Jazz Pharmaceuticals is strategically focusing on expanding its oncology pipeline, with significant developments anticipated for zanidatamab and Zepzelca, according to Bruce Cozadd, the retiring CEO, at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference 2025. The company's oncology products accounted for over half of its revenue in 2024, marking a substantial increase from 26% in 2018.
Zepzelca (lurbinectedin) for Small Cell Lung Cancer
Zepzelca (lurbinectedin) has rapidly become a preferred second-line treatment for small cell lung cancer (SCLC), generating over $1.1 billion in revenue since its launch in 2020. Following positive Phase III results from the IMforte trial (NCT05091567), Jazz Pharmaceuticals intends to submit a supplementary new drug application (sNDA) to the FDA in the first half of 2025. This sNDA seeks approval for Zepzelca as a frontline treatment for extended-stage SCLC (ES-SCLC).
"Approval by the FDA would give us the opportunity to address more patients – more patients are treated in the frontline – as well as a longer duration of therapy," said Cozadd, emphasizing the potential impact on the 30,000 frontline SCLC patients in the US.
Zanidatamab's Potential in Gastroesophageal Cancers and HER2+ Tumors
Jazz Pharmaceuticals anticipates peak sales for zanidatamab to potentially exceed $2 billion. Topline data, including progression-free survival (PFS) results, from a pivotal Phase III trial (NCT05152147) evaluating zanidatamab as a first-line therapy for gastroesophageal adenocarcinomas (GEA) are expected in Q2 2025.
Zanidatamab is already approved as a second-line treatment for biliary tract cancer (BTC) and is under investigation as a first-line therapy for HER2+ BTC. Clinical trials are also underway to assess zanidatamab's efficacy in HER2+ breast cancer and HER2+ pan-tumors. "Our goal is to make zanidatamab the HER2-targeted therapy of choice," Cozadd stated.
Financial Growth and Strategic Shift
Jazz Pharmaceuticals is celebrating its 20th year of consecutive revenue growth. While historically, Xyrem (sodium oxybate) drove much of the company's revenue, its share has decreased from 74% in 2018 to 11% in 2024. This shift reflects the increasing contribution of Jazz's oncology therapies, which now constitute over half of the company's revenue, projected to be between $4 billion and $4.1 billion in 2024.
