Roche’s Tecentriq falls short as an adjuvant monotherapy in muscle-invasive urothelial cancer

pharmafile | January 24, 2020 | News story | Medical Communications, Sales and Marketing Cancer, Roche, pharma, tecentriq, trial failure 

Roche has released an update on the development of its immunology Tecentriq (atezolizumab), making it known that the drug failed to meet its primary endpoint as a monotherapy after surgery for the treatment of muscle-invasive urothelial cancer (MIUC).

The company confirmed that the therapy did not prove sufficient benefit in improving disease-free survival at Phase 3, falling short of its efficacy goal. The drug’s safety profile, however, was found to be positive and consistent with previous data.

In around half of cases, MIUC recurs within two years of surgery, creating a necessity for more adjuvant treatments for the disease. Early treatment can reduce the spread or recurrence of the disease.

“Reducing the risk that muscle-invasive urothelial cancer will recur after surgery is very difficult, and we are disappointed that we were not able to significantly prolong disease-free survival,” commented Dr Levi Garraway, Chief Medical Officer and Head of Global Product Development. “We remain committed to exploring the potential benefits of immunotherapy for more people with early cancers.”

Despite the failure, Tecentriq is still being investigated in range of Phase 3 studies for lung, skin, breast, head and neck, gastrointestinal, gynaecological and genitourinary cancers.

Matt Fellows

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