British–Swedish AstraZeneca's Tagrisso product provides a significant benefit in the treatment of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) T790M mutation-positive metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, according to a phase three clinical trial, it was reported on Wednesday.

Results from the first randomised Phase III data indicated that the product decreased the risk of lung cancer progression by 70% compared to chemotherapy and improved progression-free survival by about six months.

In a pre-specified exploratory subgroup analysis in patients with central nervous system metastases, PFS in the Tagrisso group was 8.5 months compared with 4.2 with platinum-pemetrexed chemo in 34% of patients. The safety profile of Tagrisso was similar to earlier studies.