AstraZeneca Head and Neck Cancer Trials

27 October 2016 16:50 ASTRAZENECA HEAD AND NECK CANCER TRIALS Following the recent update on clinicaltrials.gov, AstraZeneca confirms that the US FDA has placed a partial clinical hold on the enrolment of new patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in clinical trials of durvalumab as monotherapy and in combination with tremelimumab or other potential medicines. All trials are continuing with existing patients. The partial clinical hold on new patient enrolment relates only to head and neck cancer. Trials for durvalumab in different cancer types, as monotherapy or in combination with tremelimumab or other potential medicines, are progressing as planned, with pivotal data in lung cancer anticipated in the first half of 2017. The FDA's decision follows voluntary action by AstraZeneca to pause enrolment of new HNSCC patients while a detailed analysis is conducted of adverse events related to bleeding that were observed as part of routine safety monitoring of the Phase III KESTREL and EAGLE trials. Bleeding is a known complication in treatments of head and neck cancers primarily due to the nature of the underlying disease, the proximity of tumours to major blood vessels and use of prior cancer therapies, which may involve surgery and radiation. AstraZeneca has submitted its analysis of the observed bleeding events to the FDA for review and is working closely with the Agency, providing the required information to resume new patient enrolment as soon as possible. About AstraZeneca AstraZeneca is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines, primarily for the treatment of diseases in three main therapy areas - Oncology, Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases and Respiratory. The Company also is selectively active in the areas of autoimmunity, neuroscience and infection. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information, please visit www.astrazeneca.com and follow us on Twitter @AstraZeneca. Media Enquiries Esra Erkal-Paler UK/Global +44 203 749 5638 Neil Burrows UK/Global +44 203 749 5637 Vanessa Rhodes UK/Global +44 203 749 5736 Karen Birmingham UK/Global +44 203 749 5634 Rob Skelding UK/Global +44 203 749 5821 Jacob Lund Sweden +46 8 553 260 20 Michele Meixell US +1 302 885 2677 Investor Relations Thomas Kudsk Larsen +44 203 749 5712 Craig Marks Finance, Fixed Income, M&A +44 7881 615 764 Henry Wheeler Oncology +44 203 749 5797 Mitchell Chan Oncology +1 240 477 3771 Lindsey Trickett Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases +1 240 543 7970 Nick Stone Respiratory +44 203 749 5716 Christer Gruvris Autoimmunity, neuroscience & infection +44 203 749 5711 US toll free +1 866 381 7277 Adrian Kemp Company Secretary, AstraZeneca PLC