Oncology

The US FDA has recently granted Orphan Drug Designation to AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi (durvalumab) and tremelimumab, combination therapy for HCC. Imfinzi, a monoclonal antibody, binds and inhibits the interaction of PD-L1 with PD-1 and CD80. The drug blocks tumour’s immune-evading mechanism and releases the inhibition of the immune response. Hepatocellular cell carcinoma is the most common type of primary cell carcinoma, with a prevalence of 105,785 in 2017, and is expected to rise in coming years. The recommendation came after the results from the Phase III trial HIMALAYA, which evaluated Imfinzi in combination with tremelimumab in patients suffering from unres...