Imfinzi plus BCG reduced recurrence/death by 32% in high-risk bladder cancer patients, unlike Tecentriq, which increased side effects without benefit.

A phase 3 trial presented at the 2025 ESMO Congress found that adding Imfinzi (durvalumab) to both induction and maintenance Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) therapy significantly improved disease-free survival in high-risk, BCG-naïve non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer patients, reducing recurrence or death risk by 32% compared to BCG alone. The benefit was not seen when Imfinzi was used only during induction. The combination was well-tolerated with manageable side effects, including dysuria and hematuria, and did not worsen quality of life. In contrast, adding Tecentriq (atezolizumab) to BCG did not improve outcomes in a similar group and led to more frequent and severe adverse events, including higher rates of treatment discontinuation. These findings suggest Imfinzi plus BCG may be a promising new treatment option, while Tecentriq’s addition did not provide benefit and increased toxicity.