Genentech’s combination therapy improves outcome in patients with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), today announced positive results from the Phase III IMpower130 study of Tecentriq^® (atezolizumab) plus chemotherapy (carboplatin and Abraxane^® [albumin-bound paclitaxel; nab-paclitaxel]) for the initial (first-line) treatment of people with previously untreated metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The analysis showed that Tecentriq plus chemotherapy helped people live significantly longer compared to chemotherapy alone (median overall survival [OS] = 18.6 versus 13.9 months; hazard ratio [HR] = 0.79; 95 percent CI: 0.64-0.98; p=0.033) in the intention-to-treat wild-type (ITT-WT) population. The Tecentriq-based combination also significantly reduced the risk of disease worsening or death (progression-free survival; PFS) compared to chemotherapy alone (median PFS=7.0 versus 5.5 months; HR=0.64; 95 percent CI: 0.54-0.77; p<0.0001) in the ITT-WT population. Safety for the Tecentriq plus chemotherapy combination appeared consistent with the known safety profile of the individual medicines, and no new safety signals were identified with the combination.

"Initial treatment with this Tecentriq-based combination provided a significant survival benefit for people with non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer, the most common form of lung cancer," said Sandra Horning, M.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. "Lung cancer is a complex disease and this combination could offer a new potential treatment option. We will work with global health authorities to bring this regimen to people living with this disease as soon as possible."

The data will be presented at the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) 2018 Congress on October 22, 2018 from 9:15 - 9:30 a.m. CEST (Abstract LBA53; Hall A1 - Room 17).