Genentech releases lung cancer drug Phase II results

MetMAb, a monovalent (one-armed), monoclonal antibody is designed to block Met signaling in cancer cells by binding specifically to the cell surface Met receptor, blocking HGF-mediated activation.

MetMAb Phase II study (OAM4558g) is a randomized, double-blind Phase II study comparing MetMAb plus Tarceva to placebo plus Tarceva in people with previously treated advanced NSCLC.

Tarceva is approved for patients with advanced NSCLC whose cancer has not spread or grown after initial treatment with certain types of chemotherapy (maintenance treatment).

The study showed that people whose tumors had high levels of Met, as determined by a companion diagnostic, lived twice as long without their disease getting worse (progression-free survival or PFS) when they received MetMAb plus Tarceva (erlotinib) compared to Tarceva alone.

The primary endpoint of the study was PFS in the high Met and overall populations.

Additional endpoints included overall survival (OS) and the safety profile.

Genentech Global Product Development chief medical officer and head Hal Barron said the design of MetMAb and the development of a companion diagnostic test allows them to target a specific pathway that may be driving cancer growth.

"These results support further investigation of MetMAb as a potential personalized medicine for people with lung cancer and we plan to start a Phase III study later this year," Barron said.

California-based Genentech is a member of Roche Group.