Roche announces latest positive data from TECENTRIQ studies

Roche announced on Monday that the Phase III IMpower133 study met its co-primary endpoints of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) at its first interim analysis.

The Swiss drugmaking giant said the study demonstrated that initial first-line treatment with the combination of ‘TECENTRIQ’ (atezolizumab) plus chemotherapy (carboplatin and etoposide) helped people with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC) live “significantly longer” compared to chemotherapy alone.

It said the TECENTRIQ-based combination also reduced the risk of disease worsening or death compared to chemotherapy alone.

Safety for the TECENTRIQ and chemotherapy combination reportedly appeared consistent with the known safety profile of the individual medicines, and no new safety signals were identified with the combination.

Roche said the data would be presented at an upcoming medical meeting.

“These are the first positive Phase III survival results for any immunotherapy-based combination in the initial treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, a particularly difficult-to-treat type of disease," said Roche chief medical officer and head of global product development Sandra Horning.

“The clinically meaningful results from the IMpower133 study add to the growing body of evidence demonstrating that TECENTRIQ-based combinations may be an effective treatment for different types of advanced lung cancer.

“We look forward to working with health authorities globally to bring this potential treatment option to people with this type of disease as soon as possible.”

Roche said it was the fourth positive Phase III lung cancer study evaluating a TECENTRIQ-based combination to read out this year, and the fifth positive study overall.

Currently, Roche had eight Phase III lung cancer studies underway evaluating TECENTRIQ alone or in combination with other medicines across different types of lung cancer.