimation of the proportion of NSCLC patients that have PD-L1 positive tumors?

Added By: pjloria
Q3.

How do you expect the rate of diagnosis to change over the next few years for NSCLC? For the PD-L1 positive and negative patient groups in particular? 

Added By: pjloria
Q4.

In a cohort of 26 subjects treated with the combination and followed for about 24 weeks, the overall objective response rate (ORR) was 23%. The ORR in PD-L1-positive patients was 22% and 29% in PD-L1-negative patients. What is the significance and clinical relevance of these response rates?

Added By: pjloria
Q5.

Does the 7% difference in response rates for PD-L1 negative and PD-L1 positive patients represent a significant difference in your mind? 

Added By: pjloria
Q6.

What are the primary safety and efficacy concerns with the combination treatment? 

Added By: pjloria
Q7.

30% of patients experienced Grade 3 (severe) or Grade 4(disabling or life-threatening) adverse events while 16% discontinued treatment due to adverse effects. A higher proportion of patients had a severe negative reaction to the drug than the proportion whose tumors reduced in size (overall objective response rate 23%). Does this fact suggest there are too many safety concerns around this combination therapy for it to be approved by regulators?  Based on the available information, what do chances does the combination therapy have of being approved?

Added By: pjloria
Q8.

Does this combo therapy actually present a realistic treatment option to either of the patient groups given these rates?

Added By: pjloria
Q9.

What current treatment options exist and how do they compare to AZN's combo therapy?

Added By: pjloria
Q10.

Assuming it gets approved, what percentage of your patients do you think you will prescribe AZN's therapy? What percentage of patients nationally do you think will be prescribed the therapy? 

Added By: pjloria
Q11.

AstraZeneca has projected peak annual sales of $6.5 Billion for durvalumab. Do you think this is an accurate projection of peak annual sales and what do you project for annual sales of tremelimumab?

Added By: pjloria

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