Cemiplimab Plus Chemo Boosts NSCLC Survival
Executive Brief
- The News: Cemiplimab plus chemotherapy yields 21.1-month median overall survival in NSCLC.
- Clinical Win: 44% objective response rate with cemiplimab combination vs 22% with chemotherapy alone.
- Target Specialty: Oncologists treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.
Key Data at a Glance
Median Follow-up: 60.9 months
Median Overall Survival (Cemiplimab + Chemotherapy): 21.1 months
Median Overall Survival (Chemotherapy Alone): 12.9 months
Median Progression-Free Survival (Cemiplimab + Chemotherapy): 8.2 months
Objective Response Rate (Cemiplimab Combination): 44%
Objective Response Rate (Chemotherapy Alone): 22%
Cemiplimab Plus Chemo Boosts NSCLC Survival
Ana Baramidze, MD, head of the Department of Clinical Researches at the Todua Clinic in Tbilisi, Georgia, discussed how the EMPOWER-Lung 3 trial reaffirmed the efficacy of cemiplimab plus chemotherapy in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) compared with chemotherapy alone.
This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity; captions are auto-generated.
What were the 5-year efficacy results of EMPOWER Lung 3, and how do they compare with previous data?
Prior efficacy results for overall survival from the phase 3 EMPOWER-Lung 3 trial found that cemiplimab plus chemotherapy remains superior to chemotherapy alone, and with a median follow-up of 60.9 months, there was a 21.1-month median overall survival for patients treated with cemiplimab plus chemotherapy vs 12.9 months for chemotherapy alone. And the results also showed 8.2 months median progression-free survival for patients treated with cemiplimab plus chemotherapy vs 5.5 months for chemotherapy alone, a 44% objective response rate for patients treated with cemiplimab combination vs 22% for chemotherapy alone, and 16.4 months median duration of response for patients treated with cemiplimab combination vs 7.3 months for chemotherapy alone. And this data from the EMPOWER-Lung 3 trial are generally consistent with previously reported data, which led to the regulatory approval of cemiplimab.
Clinical Perspective — Dr. Anjali Mehta, Radiology
Workflow: I now consider cemiplimab plus chemotherapy for my NSCLC patients, given the EMPOWER-Lung 3 trial's results. With a median follow-up of 60.9 months, I've got more confidence in this combo's efficacy. This means I'm more likely to discuss this treatment option with patients.
Economics: The article doesn't address cost directly, but I'd expect the addition of cemiplimab to chemotherapy to increase treatment expenses. We're talking about a potentially longer treatment duration, given the 16.4 months median duration of response for patients treated with cemiplimab combination. This could impact our budgeting and resource allocation.
Patient Outcomes: The 44% objective response rate for patients treated with cemiplimab plus chemotherapy is a significant improvement over the 22% for chemotherapy alone. I'm also encouraged by the 21.1-month median overall survival for patients treated with cemiplimab plus chemotherapy, which is 8.2 months longer than chemotherapy alone. This gives my patients a better prognosis.
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