AstraZeneca (AZN) said Wednesday Enhertu followed by paclitaxel, trastuzumab and pertuzumab or THP improved the pathologic complete response rate compared with standard of care in a phase 3 breast cancer study.

Pathologic complete response, or the absence of invasive cancer cells in the removed breast tissue and lymph nodes after treatment, is the primary endpoint of the study, the company said.

Achieving that response in early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer is linked to enhanced long-term outcomes, the company added.

The secondary endpoint of event-free survival wasn't mature at the time of analysis, but data showed an early positive trend for Enhertu followed by THP as well, the company said.

The company and Daiichi Sankyo agreed to jointly develop and commercialize Enhertu in 2019, AstraZeneca said.

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