ASCO 2025: Dr. Alexi Archambault Discusses the First-Line Combination of Cemiplimab and Chemotherapy for NSCLC

Alexi Archambault, PhD, MPH, associate director of pharmacoepidemiology at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc, joined Lung Cancers Today at the 2025 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting to share research insights from her study on the safety and effectiveness of cemiplimab plus platinum-doublet chemotherapy by demographic characteristics for the first-line treatment of advanced non–small cell lung cancer (aNSCLC).

Dr. Archambault explained that the study built on the findings from the EMPOWER-Lung 3 trial, which she described as “a pivotal study in aNSCLC.” Dr. Archambault also stated that the goal was to further evaluate the findings of EMPOWER-Lung 3 and “evaluate their applicability to a broad range of patients, including underrepresented populations in clinical trials,” as well as to examine real-world use of cemiplimab plus platinum-doublet chemotherapy.

“The observational study used data from two large oncology electronic health record (EHR)–based databases in the US, Flatiron Health and ConcertAI,” she explained. “We identified adult patients with aNSCLC, without EGFR, ALK, and ROS1 aberrations, who initiated first-line treatment with [cemiplimab] plus platinum-doublet chemotherapy.”

Dr. Archambault explained that the trial will assess real-world safety end points, such as the incidence and severity of immune-mediated adverse events and infusion-related reactions. The study will also evaluate the real-world effectiveness end points of response rate, duration of response, progression-free survival, and overall survival. The target sample size is approximately 400 patients.

“The results will allow us to understand how this treatment is being utilized in routine clinical practice and to gather data on its safety and effectiveness in patient populations within the US,” she explained. “By using real-world data, we can complement the clinical trial results and provide a comprehensive picture of the treatment’s impact.”

Dr. Archambault noted that while the study is currently ongoing, the goal is to provide healthcare professionals with information critical to making informed treatment decisions for patients with aNSCLC, “including underrepresented populations, such as elderly patients, women, and those who identify with racial and ethnic minority groups.”

“We’re continuing to enroll patients in the study and look forward to sharing future updates on study design, the enrollment process, and patient demographics, as well as the resulting data at a later date,” she concluded.