AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi Plus BCG Induction and Maintenance Therapy Significantly Improves Disease-Free Survival in High-Risk Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

(IN BRIEF) The POTOMAC Phase III trial results show that adding Imfinzi to standard BCG induction and maintenance therapy improves disease-free survival (DFS) for patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC). The combination demonstrated significant benefits over BCG alone, with no new safety concerns. This advancement could provide new treatment options for patients suffering from this high-risk form of bladder cancer.

(PRESS RELEASE) CAMBRIDGE, 9-May-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Positive results from the POTOMAC Phase III trial have shown that one year of treatment with AstraZeneca’s Imfinzi (durvalumab), combined with the standard-of-care Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) induction and maintenance therapy, significantly improves disease-free survival (DFS) for patients with high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) compared to BCG alone. The trial demonstrated a clinically meaningful and statistically significant reduction in disease recurrence or progression, offering new hope for patients with this challenging cancer type.

The trial was not designed to test overall survival (OS) statistically, but a descriptive analysis revealed no negative impact on overall survival with the addition of Imfinzi. NMIBC is diagnosed in over 70% of bladder cancer patients and refers to cancers that are confined to the bladder lining but have not yet invaded the muscle wall. Among these patients, about half are at high risk for disease recurrence or progression, based on tumour characteristics such as grade and stage.

Dr. Maria De Santis, Head of the Interdisciplinary Uro-Oncology Section at Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany, and principal investigator of the trial, commented: “These results are exciting because they show that adding one year of durvalumab to the current treatment significantly extends the time patients live without high-risk disease recurrence or progression. Unfortunately, 80% of patients with NMIBC will see their disease return, and almost half may need life-altering surgery to remove the bladder. This highlights the urgent need for improved treatments.”

Cristian Massacesi, Chief Medical Officer and Oncology Chief Development Officer at AstraZeneca, added: “The positive results for Imfinzi in the POTOMAC trial mark a major step forward for patients with early-stage bladder cancer. This could enable more patients to benefit from this immunotherapy. Coupled with the NIAGARA data, this trial reinforces our strategy of developing novel therapies for early-stage disease where long-term benefits can be achieved.”

The safety and tolerability profile of Imfinzi combined with BCG induction and maintenance therapy remained consistent with the known safety profiles of the individual drugs, with no new safety concerns identified. The addition of Imfinzi did not hinder patients’ ability to complete BCG therapy.

The second experimental arm of the trial, which evaluated Imfinzi plus BCG induction-only therapy compared to BCG induction and maintenance therapy alone, did not meet the DFS endpoint.

The results will be presented at an upcoming medical meeting and shared with global regulatory authorities. Imfinzi is currently approved in the US and other countries for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) based on results from the NIAGARA Phase III trial and is being further explored in various bladder cancer treatment combinations, including in patients who cannot or refuse cisplatin treatment (VOLGA) and those with locally advanced or metastatic disease (NILE).

Notes

Bladder cancer
Bladder cancer is the 9th most common cancer in the world, with more than 614,000 cases diagnosed each year.4 The most common type is urothelial carcinoma, which begins in the urothelial cells of the urinary tract.2

In 2024, an estimated 125,000 patients were treated for high-risk NMIBC, for which the current standard of care is transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) followed by administration of BCG directly into the bladder.5-6 Up to 80% of patients experience disease recurrence within five years, and rates of progression in high-risk patients can be as high as 45%.2 There is a critical need for treatment options in this curative-intent setting.

POTOMAC
POTOMAC is a randomised, open-label, multi-centre, global Phase III trial evaluating Imfinzi in combination with BCG therapy as a treatment for 1,018 patients with high-risk, BCG-naïve NMIBC who have undergone TURBT prior to randomisation. Patients were randomised 1:1:1 to receive Imfinzi plus BCG induction and maintenance therapy, or Imfinzi plus BCG induction-only therapy, versus standard-of-care BCG induction and maintenance therapy.

The trial was conducted in more than 120 centres across 12 countries including Canada and others across Europe and Asia. The primary endpoint was DFS, defined as time from randomisation to date of first recurrence of high-risk disease or death from any cause, for Imfinzi plus BCG induction and maintenance therapy compared to BCG induction and maintenance therapy alone. Secondary endpoints included DFS for Imfinzi plus BCG induction only therapy versus the comparator arm, as well as OS at five years and safety across both experimental arms of the trial.

Imfinzi
Imfinzi (durvalumab) is a human monoclonal antibody that binds to the PD-L1 protein and blocks the interaction of PD-L1 with the PD-1 and CD80 proteins, countering the tumour’s immune-evading tactics and releasing the inhibition of immune responses.

In addition to its indication in MIBC, Imfinzi is the global standard of care based on OS in the curative-intent setting of unresectable, Stage III non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients whose disease has not progressed after chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Additionally, Imfinzi is approved as a perioperative treatment in combination with neoadjuvant chemotherapy in resectable NSCLC, and in combination with a short course of Imjudo (tremelimumab) and chemotherapy for the treatment of metastatic NSCLC. Imfinzi is also approved for limited-stage small cell lung cancer (SCLC) in patients whose disease has not progressed following concurrent platinum-based CRT; and in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of extensive-stage SCLC.

Imfinzi is also approved in combination with chemotherapy in locally advanced or metastatic biliary tract cancer and in combination with Imjudo in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Imfinzi is also approved as a monotherapy in unresectable HCC in Japan and the European Union (EU).

In March 2025, perioperative Imfinzi added to standard-of-care chemotherapy met the primary endpoint of event-free survival in the MATTERHORN Phase III trial in resectable gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancers.

Imfinzi in combination with chemotherapy followed by Imfinzi monotherapy is approved as a 1st-line treatment for primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer (mismatch repair deficient disease only in US and EU). Imfinzi in combination with chemotherapy followed by Lynparza (olaparib) and Imfinzi is approved for patients with mismatch repair proficient advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer in EU and Japan.

Since the first approval in May 2017, more than 374,000 patients have been treated with Imfinzi. As part of a broad development programme, Imfinzi is being tested as a single treatment and in combinations with other anti-cancer treatments for patients with NSCLC, bladder cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and several gastrointestinal cancers.

AstraZeneca in immuno-oncology (IO)
AstraZeneca is a pioneer in introducing the concept of immunotherapy into dedicated clinical areas of high unmet medical need. The Company has a comprehensive and diverse IO portfolio and pipeline anchored in immunotherapies designed to overcome evasion of the anti-tumour immune response and stimulate the body’s immune system to attack tumours.

AstraZeneca strives to redefine cancer care and help transform outcomes for patients with Imfinzi as a monotherapy and in combination with Imjudo as well as other novel immunotherapies and modalities. The Company is also investigating next-generation immunotherapies like bispecific antibodies and therapeutics that harness different aspects of immunity to target cancer, including cell therapy and T-cell engagers.

AstraZeneca is pursuing an innovative clinical strategy to bring IO-based therapies that deliver long-term survival to new settings across a wide range of cancer types. The Company is focused on exploring novel combination approaches to help prevent treatment resistance and drive longer immune responses. With an extensive clinical programme, the Company also champions the use of IO treatment in earlier disease stages, where there is the greatest potential for cure.

AstraZeneca in oncology
AstraZeneca is leading a revolution in oncology with the ambition to provide cures for cancer in every form, following the science to understand cancer and all its complexities to discover, develop and deliver life-changing medicines to patients.

The Company’s focus is on some of the most challenging cancers. It is through persistent innovation that AstraZeneca has built one of the most diverse portfolios and pipelines in the industry, with the potential to catalyse changes in the practice of medicine and transform the patient experience.

AstraZeneca has the vision to redefine cancer care and, one day, eliminate cancer as a cause of death.

AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca (LSE/STO/Nasdaq: AZN) is a global, science-led biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development, and commercialisation of prescription medicines in Oncology, Rare Diseases, and BioPharmaceuticals, including Cardiovascular, Renal & Metabolism, and Respiratory & Immunology. Based in Cambridge, UK, AstraZeneca’s innovative medicines are sold in more than 125 countries and used by millions of patients worldwide. Please visit astrazeneca.com and follow the Company on social media @AstraZeneca.

References

Fuge O, et al. Immunotherapy for bladder cancer. Res Rep Urol. 2015;7:65-79.
American Cancer Society. What Is Bladder Cancer? Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/bladder-cancer/about/what-is-bladder-cancer.html. Accessed May 2025.
Porten SP, Cooperberg MR. High-risk nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer: definition and epidemiology. Curr Opin Urol. 2012;22:385-389.
World Health Organization. International Agency for Research on Cancer. Bladder Fact Sheet. Available at: https://gco.iarc.who.int/media/globocan/factsheets/cancers/30-bladder-fact-sheet.pdf. Accessed May 2025.
AstraZeneca PLC. Investor Relations Epidemiology Spreadsheet. Available at: https://www.astrazeneca.com/investor-relations.html. Accessed May 2025.
Gontero P, et al. EAU Guidelines on Non-muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer (TaT1 and CIS). 2025. Edn. presented at the EAU Annual Congress Madrid 2025. ISBN 978-94-92671-29-5.

Matthew Bowden
Company Secretary
AstraZeneca PLC

Media Contact:

Tel: +44 (0)1223 344 800
email: global-mediateam@astrazeneca.com

SOURCE: AstraZeneca

MORE ON ASTRAZENECA, ETC.: