AstraZeneca's triplet combo (Imfinzi/Imjudo/lenvatinib) plus TACE helps a subset of liver cancer patients avoid progression

AstraZeneca's triplet combination of Imfinzi (durvalumab), Imjudo (tremelimumab) and lenvatinib, plus TACE chemoembolisation, has significantly reduced the risk of disease progression in embolisation‑eligible patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the Phase III EMERALD‑3 trial.

The triplet regimen lowered the risk of disease progression or death by about 30% versus TACE alone; median progression‑free survival (PFS) with the triplet was around 13 months versus about 9.8 months with TACE alone, and an interim trend showed improved overall survival (OS) with 39.5 months versus 34.7 months.

The STRIDE dual‑immunotherapy backbone (single priming dose of tremelimumab plus durvalumab) was also tested with TACE alone (no lenvatinib) and showed a strong, non‑formal signal of benefit, with median PFS of 12.9 months versus 8.1 months for TACE alone, and a hazard ratio near 0.7, suggesting a similar magnitude of benefit in selected patients.

Safety profiles were consistent with each medicine’s known profiles and no new safety signals emerged, although the lenvatinib‑containing triplet did add some expected multi‑kinase‑inhibitor‑class toxicities.