FDA Approves Genentech’s Tecentriq in Combination With Chemotherapy for the Initial Treatment of Adults With Extensive-Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer
South San Francisco, CA -- March 18, 2019 -- Genentech, a member of the Roche Group (SIX: RO, ROG; OTCQX: RHHBY), today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Tecentriq (atezolizumab), in combination with carboplatin and etoposide (chemotherapy), for the initial (first-line) treatment of adults with extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). This approval is based on results from the Phase III IMpower133 study, which showed that Tecentriq in combination with chemotherapy helped people live significantly longer compared to chemotherapy alone (median overall survival [OS] = 12.3 versus 10.3 months; hazard ratio [HR] = 0.70, 95 percent CI: 0.54-0.91; p=0.0069) in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population. The Tecentriq-based combination also significantly reduced the risk of disease worsening or death (progression-free survival, PFS) compared to chemotherapy alone (PFS=5.2 versus 4.3 months; HR=0.77; 95 percent CI: 0.62-0.96; p=0.017). Safety for the Tecentriq and chemotherapy combination appeared consistent with the known safety profile of Tecentriq.
“Tecentriq is the first cancer immunotherapy approved for the initial treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer, which is especially difficult to treat,” said Sandra Horning, M.D., chief medical officer and head of Global Product Development. “Until now, there have been limited treatment advances for this disease, and we are excited to bring a potential new standard of care to patients that has been shown to improve survival compared to chemotherapy.”
“Extensive-stage small cell lung cancer is a highly aggressive form of lung cancer, which until now, has seen limited treatment advances over the last 20 years,” said Andrea Ferris, president and CEO of LUNGevity Foundation. “Today’s approval of Tecentriq is an important step forward in ensuring that people across the spectrum of lung cancer types have effective new therapies.”
Results from the Phase III IMpower133 study were simultaneously presented at the 2018 World Conference on Lung Cancer (WCLC) and published in The New England Journal of Medicine.
Tecentriq is also approved in combination with Avastin® (bevacizumab), paclitaxel and carboplatin (chemotherapy), for the initial (first-line) treatment of adults with metastatic non-squamous NSCLC with no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations. Additionally, Tecentriq is approved by the FDA to treat adults with metastatic NSCLC who have disease progression during or following platinum-containing chemotherapy. Patients with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations should have disease progression on FDA-approved therapy for NSCLC harboring these aberrations prior to receiving Tecentriq.
For those who qualify, Genentech offers patient assistance programs for people taking Tecentriq through Genentech Access Solutions. Doctors can contact Genentech Access Solutions at (866) 422-2377. More information is also available at http://www.Genentech-Access.com.
About the IMpower133 study
IMpower133 is a Phase III, multicenter, double-blinded, randomized placebo-controlled study evaluating the efficacy and safety of Tecentriq in combination with chemotherapy (carboplatin and etoposide) versus chemotherapy (carboplatin and etoposide) alone in chemotherapy-naïve adults with ES-SCLC. The study enrolled 403 people who were randomized equally (1:1) to receive:
- Tecentriq in combination with carboplatin and etoposide (Arm A), or
- Placebo in combination with carboplatin and etoposide (Arm B, control arm)
During the treatment-induction phase, people received treatment on 21-day cycles for four cycles, followed by maintenance with Tecentriq or placebo until progressive disease (PD) as assessed by the investigator using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST v1.1). Treatment could be continued until persistent radiographic PD or symptomatic deterioration was observed.
The co-primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS) as determined by the investigator using RECIST v1.1 and OS in the ITT population.
A summary of the ITT data from the IMpower133 study that support this approval is included below.
- Tecentriq in combination with chemotherapy helped people live significantly longer compared to chemotherapy alone (OS=12.3 versus 10.3 months; HR=0.70, 95 percent CI: 0.54-0.91; p=0.0069) in the ITT population.
- The Tecentriq-based combination also significantly reduced the risk of disease worsening or death compared to chemotherapy alone (PFS=5.2 versus 4.3 months; HR=0.77; 95 percent CI: 0.62-0.96; p=0.017).
- Safety for the Tecentriq and chemotherapy combination appeared consistent with the known safety profile of Tecentriq. Serious adverse reactions occurred in 37 percent of people receiving Tecentriq plus chemotherapy compared with 35 percent of people receiving chemotherapy alone. The most common adverse reactions (≥20 percent) in people receiving Tecentriq plus chemotherapy were feeling tired or weak (fatigue/asthenia; 39 percent), nausea (38 percent), hair loss (alopecia; 37 percent), decreased appetite (27 percent), constipation (26 percent) and vomiting (20 percent).
About Lung Cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, it is estimated that more than 228,000 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2019. Lung cancer can be broadly divided into two major types: non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). NSCLC is the most prevalent type, accounting for around 84 percent of all lung cancer cases, and SCLC accounting for approximately 13 percent of all cases. The majority (approximately 70 percent) of people with SCLC are diagnosed with ES-SCLC.
About Tecentriq (atezolizumab)
Tecentriq is a monoclonal antibody designed to bind with a protein called PD-L1. Tecentriq is designed to bind to PD-L1 expressed on tumor cells and tumor-infiltrating immune cells, blocking its interactions with both PD-1 and B7.1 receptors. By inhibiting PD-L1, Tecentriq may enable the re-activation of T cells. Tecentriq may also affect normal cells.
Tecentriq U.S. Indications
Tecentriq is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with:
A type of bladder and urinary tract cancer called urothelial carcinoma. Tecentriq may be used when your bladder cancer has spread or cannot be removed by surgery, and if you have any one of the following conditions:
- you are not able to take chemotherapy that contains a medicine called cisplatin, and your cancer tests positive for “PD-L1”, or
- you are not able to take chemotherapy that contains any platinum regardless of “PD-L1” status, or
- you have tried chemotherapy that contains platinum, and it did not work or is no longer working
The approval of Tecentriq in these patients is based on a study that measured response rate and duration of response. There is an ongoing study to confirm clinical benefit.
A type of lung cancer called non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
Tecentriq may be used with bevacizumab and the chemotherapy medicines carboplatin and paclitaxel as your first treatment when your lung cancer:
- has spread or grown, and
- is a type of lung cancer called “non-squamous NSCLC,” and
- your tumor does not have an abnormal “EGFR” or “ALK” gene
Tecentriq may be used when your lung cancer:
- has spread or grown, and
- you have tried chemotherapy that contains platinum, and it did not work or is no longer working, and
- if your tumor has an abnormal “EGFR” or “ALK” gene, you should have also tried an FDA-approved therapy for tumors with these abnormal genes, and it did not work or is no longer working.
A type of breast cancer called triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
Tecentriq may be used with the medicine paclitaxel protein-bound when your breast cancer:
- has spread or cannot be removed by surgery, and
- your cancer tests positive for “PD-L1”
The approval of Tecentriq in these patients is based on a study that measured progression-free survival. There is an ongoing study to confirm clinical benefit.
A type of lung cancer called small cell lung cancer (SCLC).
Tecentriq may be used with the chemotherapy medicines carboplatin and etoposide as your first treatment when your lung cancer:
is a type called “extensive-stage small cell lung cancer,” which means that it has spread or grown
It is not known if Tecentriq is safe and effective in children.
About Genentech in Personalized Cancer Immunotherapy
For more than 30 years, Genentech has been developing medicines with the goal to redefine treatment in oncology. Today, we’re investing more than ever to bring personalized cancer immunotherapy (PCI) to people with cancer. The goal of PCI is to provide each person with a treatment tailored to harness his or her own immune system to fight cancer. Genentech is studying more than 20 investigational medicines, 10 of which are in clinical trials. In every study we are evaluating biomarkers to identify which people may be appropriate candidates for our medicines. For more information visit http://www.gene.com/cancer-immunotherapy.
About Genentech in Lung Cancer
Lung cancer is a major area of focus and investment for Genentech, and we are committed to developing new approaches, medicines and tests that can help people with this deadly disease. Our goal is to provide an effective treatment option for every person diagnosed with lung cancer. We currently have four approved medicines to treat certain kinds of lung cancer and more than 10 medicines being developed to target the most common genetic drivers of lung cancer or to boost the immune system to combat the disease.
About Genentech
Founded more than 40 years ago, Genentech is a leading biotechnology company that discovers, develops, manufactures and commercializes medicines to treat patients with serious and life-threatening medical conditions. The company, a member of the Roche Group, has headquarters in South San Francisco, California. For additional information about the company, please visit http://www.gene.com.
Source: Genentech
Posted: March 2019
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Tecentriq (atezolizumab) FDA Approval History
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