AstraZeneca AZN and its Japan-based partner Daiichi Sankyo announced that the FDA has approved their blockbuster antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), Datroway (datopotamab deruxtecan), for expanded use in breast cancer.
The regulatory body has now approved Datroway for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) who are not eligible for PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor therapy.
Per management, Datroway has the potential to become the new standard of care in this setting.
AZN already markets Datroway globally for the treatment of adult patients with unresectable or metastatic HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer following prior endocrine therapy and chemotherapy.
AZN’s Price Performance
Year to date, shares of AstraZeneca have risen 1.8% against the industry’s decline of 0.3%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The latest FDA nod was based on data from the phase III TROPION-Breast02 study, which demonstrated statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements in overall survival and reduced the risk of disease progression or death versus chemotherapy when used as first-line treatment in the given patient population.
Treatment with Datroway also led to a higher objective response rate and duration of response than chemotherapy.
Based on data from the TROPION-Breast02 study, Datroway has been added to the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) as a Category 1 preferred first-line treatment option for patients with metastatic TNBC who are not eligible for immunotherapy.
More on AZN/Daiichi’s Datroway Development Program
Besides breast cancer, Datroway is also approved in the United States under accelerated approval for adults with locally advanced or metastatic EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer who have progressed after EGFR-directed therapy and platinum-based chemotherapy.
Continued approval for this indication in the United States may depend on confirmation and further demonstration of clinical benefit in a confirmatory study.
Datroway, both as monotherapy and in combination with other cancer treatments, is being evaluated in several late-stage studies globally across multiple cancers, including lung, breast and urothelial cancer.
AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo have been jointly developing and commercializing Datroway under their global collaboration since 2020, with Daiichi Sankyo responsible for manufacturing and supply. Daiichi also maintains exclusive rights for Datroway in Japan.
AZN Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
AstraZeneca currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some better-ranked stocks in the biotech sector are Immunocore IMCR, Design Therapeutics DSGN and Jasper Therapeutics JSPR, each currently carrying a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Over the past 60 days, 2026 loss per share estimates for Immunocore have narrowed from 97 cents to 16 cents, while estimates for 2027 have moved from a loss of 39 cents to earnings of 11 cents. IMCR stock has lost 16.9% year to date.
Immunocore’s earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters, while missing the same on the remaining occasion, with the average surprise being 46.66%.
Over the past 60 days, 2026 loss per share estimates for Design Therapeutics have narrowed from $1.46 to $1.36, while the same for 2027 have narrowed from $1.77 to $1.70. DSGN stock has rallied 16.9% year to date.
Design Therapeutics’ earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters, while missing the same on the remaining occasion, with the average surprise being 13.48%.
Over the past 60 days, 2026 loss per share estimates for Jasper Therapeutics have narrowed from $3.25 to $1.64, while the same for 2027 have narrowed from $2.19 to $1.09. JSPR stock has plunged 50.6% year to date.
Jasper Therapeutics’ earnings beat estimates in two of the trailing four quarters, while missing the same on the remaining two occasions, with the average surprise being 5.00%.
Zacks' Research Chief Names "Stock Most Likely to Double"
Our team of experts has just released the 5 stocks with the greatest probability of gaining +100% or more in the coming months. Of those 5, Director of Research Sheraz Mian highlights the one stock set to climb highest.
This top pick is a little-known satellite-based communications firm. Space is projected to become a trillion dollar industry, and this company's customer base is growing fast. Analysts have forecasted a major revenue breakout in 2025. Of course, all our elite picks aren't winners but this one could far surpass earlier Zacks' Stocks Set to Double like Hims & Hers Health, which shot up +209%.
Free: See Our Top Stock And 4 Runners UpWant the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
AstraZeneca PLC (AZN): Free Stock Analysis Report
Immunocore Holdings PLC Sponsored ADR (IMCR): Free Stock Analysis Report
Design Therapeutics, Inc. (DSGN): Free Stock Analysis Report
Jasper Therapeutics, Inc. (JSPR): Free Stock Analysis Report
This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).