Multinational phase 3 trial of adding serplulimab to first-line chemotherapy for extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer

Addition of PD-L1 inhibitors to first-line chemotherapy for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) was associated with improved outcomes. The multinational phase 3 ASTRUM-005 trial evaluated addition of the PD-1 inhibitor serplulimab versus placebo to first-line chemotherapy for ES-SCLC. Interim analysis of the study found that the median overall survival was significantly longer in the serplulimab group than in the placebo group (15.4 months versus 10.9 months; HR 0.63; p<0.001). The median progression-free survival also was longer with serplulimab than with placebo (5.7 versus 4.3 months; HR 0.48; 95% CI 0.38-0.59). Grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events occurred in 33.2% versus 27.6%. The authors conclude that these results support the use of serplulimab plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment for ES-SCLC (visual abstract).