AstraZeneca Advances Hematology and Oncology Programs with CALQUENCE and AMPLIFY Trial

Key Developments in AstraZeneca's Hematology and Oncology Programs

AstraZeneca has been advancing its hematology and oncology programs, focusing on innovative treatments for blood cancers and other challenging diseases. The AMPLIFY trial, involving 27 countries across North and South America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania, has been a significant part of these efforts. This trial, which ran from 2019 to 2021, continued through the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the resilience and commitment of the company to address unmet medical needs.

Patients with blood cancer are at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes, including hospitalization and death. AstraZeneca's CALQUENCE (acalabrutinib), a second-generation selective inhibitor of Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), is a key treatment in this area. CALQUENCE is approved in the US, China, and several other countries for adult patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who have received prior therapy, though it is not yet approved for MCL treatment in Japan or the EU.

The company is also exploring CALQUENCE as a single treatment and in combination with standard chemoimmunotherapy for various B-cell blood cancers, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), MCL, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

AstraZeneca's broader hematology strategy includes the development of novel therapies targeting the underlying drivers of disease. The acquisitions of Alexion and Gracell Biotechnologies Inc. have expanded AstraZeneca's capabilities in rare blood disorders and autologous cell therapies, respectively.

In oncology, AstraZeneca is committed to transforming cancer care with a diverse portfolio and pipeline aimed at the most challenging cancers. The company's vision includes redefining cancer treatment and ultimately eliminating cancer as a cause of death.

AstraZeneca, headquartered in Cambridge, UK, operates in over 125 countries, providing innovative medicines to millions of patients worldwide.