Roche’s Tecentriq-chemo combo extends survival in phase 3 NSCLC trial

The late-stage trial, dubbed IMpower130, assessed the efficacy and safety of Tecentriq in combination with carboplatin and nab-paclitaxel versus chemotherapy (carboplatin and nab-paclitaxel) alone for chemotherapy-naïve patients with stage IV non-squamous NSCLC.

It met its co-primary endpoints of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

IMpower130 enrolled 724 people who were equally randomized to receive either of the treatments.

The Tecentriq combination was also shown to have succeeded in cutting down the risk of disease worsening or death, in comparison to chemotherapy alone.

Safety for the Tecentriq and chemotherapy combination was in line with the previous safety profile of the individual drugs with no new safety signals identified with the combination, said Roche.

Roche chief medical officer and global product development head Sandra Horning said: “The results of the IMpower130 study add to the growing evidence showing the clinical benefit of Tecentriq-based combinations in the treatment of advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer.

“We will share these results with global health authorities with the goal of bringing this potential treatment option to people with this disease.”

Earlier, this month, Tecentriq in combination with chemotherapy [Avastin (bevacizumab), paclitaxel and carboplatin] was granted priority review by the US Food and Drug Administration for the first-line treatment of NSCLC.

Tecentriq is a monoclonal antibody, which by binding with the PD-L1 protein expressed on tumour cells and tumour-infiltrating immune cells, blocks the latter’s interactions with both PD-1 and B7.1 receptors.

By blocking PD-L1, Tecentriq may lead to the activation of T cells, as per Roche.

Tecentriq is currently being evaluated as a single treatment and in combination with other drugs across eight phase 3 lung cancer trials. IMpower130 marks the third positive phase 3 trial for Tecentriq either as a single treatment or in combination, in which OS benefit has been shown for people with NSCLC.

Image: Site Roche Basel. Photo: courtesy of F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.