AstraZeneca’s drug Imfinzi (durvalumab) has been approved for use in England and Wales to treat adults with a specific type of lung cancer called limited-stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC). This treatment is for patients whose cancer hasn’t worsened after initial chemotherapy and radiation treatment. This is the first major advancement in treating this type of cancer in over 30 years, offering new hope to around 1,200 patients diagnosed each year in the UK. The approval comes after positive results from a major clinical trial called ADRIATIC. Patients who received durvalumab lived about 22.5 months longer on average compared to those who received a placebo. After three years, 56.5% of patients treated with durvalumab were still alive, compared to 48% of those who received the placebo. The study also found a 27% lower risk of death for patients taking durvalumab, regardless of their chemotherapy regimen or other treatments. LS-SCLC is a rare and aggressive form of lung cancer. While initial treatments often work well, the cancer often comes back quickly, and survival rates remain low—only 15–30% of patients survive five years after diagnosis. Dr. Kevin Franks, a lung cancer specialist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, said, ‘The approval of durvalumab is a major step forward for treating this difficult disease. Patients with this type of lung cancer have had very few treatment options, and outcomes have often been poor despite aggressive therapy. The ADRIATIC trial shows that adding immunotherapy can significantly extend survival.’ Tom Keith Roach, President of AstraZeneca UK, added, ‘This approval expands the use of Imfinzi for small cell lung cancer and shows our commitment to improving outcomes for people facing one of the most challenging cancers.’