TLDR
- AstraZeneca is discontinuing its Phase III eVOLVE-Lung02 trial testing volrustomig plus chemotherapy in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer patients
- An independent data monitoring committee found the combination was unlikely to meet its primary endpoints in PD-L1 negative patients
- The trial enrolled 895 patients across 25 countries before being halted
- This adds to a string of pipeline setbacks this year, including the Wainua heart disease trial failure
- AstraZeneca is standing by its $80 billion annual revenue target for 2030, with other volrustomig trials continuing
AstraZeneca has discontinued its late-stage eVOLVE-Lung02 trial, which was testing the drug volrustomig combined with chemotherapy in patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
🚨 ASTRAZENECA $AZN ENDS PHASE III LUNG CANCER TRIAL — BUT SHARES RISE ~1.9%
AstraZeneca is discontinuing its eVolve-Lung02 Phase III trial of volrustomig + chemotherapy in metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer.
🔹 Independent monitors concluded the treatment was unlikely to… pic.twitter.com/VyAaNtmhsb
— Emmanuel – Big Tech & AI Investor (@EmmanuelInvest) August 17, 2026
The decision came after an independent data monitoring committee (IDMC) concluded the combination was unlikely to hit its two primary goals: extending progression-free survival and overall survival in patients whose tumors lacked the PD-L1 protein.
AZN stock was up around 0.98% on the day, with analysts noting a modest rebound after a rough few weeks for the drugmaker.
The trial was a global Phase III study that had enrolled 895 patients across 25 countries, making it one of the company’s larger late-stage bets in oncology.
AstraZeneca said no new safety concerns were identified. The safety profile of the combination was in line with what was already known about the individual drugs.
A Pipeline Under Pressure
This is not a one-off. AstraZeneca has faced a run of trial setbacks in 2026 that has rattled investors and raised questions about the depth of its pipeline.
Earlier this year, AstraZeneca and partner Ionis Pharmaceuticals revealed that Wainua failed a pivotal Phase 3 study for a progressive and fatal heart condition. The CARDIO-TTRansform trial showed the drug failed to beat a placebo in reducing cardiovascular deaths.
The company also faced a US rejection of breast cancer drug camizestrant on trial design grounds, and a late-stage failure for rare disease drug Ultomiris.
Each setback on its own is a normal part of drug development. Together, they have piled pressure on the company to deliver wins.
Positive News on Other Fronts
Not everything went wrong this week. AstraZeneca also reported positive data from two other late-stage lung cancer trials.
Its Tagrisso-Orpathys combination and Enhertu, developed with partner Daiichi Sankyo, both met key goals in their respective studies.
Other Phase III trials of volrustomig remain on track, including studies in cervical cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, and mesothelioma.
Volrustomig is a dual checkpoint inhibitor bispecific antibody designed to target two immune pathways, PD-1 and CTLA-4, to help the immune system attack tumors.
AstraZeneca beat second-quarter profit expectations earlier in the year on strong demand for its cancer and rare disease therapies.
The company is counting on up to 20 new drug launches to reach its $80 billion revenue target by 2030, and has not walked back that forecast despite the recent setbacks.
“While we are disappointed, we will learn from this trial and are determined to continue pioneering new medicines from our industry-leading pipeline,” said Susan Galbraith, AstraZeneca’s executive vice president of oncology hematology R&D.
Axel Rudolph, Chief Technical Analyst at IG, noted the stock has shown signs of recovery, but added that AstraZeneca needs positive clinical results to build a more sustained rebound.
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