
NICE approves AstraZeneca’s dual immunotherapy for advanced liver cancer
Ella Day | July 30, 2025 | News story | Medical Communications, Research and Development | AstraZeneca, NHS, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Oncology, dual immunotherapy, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver cancer
AstraZeneca has received a positive recommendation from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for its dual immunotherapy combination of Imfinzi (durvalumab) and Imjudo (tremelimumab) as a first-line treatment for adults with advanced or unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
The approval follows data from AstraZeneca’s HIMALAYA phase 3 trial, which evaluated the STRIDE regimen (single tremelimumab regular interval durvalumab). The combination demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in overall survival compared to sorafenib, the conventional standard of care. Median survival reached 16.4 months with STRIDE versus 13.8 months with sorafenib, with three-year survival rates of 31% and 20% respectively.
This marks the first time a dual immunotherapy has been approved by NICE for liver cancer, providing a new treatment option for patients with a historically poor prognosis. HCC is the most common form of liver cancer, accounting for around 75% of primary liver cancer cases in the UK. It is also the fastest-rising cancer by incidence among the 20 most common cancers, with 70% of patients diagnosed at an advanced stage.
“This is a positive step forward for people with advanced liver cancer,” said Tom Keith Roach, president at AstraZeneca. “The STRIDE regimen offers a meaningful improvement in long-term survival, addressing one of the most pressing unmet needs in oncology.”
The NICE recommendation enables NHS access to the regimen across England and Wales.
Ella Day
30/7/25
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